Tuesday morning we didn't have to be in Passaic until almost 10 AM. So we went to an 8 AM Shacharis by Frankel. I felt if we left by 9 AM we would have plenty of time. Google maps said it would only take 45 minutes via the Lincoln Tunnel. I should have known better. I got as far as Ocean and Foster when I caught a glimpse of the Rebbe's Tefillin in my rear-view, and it hit me that I didn't recall putting my Tefillin bag in my knapsack. So after retrieving my Tefillin we were ten minutes behind schedule instead of five minutes ahead of schedule. But I still had 50 minutes to make it to Passaic. BQE was a mess, but I expected that. What I wasn't ready for was how hard it was going to be to get to the entrance to the Lincoln tunnel. It always amazes me how no one is actually in the tunnel. Once you are in the tunnel you can go as fast as you dare in that narrow lane with those baton-like lane dividers. The problem is that all the people stuck in traffic on the roads with the tunnel entrances don't want to give up one inch to let you get to the tunnel entrance, and the lights are green, but you are not going anywhere, and there are no cops to help direct traffic to help people get to the tunnels. You would think the cops would have a field day handing out tickets to all the cars blocking traffic, but I guess they have better things to do. We got to Passaic Avenue only a few minutes after 10 AM. Judah Gross took the Rebbe in while I parked and took in the Sefarim.
After meeting with groups of students as well as individual students in Rabbi Leiman's office we had some Chinese for lunch and headed to Yeshivat Noam in Paramas. It was nice to see Tavi and Alex. I even saw some of Fay's friends Malkie and Ilana, all were staff at Noam. I kept calling it Ezra Academy instead of Yeshivat Noam the entire trip, and only people who knew my kids names and that I'm from New York understood why. While the Rebbe was giving a Gemara Shiur to the top 8th grade class, I had 25 minutes to run up to the Container Store and back to Noam before dismissal, just the challenges I enjoy so much at Rush Hour on Route 17 in New Jersey so I can show Ima how much I care from so far away. We caught Mincha at Noam and Maariv at Ahavas Torah in Englewood where the Rebbe spoke after Maariv. Rabbi Goldin gave the Rebbe and I a tour of the new facility. Then we stopped by to visit Dina, who is living at her in-laws a few blocks from the shul. The Rebbe took a long nap, while I spent quality time with Dina and Zack as Cooper went to sleep early. Unfortunately, Steve was there too. I'm a big believer that dogs should only have names like Spot or Snoopy and not real names like Steve. Certainly, I think something is wrong when you name your son Cooper and your dog Steve, but that's just me. We made it back to Elizabeth by 10:00 PM but I couldn't figure out where Buchsbaum was, it didn't occur to me that the street numbers would ascend against the one-way direction of the street. Dinner was waiting for us in the fridge and I nuked some for the Rebbe and myself. After making a few phone calls, I tracked down the men's Mikvah on the other side of town. At first the Rabbi who runs the Mikvah barked into the phone, "do you know what time it is?", but once he found out that I was calling for the Rebbe about the Mikvah he said, "if it is regarding the Mikvah you can call me anytime". Couldn't figure out how to use the shower at Buchsbaum, so I let myself into Bubby and Grandpa's house down the block and showered there, checked some e-mail and let myself out.
