The Best Shabbos Ever

Seriously. I stayed with the most wonderful family-I don't know how to begin explaining how fabulous yontif was. I left Manhattan for the suburbs Friday afternoon. While driving two miles per hour from Midtown to the GWB, my son and I counted about 450 Haredi families. I've never seen so many jews in my life, let alone in their minivans, with payos and sheitels, capacity overflowing.

We got to our destination an hour before Shabbos-we were visiting a friend and her husband, who also had many guests coming and going over the weekend. My son was so well behaved-I've never seen anything like it-and it was just so comfortable. It is the first time I ever felt that I could truly be myself, not watching my sense of humour. It is the first time I ever had a real drink (ok, an ounce of scotch) but I never felt free enough to do so before. I was able to see a view of modern orthodoxy that I had never encountered-especially since the whole community is this way. My own community is very mixed-with large Lubavitch and Kollel (Lakewood grads) influences, so it's much more machmir on a whole. It's so cool how I can live a shomer mitzvot life and be with it-and not just me or my family-my entire neighborhood can be that way!

I could gush for hours about how incredible this family is-how loving they are to their neighbors, how easy they are to be with, how comfortable my son felt. It was a two day yontif and he never asked for the tv once. He became ill on Sunday morning, so we had to miss shul. My son puked all over the floor and I was so embarrassed, but my host made me feel so normal about that happening. She was such a phenomenal cook-I never ate so much in my life, and the neighbors were so cool and ended up knowing people that I know from home. I wish that I could go back every weekend! It's wonderful to see this side of Orthodoxy-to know that I can live in a community just like that. I'm happy with mine right now, but knowing what is out there makes the idea of relocating much less stressful.

I don't know how I can thank this family enough. They have invited me for another holiday and I can't wait to go back. I wish that I could do more-offer them comfort they gave me and my son. I hope that someday I will be able to do so...