W ord is spreading among observant

Transcription

1 By Bayla Sheva Brenner W ord is spreading among observant vacationers about a unique Montana couple offering kosher food and Shabbat hospitality amid the towering mountains and open valleys of America s northern plains. More and more frum hikers have enjoyed the amenities at Gavriel and Devorah Snyder s self-built homestead in the small town of Kila open year round to frum travelers. Anytime we can get the outside Orthodox community to come visit, it s a highlight [for us], says Gavriel. The tranquil town of Kila, surrounded by Montana s lush countryside, is located some seventeen miles from Kalispell, the closest city. With 800 Jews in Montana, the Snyders are perhaps the only Orthodox Jews in the state. Despite this, they enjoy a rich, if not rustic, religious life. On Shabbat, they eat homemade (in the truest sense of the word) challah Devorah actually grinds the grain, making her own flour. They obtain chalav Yisrael milk by supervising the milking of the goats at a Bayla Sheva Brenner is senior writer in the OU Communications and Marketing Department. 28 JEWISH ACTION Summer 5766/2006 friend s farm nearby. Glatt kosher meat and chalav Yisrael cheese are sent regularly to their home from Postville, Iowa, via overnight mail. To satisfy their need for a sense of community, the Snyders At times, the Snyders travel five-and-a-half hours to the closest Orthodox shul, which is in Calgary. I cherish the opportunity to daven with a minyan, says Gavriel. occasionally escape their spiritual isolation and travel five-and-a-half hours to the closest Orthodox shul, which is in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I cherish the opportunity to daven with a minyan, says Gavriel, whose homestead was recently featured in a travel article in Kashrus Magazine. So, how did this Orthodox couple find their way to remote Kila, Montana? Raised on a sheep farm outside of Detroit, Devorah, actually known as Patricia McCormick for most of her life, was a born truth-seeker. At the age of seven, she asked her Sunday school teacher why Christians go to church on Sunday if the Bible says the Seventh day is actually Saturday. She was told that they are commemorating the resurrection of the messiah. Not satisfied, she protested, But God said... and was promptly told not to question the teaching. As she grew older, Devorah, who had been baptized at a Lutheran church, had more questions. It disturbed her to find verses in the King James version of the Old Testament with footnotes that read: The meaning of this Hebrew phrase is unclear. Devorah asked her pastor why they didn t ask Jewish rabbis for the exact definition. He told me that if they don t accept our messiah, nothing they have to say is of any interest to us. His answer only increased her discomfort. Devorah met and married Gavriel (Robert) Snyder, with whom she not only shared a strong Lutheran background, but also a deep disillusionment with the church.