After meeting with groups of students as well as individual students in Rabbi Leiman's office we had some Chinese for lunch and headed to Yeshivat Noam in Paramas. It was nice to see Tavi and Alex. I even saw some of Fay's friends Malkie and Ilana, all were staff at Noam. I kept calling it Ezra Academy instead of Yeshivat Noam the entire trip, and only people who knew my kids names and that I'm from New York understood why. While the Rebbe was giving a Gemara Shiur to the top 8th grade class, I had 25 minutes to run up to the Container Store and back to Noam before dismissal, just the challenges I enjoy so much at Rush Hour on Route 17 in New Jersey so I can show Ima how much I care from so far away. We caught Mincha at Noam and Maariv at Ahavas Torah in Englewood where the Rebbe spoke after Maariv. Rabbi Goldin gave the Rebbe and I a tour of the new facility. Then we stopped by to visit Dina, who is living at her in-laws a few blocks from the shul. The Rebbe took a long nap, while I spent quality time with Dina and Zack as Cooper went to sleep early. Unfortunately, Steve was there too. I'm a big believer that dogs should only have names like Spot or Snoopy and not real names like Steve. Certainly, I think something is wrong when you name your son Cooper and your dog Steve, but that's just me. We made it back to Elizabeth by 10:00 PM but I couldn't figure out where Buchsbaum was, it didn't occur to me that the street numbers would ascend against the one-way direction of the street. Dinner was waiting for us in the fridge and I nuked some for the Rebbe and myself. After making a few phone calls, I tracked down the men's Mikvah on the other side of town. At first the Rabbi who runs the Mikvah barked into the phone, "do you know what time it is?", but once he found out that I was calling for the Rebbe about the Mikvah he said, "if it is regarding the Mikvah you can call me anytime". Couldn't figure out how to use the shower at Buchsbaum, so I let myself into Bubby and Grandpa's house down the block and showered there, checked some e-mail and let myself out.
Wednesday morning we drove to the Mikvah. The night before the Rabbi assured me it would be open, but it wasn't. First the Rabbi's son tried but couldn't figure it out. In Denver, they trusted us with the code to the Mikvah, but I guess in NJ there is much tighter security. We got to Shacharis only 5 minutes late - although as usual I made the Rebbe leave the house an extra 15 minutes early - which he only appreciates when we run into unforseen problems like this - not when we arrive 15 minutes early.
The Rebbe met with many groups of students as well as individual students and staff at JEC. We had Chinese again for lunch with Rabbi Teitz (no complaints from the Rebbe who likes a hearty meal during the week without having to wash and bench). We davened Mincha at JEC and while Mr. Karp took the Rebbe back to Buchsbaum, I headed back to Northern Jersey by myself, while the Rebbe had the night off. Before I left I called our host about the shower, and he said "just pull hard, don't worry, that's why they make repairmen for". So once the Rebbe was watching as a witness I pulled the shower handle hard and snapped it right off. After the handle came off in my hand I saw the mechanism inside, and realized that instead of pulling the handle I was supposed to slide the mechanism toward me. With the repairman on the way, I took the Garden State North back to Englewood to see Dina and Cooper who was asleep the night before.
Zack's parents were also around this time - and yes Steve was there too. I got there around 6 PM and had some time until Racheli's volleyball game at Frisch, where Gail and David would meet me. I tried to catch a 8:00 Maariv at B'nei Yeshurun in Teaneck, but took a wrong turn on River Road and gave up after a while trying to find it in the dark, so I got back on 4 West to Paramus. I didn't really feel comfortable watching a girls volleyball game, so I spent most of the time with my back to the action. The second game Racheli was on the bench so David, Gail and I played shot some hoops on the other side of the gym divider.
Baruch Hashem the game was done by 8:40 as Frisch beat YCQ 2 games to zero, so David and I could make the 9:00 late Maariv at Ahavas Torah in Englewood (at least I knew where that was). Gail went home with Racheli to get supper ready, but after Maariv, I happened to called George, to see if we could stop by to say hi. One drink led to another, and we stayed there a pretty long time (George and David were drinking the hard stuff - I just had fruit juice. I'm glad David and George seemed to hit it off. Gail was just about to give up on us when we walked through the door. We shmoozed for quite a while until I saw that Gail and David were falling asleep and I was laughing my head off at things that did not warrant such silliness. Got back to Elizabeth a little after 1 PM, but once again went to Bubby and Grandpa to use the computer, but I showered back at Buchsbaum with the recently fixed shower.
