There are a couple of schools of thought when enjoying travel in a foreign land. One approach is to take advantage of new experiences and look for opportunities not available at home. The second approach is to find comfort in experiences reminiscent of home.

And so, when we are in Jerusalem on our teen mission (we’ll schedule our next trip as soon as deemed safe), Rabbi Sam Shor and I like to offer a variety of choices for Friday night services. Some kids take comfort in visiting the Anglo-friendly Reform or Conservative synagogues, which look, sound, and feel very much like our own local synagogues. Others are willing to step way out of their comfort zones for those new experiences that only Jerusalem (and maybe Brooklyn) can offer.

On one of our trips, a group of us attended a Breslov Chasidic synagogue. Congregants could not have been more hospitable as they made room for us in their tiny, packed sanctuary. They grabbed our hands to make sure that we participated in the dancing and encouraged us to hum along if we didn’t know the words they were singing. One of the very active congregants was the American (and now Israeli) rapper Nissim Black.

On the walk back to the hotel, I asked one of our kids, “How was that? Was it similar to the Friday-night service in your shul back home?” “Not even a little bit!” he answered.

I share all of this as the backdrop for a great opportunity for our community this Monday night at UAlbany when Shabbos House (with support from Hillel, Jewish Federation, and others) brings in Nissim Black to perform.

The concert is open to students and the whole community. Registration is required. Please find details on the flyer.

I hope to see everyone there.