I lived my dream!

September 22, 2008 · Filed Under Baum's Blog 

It was a busy weekend. I should have been writing sermons and getting ready for the high holidays at Beth Adam, but working on OurJewishCommunity.org was more exciting. With the help of a volunteer extraordinaire, we spent Friday afternoon making sure we would be able to videostream our High Holiday services, and it worked! You’ll be able to see our services live – or even come back anytime afterward to watch them archived. High holiday services in your PJ’s – what more could you ask for?

Though that was exciting, it wasn’t a lifelong dream of mine. My dream – since childhood when my brother played hockey – was to drive a Zamboni. I even wrote a college admissions essay about wanting to drive a Zamboni, and at my rabbinical school interview when I was asked what I would do if I were not accepted, I said “drive a Zamboni!”

After many years of hoping for that moment – and after many empty promises from friends who said they would be able to get me a ride – a good friend came through last night. And, I rode a Zamboni. I may, in fact, be the only Zamboni driving rabbi – but I’m really not sure – so if you know another one, let me know.

And, yes, it was as exciting as I had hoped. Now I’ll have to dream my next dream. Or, maybe I should first write my Rosh Hashanah sermon.

Tags: ,

Comments

4 Responses to “I lived my dream!”

  1. DMS Says:
    September 22nd, 2008 at 11:05 pm

    I think the video services is awesome. I will invite my sister and brother who live on the east coast to watch.

  2. chrissylamaster Says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 am

    Congrats! I love your blog, and check every day to see if there is a new post.

  3. Godwrestler Says:
    September 27th, 2008 at 12:47 pm

    namaste, ZamRabbi!!! Thank you, too, for setting things up to view the High Holies. Eventhough I live in Chicago with Jews for days–I love it!–I have not been affiliated with a synagogue for a while and plan to wait until after the Days of Awe.

    Most likely will join the Reconstructionists–JRC Evanston just finished the first totally green synagogue in America!!

    I am deeply honored to be part of Our Jewish Community! When I come to visit Beth Adam, will folks go into apoplexy since I wear kippah? Like the late Rabbi Modechai Kaplan, I see “God” as force, process, a verb, and in all Nature, so I cover my head not in submission, but as my way of honoring this and as a connection to our ancestors.

  4. Rabbi Baum Says:
    September 28th, 2008 at 1:53 pm

    Thanks all three of you for the feedback.
    I’m so glad that you have found OurJewishCommunity.org- and that you are excited for the streaming services etc.
    Godwrestler – as for your kippah question (btw, for the curious out there – it’s the Hebrew word for what’s known as a yarmulke in Yiddish and head-covering in English) – generally people at Beth Adam do not cover their heads, but we’re a welcoming and open-minded place so I think you’ll be safe here :) We recognize that lots of people understand God/religion/spirituality/tradition/Judaism/etc. in lots of different ways – and sometimes not at all – so we’re trying to create a place where lots of people can feel comfortable. Hope that makes sense! Happy New Year!

Leave a Reply