B"H
which stretches beyond infinity, the person cultivates what he does
out of self-interest. One may find no one with whom to share it.
Just the sa me, the pursuit of happiness is intrinsic unto itself and
the individual who does well by himself can have a heart full o f
emanating happy feeling when later in the presence of so meone,
to who m he can relate a shared p erception, the purposefulness life
we call love.
These literary passages through the tunnel of the ho meless took
place in the months of Adar and Nisan, during the spring 2010, a
time of anticipation, regeneration, and salvation. In all my
meanderings, I had to be so cautious, so afraid, and insecure about
where I'd be able to squat, enjoy the comforts of ho me. I had a
decent survival routine with the Elephant family who kept
mitzvahs, and the rental included use of the kitchen for mea l
preparations. I was receiving a living stipend that made it possible
to get through the month. I could have imagined re maining until
after Pesach (though I did not); I needed to concentrate on an
occupation, and had already landed some work. There were
spiritual forces at work. Shame I didn't ignite a native expressio n
that includes dance and music.
As mentioned, the main floor of the Elephant dwelling consisted
of a front room that included scenery and props to serve fittingl y
as a synagogue : a bookcase for prayer books, tables and a podium,
the Aron Kodesh for the Sefer Torah, and official tables wit h
prayer books to make it a very official-looking holy institution.
As difficult as it is for me to write about this , I feel the point must
be made, and there's really no one else to say it. The extension of
my visit would now include Purim, the celebration of effort to
thwart wicked that prevails in the world where virtue triumphs .
Attached to the downstairs rental unit was a filthy cluttere d
garage within in which were stored the stinky garbage bins until
their once weekly disposal pick -ups. Among the trash. Litter and
debris was a grubby cot with a dilapidated mattress and a moth
bitten rag of a blanket. In these quarters was imprisoned a
homeless unemployed late middle-aged Jewish alcohol addict
na med Harry. The Elephant rabbi would screech at Harry every
time he needed a tenth person to complete his quorum for prayer
services, and screa med at the old illiterate men he paid to be there,
and yelled at his 12 year old son, and demanded of me to be a
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