The Rebbe met with many groups of students as well as individual students and staff at JEC. We had Chinese again for lunch with Rabbi Teitz (no complaints from the Rebbe who likes a hearty meal during the week without having to wash and bench). We davened Mincha at JEC and while Mr. Karp took the Rebbe back to Buchsbaum, I headed back to Northern Jersey by myself, while the Rebbe had the night off. Before I left I called our host about the shower, and he said "just pull hard, don't worry, that's why they make repairmen for". So once the Rebbe was watching as a witness I pulled the shower handle hard and snapped it right off. After the handle came off in my hand I saw the mechanism inside, and realized that instead of pulling the handle I was supposed to slide the mechanism toward me. With the repairman on the way, I took the Garden State North back to Englewood to see Dina and Cooper who was asleep the night before.
Thursday morning we davened at the early minyan at JEC so we could make it to Kushner by 9:00. I ignored the suggested route of Google Maps with the GSP and JFK boulevard because it seemed so out of the way. Instead a took Morris Avenue on what looked like a more direct route. Wrong decision. Local traffic was horrendous. The good news was I gave myself 15 minutes extra to get there. The Rebbe spoke to the high school students in four groups followed by private meetings with students and staff which took us until after 2 PM.
The pizza for lunch was cold by the time we ate it, but at least they let the Rebbe take a box of Rice Krispies back with him. The Rebbe was exhausted and needed a break, and we didn't have to be at the Chulent/Parsha Chaburah at the North Avenue Shul until 9:00. So we rested at Buchsbaum until Mincha/Maariv at JEC. Since our hosts were out all day and couldn't prepare dinner, we took out from (you guessed it) the Kosher Chinese place in Elizabeth. After the Chulent Chaburah people met with the Rebbe in Rabbi Schwartz's office until about 11 PM.
Friday morning, after Mikvah, we went to the late minyan at Elmora Hills, which gave us plenty of time to get to Bruriah by 9:15. After addressing the entire student body for about 20 minutes, the Rebbe spent the rest of the day with private meetings with girls and staff. The Rebbe was helping One Stop Kosher with parnassah while he was in Elizabeth. It seems like every place we went to was catered by One Stop. (The manager happened to have grown up in Mitzpeh Yericho). Bruriah was no different. The Rebbe ordered Kugel and Gefilte Fish for lunch, and there was plenty left over for me. Even after school let out at 12:45, the Rebbe and I stayed until about 2:00 PM with meetings of individuals who couldn't make it on Sunday. After stopping by the Mikvah again Ereve Shabbos we headed back to Buchsbaum where Dov and Hershel had already settled in. I gave them my bedroom and took the couch. Hershel would take over the Gabbai duties through the end of the weekend, so I could go back to just being the Secretary. Hershel took the Rebbe to Elmora Hills early for Mincha, while I took my time and went to JEC for Mincha and made my way back to Elmora Hills on foot in the snow for Maariv. I stopped by the Gross's to make sure everything was set for Shabbos lunch. Had plenty of time during the Rebbe's speech to catch up on Kabbalas Shabbos. Grandpa walked the Rebbe and our entourage to Rabbi Herman's house for dinner. I continued with Grandpa back to Princeton to pick up the Mikvah key from the Katz's, then got back to the Herman's in time for Kiddush. Dinner was crowded but nice, and the Tish was standing room only. I think Rebbetzin Herman made a little bit too much chulent for the Tish, but it was excellent. I'm not sure how many people she was expecting, but I guess she will know for next time. We dropped off Mendel and Isser by Grandpa, because I had the key to let them in, and the Rebbe, Hershel, Dov and I went back to Buchsbaum to sleep.
