“I have taken it upon myself to ensure every Jewish room is properly enhanced for Shabbos”
I stared at the text message.
It was from Yonah Shain, owner of The Linen Shop, a local store in Passaic that supplies the neighborhood with much more than linen, as one can also find beautiful gifts for Shabbos and Jewish-themed necessities in the store. Yonah and his wife are always there with a smile to help choose the perfect gift.
Yonah’s text asked if the shul would like new Shabbos tablecloths. An anonymous donor was interested in donating beautiful white tablecloths for the over 40 tables in our shul.
For years I had yearned for white tablecloths to bedeck the shul and to elevate the ambience and decor of our mikdash me’at. However, as with many dreams, practical considerations — mainly money — had played their part in placing the idea on the back burner.
Yet, as I stared at the text, I felt the renewal of hope. Could it be my dream was coming true? Often, I am the dreamer, the romanticist of the shul. The lay leadership generally supports my plans, but sometimes they bring me back to earth by gently suggesting I am bordering on delusional. This time as well there were skeptics, and perhaps for good reason.
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