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July 2, 2009

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: The hallmark of a person

Abe Novick: Up, up, and aliya

July 1, 2009

Rabbi Avi Shafran: The Road Taken

The Kosher Gourmet by Marialisa Calta: Get into the holiday spirit with these Star-Spangled desserts

June 30, 2009

Rabbi Binyomin Ginsberg: What makes a great parent?

Caroline B. Glick: Ideologue-in-Chief

June 29, 2009

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Beware of 'Caveat Emptor'

Steven Emerson: ACLU pushing for more money for Hamas

June 26, 2009

Rabbi Yoni Posnick: Learn the secret to a healthy marriage from a scriptural villain

Caroline B. Glick: Barack Obama vs. International Law

June 25, 2009

Rabbi Shimon Apisdorf: The Absurd Power of Truth

Jordan "Gorf" Gorfinkle's strip: Everything's Relative

June 24, 2009

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Advancement of technology is a wake-up call for humanity

The Kosher Gourmet by Andrea Weigl: Summer on a stick: Making frozen treats can be easy, creative and fun

June 23, 2009

Martin M. Bodek: 'On Surnames': And so, We Begin

Caroline B. Glick: The Obama Effect

June 22, 2009

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Working for a corrupt firm

N. Richard Greenfield : Where are American Jews?

June 19, 2009

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Emotion v. intellect

Caroline B. Glick: Israel's rare opportunity

June 18, 2009

Jonathan Rosenblum: Sometimes it is more essential to define the nature of evil than good

Jordan "Gorf" Gorfinkle's strip: Everything's Relative

June 17, 2009

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: The Language of Confusion

The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: Nothing pleases Dad more than a thick, juicy onion-smothered steak. Add home-Baked Potato Chips and …

June 16, 2009

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Career v. Careersism

Caroline B. Glick: Obama's losing streak and Israel

Richard Z. Chesnoff: ‘Palestinians’: Never Missing an Opportunity …

June 15, 2009

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu: How Judea and Samaria can become 'Palestine'

Daniel Pipes: Where Netanyahu's speech failed

June 12, 2009

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Some big thoughts about not acting so big

Caroline B. Glick: Obama's High Commissioner

June 11, 2009

Victor Davis Hanson: Our historically challenged President

Mitch Albom: Beware the True Believers

Lewis Grossberger: What we learn from the new Hitler photos

June 10, 2009

Mort Zuckerman: What Obama and his advisors won't -- or refuse to -- grasp about Israel and the Muslim world

The Kosher Gourmet by Steve Petusevsky Lotsa pasta: Tips, techniques and (amazing) taste

June 9, 2009

Anne Bayefsky: Obama's stunning offense to Israel and the Jewish people

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: America's first Muslim president?

June 8, 2009

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Merchant must take responsibility for careless shopper?

Mark Steyn: A superpower that feeds on mediocrity cannot survive for long on leftovers from the past

Richard Z. Chesnoff: How do you say 'kumbaya' in Arabic?

June 5, 2009

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: In quest of spirituality

Caroline B. Glick: Obama's Arabian dreams

Charles Krauthammer: The Settlements Myth

June 4, 2009

Paul Greenberg: The War Comes to Little Rock

The Kosher Gourmet by Judy Hevrdejs: Splash it on! Tap your inner jazz musician and improvise when stirring up a vinaigrette

June 3, 2009

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q. Should terrible teacher be exposed?

Jonathan Rosenblum: The Israel Lobby: Missing in Action

June 2, 2009

Dennis Prager: The Speech President Obama Won't Dare Give in Egypt

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Pressure on Israel raises war risk

Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review July 7, 2004 / 18 Tamuz, 5764

The Wandering Jew, updated

By S. Horowitz



This summer, if you come across a religious family in transit, instead of staring, say 'Hi'. You may even want to congratulate them on upholding a tradition begun at the Exodus



http://www.jewishworldreview.com | For our trials and travels throughout history — and the unique marks left in the places inhabited — we Members of the Tribe have been described aptly as the "Wandering Jews."