Shabbos morning we got up at 7:15 and out the door by 7:30 to pick up Mendel and Isser for Mikvah. No one had left the lights on, so in the dark I climbed the stairs to the emergency door on the North Avenue entrance and B"H it wasn't alarmed. That provided enough light for everyone, but also brought the cold in. At 8:10 or so the Rebbe spoke before Mussaf in the Hashkama minyan and then joined the main minyan at 8:30. The Rebbe got Levi aliyah and then spoke after Mussaf. Lunch was at the Gross family. After lunch we stopped by the Alexander home with Sruli Saffern and rested until Mincha. Seudah Shlishis must have been 80 people, most of the shul benched, but 25 or so stayed with the Rebbe for another 20 minutes to finish the Rebbe's extended version of Seudah Shlishis and davened late Maariv. Melaveh Malka was about 30 people at the Rakovsky's. In the middle I left to retrieve Hershel's car keys from the Elmora Hills shul and then after we had the Rebbe back at the apartment, I dropped Hershel by his car and I headed to North Jersey to visit Alex. Stayed there until after midnight. Finished all of the pizza his wife brought home in the doggie bag even though it was room temperature. By the time I left the snow was a few inches, I had to brush off my car. On the GSP home the cops pulled me over with my Florida plates. They thought it was stolen. Checked the VIN and my rental contract. Let me continue after 15 minutes of freezing in the cold with the window down and the engine off. They asked me why I had so many books in the back of the car. I didn't realize books were suspicious. Got home around 1:30 AM.
Sunday morning was Mikvah followed by Shacharis at JEC followed by breakfast with about 6 young couples. The Rebbe spoke about Shalom Bayis and took Q&A. We had meetings booked solid from 1:30 until 4:30 at boardroom with break for Mincha/Maariv. Mrs. Gross packed us some dinner from leftovers of Shabbos lunch. Left the Rebbe with Hershel for the evening appointments from 7:00 to 10:30. Went to Motti's son's Bar Mitzvah in Far Rockaway. Made great time with the Superbowl on and everyone off the road. Also saw Yakir, Grushko, Charlie, and Rabbi Lerner and a few other old acquaintances from the old days. The bar mitzvah boy's principle was actually shana alef during my shana bet year at YSMZ. Went back to Great Neck to see Saba before I left. We talked and I fell asleep on the couch.
Left GN about 1:30 AM and got to Elizabeth by 2:30. Started packing up the suitcases at Bubby and Grandpas for Ima, transferring the amazon packages to the duffle, and printed my baggage voucher. Packed the car, said goodbye to Grandpa who was up at 6:00 AM and went to wake up the Rebbe. Packed my stuff and made sure the Rebbe was packed, headed to Mikvah and Shacharis at North Avenue Shul. Stopped by Bruriah for about a half hour to meet with a few girls we couldn't fit in on Friday. Went back to the apartment to do a once over, pack food and load the car with all of our remaining stuff. Stopped for gas and made it to Newark by 10:30, returned the card and checked in around 11:00 for the 1:30 flight. Got the magazine for Mrs. Weinberg and 12:45 we made a Mincha minyan by the gate. Flight was empty. Had my own 3-seat row in the back of the plane, and I slept for most of the flight.
The pizza for lunch was cold by the time we ate it, but at least they let the Rebbe take a box of Rice Krispies back with him. The Rebbe was exhausted and needed a break, and we didn't have to be at the Chulent/Parsha Chaburah at the North Avenue Shul until 9:00. So we rested at Buchsbaum until Mincha/Maariv at JEC. Since our hosts were out all day and couldn't prepare dinner, we took out from (you guessed it) the Kosher Chinese place in Elizabeth. After the Chulent Chaburah people met with the Rebbe in Rabbi Schwartz's office until about 11 PM.
Friday morning, after Mikvah, we went to the late minyan at Elmora Hills, which gave us plenty of time to get to Bruriah by 9:15. After addressing the entire student body for about 20 minutes, the Rebbe spent the rest of the day with private meetings with girls and staff. The Rebbe was helping One Stop Kosher with parnassah while he was in Elizabeth. It seems like every place we went to was catered by One Stop. (The manager happened to have grown up in Mitzpeh Yericho). Bruriah was no different. The Rebbe ordered Kugel and Gefilte Fish for lunch, and there was plenty left over for me. Even after school let out at 12:45, the Rebbe and I stayed until about 2:00 PM with meetings of individuals who couldn't make it on Sunday. After stopping by the Mikvah again Ereve Shabbos we headed back to Buchsbaum where Dov and Hershel had already settled in. I gave them my bedroom and took the couch. Hershel would take over the Gabbai duties through the end of the weekend, so I could go back to just being the Secretary. Hershel took the Rebbe to Elmora Hills early for Mincha, while I took my time and went to JEC for Mincha and made my way back to Elmora Hills on foot in the snow for Maariv. I stopped by the Gross's to make sure everything was set for Shabbos lunch. Had plenty of time during the Rebbe's speech to catch up on Kabbalas Shabbos. Grandpa walked the Rebbe and our entourage to Rabbi Herman's house for dinner. I continued with Grandpa back to Princeton to pick up the Mikvah key from the Katz's, then got back to the Herman's in time for Kiddush. Dinner was crowded but nice, and the Tish was standing room only. I think Rebbetzin Herman made a little bit too much chulent for the Tish, but it was excellent. I'm not sure how many people she was expecting, but I guess she will know for next time. We dropped off Mendel and Isser by Grandpa, because I had the key to let them in, and the Rebbe, Hershel, Dov and I went back to Buchsbaum to sleep.
