The Big Bash..

Well, it's the morning after and the 'shochedike' are just about done with the big cleanup.

But first, Shabbos. This Observatory minyan, as many of you already know, is unique as it is strange. Who would have thunk that Julian Blackman (raishis smichas bla bla bla), Egon Schoeman (Ben Achar Ben of Rabbi Frietz Shudelmacher, the schohet of Frankfurt am Main), Michael Karp, (former disciple of Rabbi Shakovitzky, late of Gateshead's elite), Uncle Moshe and Aba would come together to form a minyan. Here's the kicker. Aba seems to like this minyan way more than he did the Lubavitcher one on Harrow. My theory. It's a serious minyan made up of Jews who take their davening and learning seriously. So shammas man gets up after musaf to proclaim that 'this weeks brocha is sponsored by Rabbi Gourarie'. (BTW, since the brocha refers mostly to the blessing made on pickled herring, they should be called 'herrings', not 'brochas'). Off we traipse to the brocha room. Aba is introduced to speak. The group is respectful, sleepy. Not a word was understood by anyone. Believe me. Heavy chassidus. One thought quickly gave way to tens of tangential detours in rapid fire fashion. In Yinglish. I said not a word when we got home. Ima berated Aba for talking over their heads and he made amends by 'Shala Shudos' with a more coherent, simple yet cogent display of Chassidus mastery.

On to Motzei Shabbos. 'Twas nice to see the mix of Lubavitchers and locals together for this event. The spread looked and tasted great. Aba spoke again (his third for the day), Uncle Moshe spoke and Akiva Wagner (The Rosh Yeshiva) spoke. It was a warm, enjoyable event. A fun time was had by all. I will, IY'H post pics upon my return to first world 1.5mbps territory.

Other than that, just chillin'.

BTW, does any one know that Aba likes to mix appletiser with coke and Ima sometimes mixes milk and coke?

Later