Israel is the "official" Jewish State, but a close second is New York City. When you're in New York, the whole world is Jewish.

I was born and raised in New York City, but it has been three decades since I've actually resided there. This is a city that has undergone many dynamic changes and yet every time I go back to visit, I feel at home. I never quite connected with why I feel so comfortable and at ease in neighbourhoods that look less and less familiar. On my most recent visit, I suddenly realized the reason for this unbroken connection. It is the sense of Yiddishkeit that surrounds me.

Although New York is an enormous melting pot of ethnicities, Jewishness permeates the entire city. Everyone I meet; the Puerto Rican waiter, the Polish doorman, the Black bus driver, the Jewish schoolteacher and the Indian cab driver understands me when I say,

"Wow, the speed of this city is completely meshuggah," or "I have such tzuris lately," or "I hate schlepping all of these packages." I never have to explain what I mean.

When I go into the Carnegie Deli for the mandatory corned beef on rye, potato knish, and cream soda, the tables around me are jam packed with a United Nations of humankind. Only in jokes though have I ever heard anyone ordering a corned beef on white bread with mayo. Every supermarket has a large selection of kosher and Jewish style foods. Even schools and many businesses close during the High Holy Days.

I currently live in a city with the third largest Jewish population in North America. Even though Montréal's Jewish community is highly visible and active, the sense of New York Yiddishkeit, quite simply, is not present. Toronto, which now has the second largest Jewish population on the continent, betrays even less of a Yiddishkeit feel. That is not to say the sense of Jewishness is absent from these places, because that is not true. Jewish cultural institutions, including myriad shuls representing the various forms of Judaism are visibly present in both cities.

There is Jewish influence in politics, education and every important aspect of city life. Montréal's Saidye Bronfman Centre is one of the great cultural arts and theatre complexes in Canada. The outgoing mayor of Toronto, Mel Lastman is unabashedly Jewish and is considered one of the most colourful politicians that great city has ever known. Jewish life is obviously present in many cities and towns throughout North America, but for some unexplained reason, the Jewish feeling in New York saturates the soul as in no other place I have ever been.

No matter how long I am away from New York, Yiddishkeit is certainly one of the primary reasons I will always feel at home when I return to visit.

Next month we will be celebrating the festival of lights, Chanukah. It is traditional to exchange gifts with loved ones on this very happy and fraylakh occasion. May I suggest you consider making a Chanukah gift to the Megillah fund? We really do need your continued help and support to provide the Megillah to our members week after week and month after month. If you can find it within your means to contribute any amount, large or small to our work, you can be sure, it will be put to excellent use in maintaining the quality and continued publication of this taste of Yiddishkeit on the Web. Please click the Tzedakeh box on the Contents Page to offer your assistance. To everyone who has already donated to the fund, we say thank you for your ongoing and generous support.

Much love to all of you,

Michael
Michael D. Fein
Editor