Shabbos morning we got up at 7:15 and out the door by 7:30 to pick up Mendel and Isser for Mikvah. No one had left the lights on, so in the dark I climbed the stairs to the emergency door on the North Avenue entrance and B"H it wasn't alarmed. That provided enough light for everyone, but also brought the cold in. At 8:10 or so the Rebbe spoke before Mussaf in the Hashkama minyan and then joined the main minyan at 8:30. The Rebbe got Levi aliyah and then spoke after Mussaf. Lunch was at the Gross family. After lunch we stopped by the Alexander home with Sruli Saffern and rested until Mincha. Seudah Shlishis must have been 80 people, most of the shul benched, but 25 or so stayed with the Rebbe for another 20 minutes to finish the Rebbe's extended version of Seudah Shlishis and davened late Maariv. Melaveh Malka was about 30 people at the Rakovsky's. In the middle I left to retrieve Hershel's car keys from the Elmora Hills shul and then after we had the Rebbe back at the apartment, I dropped Hershel by his car and I headed to North Jersey to visit Alex. Stayed there until after midnight. Finished all of the pizza his wife brought home in the doggie bag even though it was room temperature. By the time I left the snow was a few inches, I had to brush off my car. On the GSP home the cops pulled me over with my Florida plates. They thought it was stolen. Checked the VIN and my rental contract. Let me continue after 15 minutes of freezing in the cold with the window down and the engine off. They asked me why I had so many books in the back of the car. I didn't realize books were suspicious. Got home around 1:30 AM.
Sunday morning was Mikvah followed by Shacharis at JEC followed by breakfast with about 6 young couples. The Rebbe spoke about Shalom Bayis and took Q&A. We had meetings booked solid from 1:30 until 4:30 at boardroom with break for Mincha/Maariv. Mrs. Gross packed us some dinner from leftovers of Shabbos lunch. Left the Rebbe with Hershel for the evening appointments from 7:00 to 10:30. Went to Motti's son's Bar Mitzvah in Far Rockaway. Made great time with the Superbowl on and everyone off the road. Also saw Yakir, Grushko, Charlie, and Rabbi Lerner and a few other old acquaintances from the old days. The bar mitzvah boy's principle was actually shana alef during my shana bet year at YSMZ. Went back to Great Neck to see Saba before I left. We talked and I fell asleep on the couch.
Left GN about 1:30 AM and got to Elizabeth by 2:30. Started packing up the suitcases at Bubby and Grandpas for Ima, transferring the amazon packages to the duffle, and printed my baggage voucher. Packed the car, said goodbye to Grandpa who was up at 6:00 AM and went to wake up the Rebbe. Packed my stuff and made sure the Rebbe was packed, headed to Mikvah and Shacharis at North Avenue Shul. Stopped by Bruriah for about a half hour to meet with a few girls we couldn't fit in on Friday. Went back to the apartment to do a once over, pack food and load the car with all of our remaining stuff. Stopped for gas and made it to Newark by 10:30, returned the card and checked in around 11:00 for the 1:30 flight. Got the magazine for Mrs. Weinberg and 12:45 we made a Mincha minyan by the gate. Flight was empty. Had my own 3-seat row in the back of the plane, and I slept for most of the flight.
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