Providence

I'm feeling a bit rusty, so I thought I'd post about Jewish stuff in Rhode Island, or lack thereof. (I spent a month in Providence working with the Democrats.)

I lived on the East Side of Providence, which is apparently the Jewish side. That being said, there wasn't a kosher "restaurant" per se in all of Rhode Island. (Managed to go nearly a month without meat without talking about it quite as constantly this time.) I was working 10-14 hours everyday, so I didn't actually get to try out any of the synagogues (from what I could tell, other than Chabad, there were only Reform and Conservative ones). I felt really guilty about that, which is odd because I generally don't go to services when I'm in Florida either. I think maybe it was because this was the first time I was officially "working" on Shabbat. It kinda made me realize that a real decision needs to be made about that.

Anyways, the morning (er, afternoon) after the election, I caught a taxi to take me back home from the hotel. The cab driver and I got to talking. He was complaining that the proposed ammendment for a casino hadn't been passed. "Oy gavalt!" I exclaimed, as I often do.

"Are you a lanceman?" He replied. At least that's what it sounded like. Still not 100% sure what that means.

"Huh?" I said.

"Are you Jewish? I haven't heard anyone say that in years," he explained.

Turns out he was Jewish. He told me how he used to speak Yiddish with his grandparents, but hasn't spoken it in some time and how Providence used to be a lot "more Jewish" when he was growing up. And then he gave me walking directions to two of the shuls and told me where I could find kosher food nearby. He even gave me his business card and cab number and said I could call him if I have any questions about where to go for Shabbos. Just not Friday or Saturday 'cause he doesn't work then.

I think it's kinda nice that (often) Jews seem to feel a responsibility for helping out other Jews, at least in the food and housing department. Especially the food department. Regardless of their affiliation or if they would be that welcoming on a "let's be actual friends" level.

It reminds me of one Yom Kippur at NYU. If you've ever spent the high holidays at school, then you know it hosts a random, ecclectic group of non-East Coasters who don't live close enough to go home and probably don't know each other very well. After services ended, this girl I vaguely recognized asked me if I had food at home. When I told her I didn't, she insisted that I come back to her dorm to break the fast with a snack. Keep in mind this is someone who had never spoken to me before, and honestly, I don't think we really ever spoke afterwards. But she felt compelled to make sure I was taken care of, and I've always appreciated that. It's so nice to feel like you have a network you could turn to if you needed to without feeling like you're overstepping what's appropriate. And knowing you'd reciprocate if you were in the same position.