Shabbat Gathering: About my Shabbat candles.

Sholem aleykhem khaveyrim, as is our custom, we will gather tonight at 5.45p ct to welcome Shabbat. These are the coordinates:

Zoom
Meeting ID: 883 8469 4181
Password: 822665
Phone: +1 312 626 6799

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<I’m going to try to get through this without crying, so bear with me.>

Hi.

Last Friday night was the first time I attended Shabbat Gathering from my new home. Behind me, you could see stacks and stacks of boxes, just as you have for the past few years, so it might not seem that much as changed. But a lot has changed for me.

In one of those boxes is my “official” set of Shabbos candlesticks. Don’t ask me which box they are in because I don’t know. Someday soon I’ll open it and there they will be, patiently waiting to be used. (A dear friend gave me candle drip guards with the candlesticks. You can see them above and I can’t wait to see those again too.) But I’m impatient. I can’t wait to find my “official” candle sticks. So, I clicked over to the Eichler’s website and ordered its least expensive pair of candle sticks and a box of Shabbos candles and a pair of electric Shabbos candlesticks and eight yarhtzeit candles and two electric yarhtzeit candles. (Maybe I went overboard?) I’ve covered all my current and future candle and electric candle needs. (I found my electric menorah already.) I sent out a message to my co-housing comrades that, if they find themselves in need of Shabbat or yarhzeit candles, drop on by my home. I have enough to share.

Anyway, during our last Shabbat service, for the first time in more than 15 years, I lit Shabbos candles in my own home and said the blessing. Fifteen years seems like a long time because it is. I’m finally home. Baruch Hashem. I’m absolutely certain I couldn’t have made the journey without your support. Thank you for your blessings and stay tuned for an announcement about my mezzuzah hanging party / open house.

And may it be for all of us a blessing.

See you tonight!
Gut Shabbes!

All my love,
brian.

PS

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