Torah Networking

Traveling to synagogue on Sabbath

I am a new convert/conservative...the closest synagogue is a 4 hour round trip to have access to a Rabbi. I realize we are forbidden to drive a car on Sabbath....how can we develop Jewish relationships and have bonding with our new Jewish famly if we are unable to drive to the synagogue?

There are so many Jewish people coming from out of town that if none of them were driving - the synagogue would have to close their doors. So what are our options when we are here - out of the land of Israel?
Thank you for your assistance, Gail.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Yisroel Phillips on March 3, 2008 at 12:18pm: The short answer is that you should move to within walking distance of a synagogue. Were you not given that advice during the course of your conversion?

If the community is a lively and vibrant one then there should be lots going on during the week, not just on Shabbos.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rephoel on March 4, 2008 at 2:22am: One can bond with GD even without a shul.When one davens (prays) at home and keeps the Shabbos,he is doing the right thing and when he travels to shul by illegal (against Torah law) means of transportation or distances,to daven with a (kosher) minyan,he is doing the wrong thing by transgressing the Sabbath and the prayers are then worthless. Jews are communal people. They MUST live together,pray together,study with each other,help one another.This togetherness makes GD bless us.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Matisyahu Glenn on March 6, 2008 at 3:22am: I'm a bit confused - on your page it says you're modern orthodox, and on this post it says you're conservative. There's a huge, as in, universe of difference, namely one is a community of jews who believe in torah and the other is not.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rephoel on March 6, 2008 at 3:43am: First of all,there are no branches in Judaism If you're a Jew you adhere to the Torah or you're not a proper Jew. Secondly, I am NOT "modern orthodox or conservative. I am a Ben-Torah .It is not a mitzvo to do something through disobeying the Torah.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Yisroel Phillips on March 6, 2008 at 8:40am: For some reason I can't open the box to reply directly to Rephoel's last post.

Rephoel, Matisyahu wasn't referring to you, but to Sarah whose Profile shows her to be "Modern Orthodox" whereas in the first post in this topic she states she is Conservative.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Matisyahu Glenn on March 7, 2008 at 12:40am: rephoel, I'm sorry if you thought I was talking to you - I was talking to Sara, and I agree with what you said 100%; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rephoel on March 7, 2008 at 1:27am: THANKS for the clarification!!
Staying home on Rosh HaShono and NOT traveling by illegal (halachically) means,resulting in not hearing shofar,or not going to a non-frum shul to hear it,it is preferable to stay home and not to commit an aveira (SIN) by transgressing the Yom Tov!(Or going into a non-kosher temple).
Davening (praying) at home without a minyan can be holier than going to a minyan by chillul Shabbos!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sarah on March 7, 2008 at 4:56pm: I understand what you are saying. This clears up the problem for me. I have much to learn and coming from a non Jewish lifestyle I have much to unlearn as well. Thank you for the information. Have a Blessed Shabbath.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rephoel on March 7, 2008 at 7:12pm: Excellent! Very well said! Even if one sits and davens and learns by himself,the shechina will be on his/her side. See Pirkei Avos!
(Of course,b'rov am hadras melech. But the am have to follow the laws of their Leader!-G-D) (Am=people who are the followers); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rephoel on March 7, 2008 at 7:55pm: All the best to you and continued success!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rabbi Aryeh Moshen on October 6, 2008 at 11:03pm: I would suggest that you join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/orthodoxconversiontojudaism/ one of the top Gerus groups. Secondly, I would strongly suggest that you consider relocating to within walking distance of a synagogue. Orthodox Jews are very welcoming and if you were to live near an Orthodox Synagogue you would most likely receive invitations for Shabbos meals and have a chance to truly bond with other Jews. As you are aware of our prohibition of driving on the Sabbath, you are probably ahead of most members of Conservative Temples and might feel more at-home with an Orthodox crowd. The caveats include Orthodox dress code which is much more conservative than Conservative Jews' dress codes.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Hadassah on October 7, 2008 at 9:20pm: Sarah:

I FEEL for you. For many years I lived a hour from Shul with no chance of moving for a plethora of reasons. I stayed at home due to pressure (properly applied) from my community (even though others made similar arguments as you did--We are in exile, we can drive a different way, park farther so we can walk part of it, etc.) but due to the isolation and other factors,my girls and I suffered horribly. Esp. because my ex husband and his ever-present family were goyim (I wasn't as religious when I married, obviously). So being a baal tshuva was a very very long and difficult road for me. Take heart, with constant prayer and may years later, HaSh-m made a way for us and we now live within walkig distance. But I will give you some advice that helped me. I spoke earnestly to the Rebbe about my woes and the fact that I felt that in my case in particular, being separated from SHul (which was a refuge and a lifeline to me then) was unthinkable and destructive for us, esp. since it was the only place where we had any support. Home was a battle zone for every issue. He found a family who would host us for Friday night who lived close enough to walk to Shul. It was an imposition, I am sure, and I bless the family who helped us in my heart everyday, as I am sure HaSh-m does as well. Naturally, this did nothing for my homelife situation which rapidly deteriorated, but that was going to happen anyway. It was already written in HaShammayim. There is a way, if you daven about it, HaSh-m will show you. Hope this helps, really. We can speak on this more if you like.

Also, stay in touch with the GY. This too was a haven for me. You need support.
-Hadassah; ▶ Reply to This