Nowadays, though, the old-time Wandering Jew takes on a very different role. What might an updated picture of the Wandering Jew look like? My indisputable hunch, especially at this time of the year, would be — a snapshot of an oversized vehicle sputtering at top speed along the highway en route to the Catskill Mountains!


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Wandering Jews continue to attract attention — sometimes even smiles of appreciation. Why? Because the identifiably Jewish family, as it relocates itself, creates quite a conspicuous picture. In fact, it's inevitable.


Surrounded on all sides by spacious SUVs and minivans carrying three demur matching suitcases, two trim adults and 1.2 children, who have spent the last hour arguing about who owns the "middle" of the rear seat while an unnoticed Spiderman DVD plays overhead, the Jewish vehicle and its occupants look unusual.


When a religious Jew travels, his lifestyle in its entirety comes along for the ride. And it is a lifestyle he faithfully adheres to. It's no wonder that the vehicles are large and loaded and absolutely a sight to behold.


In the picture of our modern day Wandering Jews, shot, of course, with the most up-to-date digital camera, there would be smiling, giggling faces peering out the front, side, and back windows. Snack bags and lunches are dangling from little shoulders or floating around in the rear. The family's luggage, if it's already been towed, has left space now primarily monopolized by passengers. Otherwise, the vehicle would be transporting both passengers and their belongings, in which case a miscellany of paraphernalia would be piled high on the roof and stacked against the windows, the gleeful faces still discernable amid the collage.


If you're figuring a maximum, encompassing an entire family's worth of belongings, the picture is, well, massive. There'd be complete wardrobes of clothing, both weekday and Shabbes (Sabbath), for each member of the family. That means dresses, suits, robes, sportswear, loungewear, sleepwear and swimwear.


Equally important are the headgear, both weekday and Shabbes — snoods, wigs and fedoras, caps, and shtreimlich, etc., all with accompanying boxes. Footgear, as well, takes a sizeable space — weekday shoes, Shabbes shoes, non-leather Tisha B'Av shoes, walking shoes, sneakers and slippers. Then there are supplies — playground, kitchen, housewares, bath, laundry, Shabbes, and linens.


One will also find a box stuffed with books — children's books, religious texts, or two, or three.


An observant Jewish traveler's minimum would include his "prayer gear" — tallis, tefillin, siddur — and kosher lunch, because we can't exactly chow down at the nearest Golden Arches.


When the Family In Motion stops off at a rest area, what a scene unfolds! Uncle Moishy, who reminds his listeners through song to always behave and respect their parents, is turned off and out jump a half-dozen jolly youngsters running to use the restrooms. Once "rested," they wash their hands ritually, unwrap their sandwiches, and open their kosher drinks, murmuring blessings before and after their snacks.


And so it must be. Because a believing, observant Jew is a Jew wherever he is — at home, on the road, or in his faraway niche in the mountains. Ever since the Exodus, Jews have been adept at packing, traveling, and maneuvering their belongings without compromising an iota of religion, principles, or even customs.

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It may not be polite to stare, but we don't mind the looks of astonishment — nor, for that matter, the smiles — we receive. Fitting the old-time description of the Wandering Jew is actually a badge of honor. It's indicative of our adherence to Jewishness and religiosity.


And as we settle into our camping sites and soon thereafter into our favorite coffee klatches — remember, the bigger it is, the better. With a hearty "come on, pull up a chair" or "come join", the circle immediately spreads wider. And the atmosphere is kinder, happier and unified.


And, wondrously, the Jew, as he wanders and no matter where he is, is never that far from home.

Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in Washington and in the media consider "must reading." Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.


S. Horowitz is a contributor to the Jewish weekly, Yated Ne'eman. Comment by clicking here.

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