Received via e-mail:
Save Your Soul by Saving Another's
Last year 15 Yidden gathered in a small Amish town near a river. We davened and heard shofar and enjoyed as most were not planning to do. The money for that Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur came from donations to this website. Working with those who left the fold can be heart-wrenching – so many stories, so much pain -with seemingly endless conundrums without solutions---- We provide services for those who left and are sure they are not coming back.The fifteen Jews in Pennsylvania were all Yiddish speaking, yet none of them attend services, keep kosher or are involved in anything Yiddish. The Mayim Institute of Mystical Studies has been providing services for the past few years to ex-Charedim, who have fallen on tough times, or, those who wish to check in and connect with a cultural Jewish experience for whichever reason it may be. This Rosh Hashonoh we went overboard. We wanted to entice people to come so we rented a few townhouses in Ocean City MD, overlooking the Atlantic. The sand in the yard leading to the water… And so they came. The water beckoned. We had 25 holy brothers praying in our synagogue overlooking the water of the great ocean from three directions.Tekios intermissions had waves for silence. We were reborn. The world was reborn.We have worked to raise money for these events as the expenses are steep. Yet the rewards are plentiful.This year may you be inscribed and signed in the book of life, and may you help others sit in the House of the L-rd.Thank you once again for your generosity. Rosh Hashonoh bankrupted us. Yom Kippur and Sukkos will only happen if the money comes in.As Shimoshon Stock, of blessed memory would declare,"WE NEED YOUR MONEY!!!"
Issac Schonfeld
Rabbi Shimon Grady
Mayim Chaim Institute