2 UseThisummer06Rev 5/30/06 11:38 AM Page 29 They moved to Texas and found serious look at Judaism. Jersey-based adult education and outother frustrated church-goers and a That summer, a few Chabad reach organization. Gavriel reveled in Bible teacher with whom they could yeshivah students came through the weekly Torah classes and expressed relate. The teacher admitted that he did- Montana to reach out to Jewish tourists an interest in converting to Judaism. n t know exactly what truth looked like, and local residents. The couple eagerly The rabbi discouraged him, telling him but he knew that God wasn t within placed themselves on the Chabad mailthere was no need to convert, that he twenty-five miles of the church, and ing list to receive a weekly parashah was in a good spiritual place and should told them if they kept seeking Him by newsletter. It became our lifeline, says simply continue following the Noahide reading the Bible, they would find what Devorah. We started learning like Laws. But Gavriel couldn t let it rest. It they were looking for. Shortly thereafter, crazy. The Torah gave me answers to all wasn t a matter of if ; it was a matter of their mentor died, and the group fell of my questions. The Snyders also when, says Gavriel. It was something apart. scoured the Internet for information I knew I had to do. I would do whatevin 1989, the Snyders left Texas about Judaism. er it took and go where I needed to go for the quiet of the Montana countryto accomplish this. side. Ironically, it was there, hundreds Gavriel received an offer of miles away from observant Jewish to work full-time for the busilife, that the Snyders journey to ness, and the Snyders moved to Yiddishkeit began. Their neighbor and Yardley and began attending business partner, Jack Berger,* who the local Chabad shul. Once was born Jewish but raised again, they voiced their growing Episcopalian, invited the Snyders to desire to become Jews, and once join his (non-jewish) wife and him again they were told that they on a trip to the Holy Land to meet were only required to follow the potential clients. Noahide Laws. But the Snyders We [also] did the tourist insisted that they just had to thing, says Devorah. At the [convert]. We just couldn t stop Western Wall, I was in [total] awe there, says Devorah. We had to almost afraid to touch it. have it all. Touring Jerusalem s Old City, the foursome stopped at a Judaica Mazal Tov Gavriel and Devorah! shop run by two brothers who A beit din in the Crown struck up an intense hour-long conheights section of Brooklyn sent It was the most electrifying day I had ever experi- the determined couple four pages of versation with them. They seemed to spend more time talking to people enced, says Devorah Snyder (pictured here with questions, covering all that they needher husband, Gavriel) of her post-conversion wedabout Judaism than they [did] selling ed to know before undergoing conding. At the age of sixty, I was a Jewish kallah! things, muses Devorah. When they version. The Snyders returned twelve were about to leave, Jack told the pages of answers. I felt like I had engaging proprietors that he would like Their search led them to an online [gotten] my PhD! says Devorah. It to pray for them. The proprietors amijewish bookstore, where they ordered was the end of a fifty-year search for the ably declined the offer. Gavriel was curi- ArtScroll siddurim. truth. For his Jewish name, Robert ous as to why they didn t want Jack to Devorah and Gavriel both felt an chose Gavriel, a derivative of his English pray for them. They told us in a lovintensifying draw toward Judaism. name, based on the late Lubavitcher ing, but firm way: Because you worship What touched me was the fact that to Rebbe s teaching that the name one a different God than we do, relates substantiate something [in Judaism], receives at birth is linked to that person s Devorah. They then began explaining one goes back to the oldest source, essence. Devorah chose her name the difference between the God of the rather than the newest revelation, says because while learning Torah she was Torah and the God of the Christian Devorah. There s no foundation in touched by the devotion of Rivkah s Bible. That was a turning point for us. [Christianity s] Easy Believism where handmaid. [Devorah] accompanied We knew then that we had to get out of one doesn t have to do anything except Rivkah when she left home to marry Christianity. believe in the messiah. Yitzchak, says Devorah. She stayed The two couples returned to the When Gavriel and Jack went to with them and served the fledgling States and conducted an intensive Yardley, Pennsylvania, for a few months Jewish family until she died in Yaakov s search into the roots of Christianity. on business, they began studying with a camp. I [also] wanted to be part of and Their findings compelled them to take a rabbi from Project Gesher, a New to serve the Jewish people. * Name has been changed. Summer 5766/2006 JEWISH ACTION 29

3 Y OUR OU MEMBERSHIP: Not only will you benefit; The OU membership card opens doors for You... YOUR MEMBERSHIP opens the door to a whole host of privileges, with newly-added member benefits in the Jewish marketplace. It s our way of celebrating the gratitude we feel towards our members for their support of the OU s crucial programs. The card, which you will receive inscribed with your name, entitles you to exclusive OU discounts at participating Judaica stores, restaurants and other merchants look for the special OU decal in the window or the door! It also assures you preferred reservations and special rates at OU events. YOUR MEMBERSHIP opens windows of opportunity as the OU affects the lives of countless individuals and Jewish communities across North America, in Israel, and around the world each day. The traveler buying kosher food in far-away places; the shul that wants to give its members the very best in programming; the family with a deaf son or daughter looking for a shidduch; and so much more. Through the OU, you will teach a Ukrainian Jewish child about the Jewish holidays. You will enable a public school youngster to experience his first Shabbat. You ll be helping a college student keep up her Jewish learning. Your voice will be heard in the highest echelons of our government. And you ll be part of one the world s greatest efforts through which Jews help other Jews....and windows of opportunity for. Others

