It is great to be back from a short vacation with my extended family in the Catskills Mountains. I look forward to sharing some of my experiences with you over the coming weeks, and in particular, over the Chaggim, during which I am planning a shiur series about Halachic issues I encountered over this past summer that include several that arose this past week.
As soon as I came back to town, things got busy again. Last night, I had the honor of attending the installation of Rabbi Eliezer Poupko as the new Rabbi of Congregation Lev Yisrael, the new shul division of DATA Plano. Rabbi Poupko is a member of an illustrious extended Rabbinic family and the son of Rabbi Reuben Poupko of Montreal, himself a Rabbinic legend in that city and beyond. Both Rabbis Poupko spoke at the event as did Rabbi Nasanya Zakon, all of whom spoke beautifully. I wish there was a recording of Rabbi Poupko Sr.’s words that I could share, as the last time I shared anything from him it was his step by step guide to making a turkey…
Today, I was able to jump right back into work in one of the most meaningful ways, by sitting on a Beit Din together with my teacher Rabbi Yona Reiss, Av Beth Din of the Chicago Rabbinical Council, and, alternatingly, Rabbi Wolk and Rabbi Dubrawsky for seven conversions this morning! How appropriate and uplifting it is to bring Jewish souls into the fold, especially during the month of Elul.
A few items for this week’s Hakarat HaTov Corner:
1. Thank you to Rabbi Wolk for covering for me in my absence, both when we were in Chicago and now in the Catskills, and to Jimmy Davis for holding down the fort.
2. Thank you to Rebecca Nussbaum and Ben Fine for designing and dealing with the logistics of the new railings leading up to the bima. These additions are both aesthetically pleasing and helpful for those who need extra assistance ascending and descending the stairs from the bima.
3. A special thank you to Jessica and my brothers, Drs. Ori and Elia Rackovsky and their spouses, Dana and Dr. Naomi Rackovsky for the logistical planning of our family’s getaway in honor of our parents’ 50th anniversary.
4. And above all, a thank you to Hashem for making it all possible (and throwing in beautiful weather and on-time flights, too!).
Last Time’s MSOTW
Kudos to Steve Natinsky for correctly identifying this as the deepest underground shul in the world, the shul in the Yitzchak Navon Train Stationin Jerusalem, the world’s deepest heavy-rail passenger station.
This Week’s MSOTW
Since its founding nearly a century ago (and over 80 years in its current location), this beautiful shul has never missed a minyan despite being far from any heavily Jewish neighborhoods. This is attributed to a blessing by a revered Rosh Yeshiva. Name the shul, the location and, for extra points, the Rosh Yeshiva.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky
Congregation Shaare Tefilla 6131 Churchill Way Dallas, TX 75230
