When the calendar turns to December each year, like many I would suppose, I start to look back at the year that was and evaluate. As the song from Rent says, 525,600 minutes, how to you measure a year. Those are a lot of minutes to measure and often we focus on a few of those moments, good or bad and those are what stand out the most.

I was scrolling through the photos on my phone this morning and looked at January 1st 2023. My dear friends were in town from BC and we had an incredible meal at ‘our spot’, The Keg. Filled with bubbles, escargot, stuffed mushrooms, and surf and turf. As we ate and drank we talked about my new job (was pretty new at the time) and how perfect a job it was for me and how much I had to look forward to in the days ahead.

Moving forward in the year, was an incredible trip to Europe in May. It was a trip a few years in the making, plans that covid took away from me more than once. Italy has had my heart for many years, and I was finally able to experience Rome for three incredible days. I was blown away at the Vatican and St. Peter. The next day, I was in absolute awe of the Colosseum. Being able to walk through the underground for the first time in history, and then climbing out of the darkness to stand on the stage in the centre of the arena, there aren’t really words to describe the feeling. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to experience Rome and the amazing cities on the cruise.

In the summer I travelled back to the island I love, Jamaica. For those of you who have travelled with me, you know I am not a beach person. I would much prefer a beautiful pool, with comfortabe lounge chairs. My friend thought ahead and brought us floaties for the ocean and even though the bottom was a bit murky, there was very little seaweed and I really enjoyed floating in the Caribbean Sea. I am not sure if I am converted to the ocean, but I came, I saw and I enjoyed.

We also had a wonderful experience at the Chabad of Jamaica. I had the opportunity to meet the Rabbi from Jamaica on a visit in 2019 and was happy that we were staying close to their new Chabad House just outside of Montego Bay. In 2014, they opened the Chabad house, 100 years after the community Synagouge closed due to lack of congregants. We decided we would have Shabbat at Chabad. We had a tour of the synagouge and the Rabbi was especially proud of the Mikva that they built on the property. After 400 years of Jewish people settling on the island of Jamaica, they have their first Mikva. It was beautiful. We enjoyed a wonderful meal with the Rabbi, Rebbitzen and their family, as well as locals and other visitors to the island. This was my second visit to Chabad of Jamaica, and as long as I continue to go to Jamaica and stay near the Chabad House, I will go back.

I think the goal of Chabad of Jamaica is appropriate for this time in our lives. It says, “Our goal: is to strengthen Jewish awareness and pride for the Jewish residence, and the thousands of visitors to Jamaica, regardless of background or affiliation. To spread acts of goodness and kindness to all humanity!”

Amen. Am Israel Chai

Shabbat Shalom,