4 the entire Jewish world will benefit, too. Become a member of theou Keep checking the OU website at for the very latest list of participating vendors. You can also suggest appropriate establishments in your neighborhood that we should add. See a partial list of participating vendors on page These benefits are not automatically extended to members of OU synagogues. You must be an individual member of the OU to receive them. Shop where you see this OU Membership decal I want to be a member of the Orthodox Union, helping to make a difference in every part of Jewish life. *Name *Address *City / State / Zip *Phone * Address Business Address Business and phone * Required fields Enclosed is my check (payable to Orthdox Union) Please bill my credit card: Visa MasterCard American Express Discover Card No. Signature Exp. Sign up online at or use this coupon. Please enroll me at the following membership level: $36 Associate Member entitles me to a subscription to Jewish Action magazine, the OU Members Insurance program and a pocket diary upon request. $54 Full Member all of the above plus our exciting new OU Membership card that entitles me to discounts at hundreds of vendors, discounts at OU programs and an OU tote bag. $100 Family Membership all of the above for all members of my family (limited to 1 tote bag). $500 VIP Member all of the above plus a special gift and a subscription to Behind the OU Symbol magazine. $1800 Lifetime Member all of the above plus dedication on the major donor wall at OU headquarters. These benefits are not automatically extended to members of OU synagogues. You must be an individual member of the OU to receive them. Be part of it! Orthodox Union, Eleven Broadway, New York, NY membership@ou.org

5 In the spring of 2001, the Snyders traveled to Crown Heights to complete their ritual conversion, and returned to Yardley to get married under the laws of Moses and Israel. It was the most electrifying day I had ever experienced, says Devorah. At the age of sixty, I was a Jewish kallah! After the horrific attack on 9/11, the business went under and the Snyders moved back to their Montana home, increasing the area s sparse Jewish population by two. Although their two grown children and extended family initially expressed dismay at the couple s dramatic turnabout, they are now reconciled to the fact that the Snyders have embraced Judaism. This past Chanukah, my sister-in-law and mother-in-law both sent us Chanukah cards, says Devorah. There s been an acceptance. Frum hikers enjoy the amenities at the Snyders self-built homestead in Kila, Montana. The Snyders perhaps the only Orthodox Jews in Montana have glatt kosher meat delivered via overnight mail. The Snyders keep their Yiddishkeit strong through constant study; they own a growing library of sefarim, Torah tapes and articles they print out from Torah web sites. That s one of the joys of being a Jew, says Gavriel. You never run out of things to study. There s always something to learn. Devorah still views her journey as an unfolding adventure. The same drive and pull that led me to Judaism keeps me in it and [keeps me] careful about [not eating] bugs in lettuce, [checking for] kosher symbols [on food packages] and checking with the rabbi [when questions arise], she says. To live Torah and trust in Hashem I wouldn t want to be any other place. The Snyders are grateful to have finally made it home as they delight in making other Jewish travelers feel welcome at their heimish homestead in the mountains of Montana. JA 32 JEWISH ACTION Summer 5766/2006

6 AN ORTHODOX UNION COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR THOSE IN THE GREATER NEW YORK AREA As part of our mission to enhance Jewish life in every area, the OU Levaya Program substantially lowers the cost of a traditional, halachic levaya (funeral), while maintaining the highest level of adherence to halacha (Jewish law). THE OU LEVAYA PROGRAM: Fixed price of $3,195 for a chapel service, or $2,895 for a graveside service, includes: hotza ah (transportation from the place of death by the Chevra Kadisha), tahara (preparation of the deceased), tachrichim (burial garments), a pine aron (burial container), the use of a Parkside chapel for the funeral service, and conveyance to a New York metropolitan area cemetery. All the halachic aspects of the OU Levaya Program are provided by the Chevra Kadisha of the Va ad Harabonim of Queens (in Brooklyn, tahara is performed by the Chevra Kadisha of the Va ad Harabbanim of Flatbush), or by your own chevra. When necessary, arrangements can be made at additional cost for shmira, the use of other chapels, or for transfer to a cemetery in Israel. ensures k vod ha-met, that the deceased is cared for in accordance with all the requirements and is tendered all the honor and dignity that the halacha requires. ensures that the aveilim, mourners, are treated with all the sensitivity and concern to which they are entitled. One phone call to LEVAYA.OU assures you of pressure-free and solicitous treatment at a reasonable cost. Parkside Memorial Chapels is one of the most reputable, independent Jewish funeral homes. Still Jewish family owned and operated, it is committed to upholding our traditions, and to treating everyone with dignity and respect. For any further information or if you have any questions concerning the OU Levaya Program, please call LEVAYA.OU ( ), or visit our website at