Saturday, December 23, 2006

Erev Shabbos Madness

This past Erev Shabbos is one that will be hard to forget. The first thing that was on my mind is that I had to go to my mother in law for shabbos. This is something that I always dread and I don't know of anyone that ever wants to go to their MIL. Because of how early Shabbos starts, things are always in a rush. Because of this rush things need to be scheduled to make it to Shabbos in time. One thing that I do every week before Shabbos is go to the mikveh. The mikveh I go to is a small one that not to many people know about. When I arrived at the Mikvah, I put my money in the box and then went inside. Once inside, I saw that the filter was broken and that I would have to go to the other mikveh. I never go to the other mikveh because it is always crowded, and the people that go there act like they are in a swimming pool or some sort of club. When I got to this mikveh, because of DWO and a car parked in the middle of the street, I had to park down the block because I did not want to get a ticket by parking too far from the curb like the other car which prevents one from parallel parking correctly. Once in the mikveh I had to wait on line for the shower. Just common sense should tell you that if it is ever shabbos during the winter everyone is in a rush, so why would you take a 20 minute shower when there is a long line of people waiting for the shower? I do not have an answer to this question so maybe someone can enlighten me with one. Once I finally got in the shower, I proceeded to the mikveh and put my towel in a place where I would know it is mine and where nobody else's towel was. What did not surprise we was that when I came out of the mikveh, my towel was gone. Not only do people take long showers when there is a line of people who are all in a rush,but people take other peoples towels as well. Is this the behavior that someone should have if they are going to the mikveh to purify or become more spiritual? You could have fooled me. I had to walk all the way to the other side to get a towel which isn't a pleasant experience when you are dripping wet and naked. I can say that at least this time when I was there, there were no Israelis playing rat tail. After the whole mikveh experience, when I was on the way to the MIL for shabbos, she calls to make sure that I brought a menorah and oil since they lit already and did not have one for us. Nice to give some warning or to wait and just light with us when we get there like the halacha states if you are lodging elsewhere for the evening. After going back home and getting a menorah and oil I was able to get back, set up, and light before the 18 minutes were up. I am lucky that I work for a Jewish company and we had an early Mincha in the office just in case anybody would be in a similar situation.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

At least you survived the whole ordeal. :)

socialworker/frustrated mom said...

I second Ind. frum thinker. Sorry it wasn't a great experience. You had a good story to tell.

Anonymous said...

Mikvas are always fun :(
I try to do the early/lesser known route but it can't always be helped
About the rudeness, please remember that its not intentional, swiping a towel with a evil grin and cackle.
Its sorta justa lack of respect or plain ol' lazyness.
I wouldn't call it selfish more like thoughtlessness, If they stopped to think about it i'm sure
they wouldn't swipe anothers towel, more likely its hey I need one and there just happens to be one laying right there, hummm must be a spare, after all no one is using it.
Sorry if it ticked you, next time call me and get a diiferent towel.
OK?

FrumWithQuestions said...

IFT and SWFM- Who said I survived?

Yingerman- How can I call you if I don't even know who you are. I don't agree with you about it not being selfishness. Why else would there be a dry towel next to the mikveh? Obviously someone in the mikveh put it there so it would be there when they get out. If someone doesn't remember where they put there towel, they should be the one to walk around naked and get another one. Not the innocent one who puts his towel in a certain place to make sure it is there when he gets out.

Anonymous said...

this should teach you taht no good deed goes unpunished

FrumWithQuestions said...

Anonymous- I am not sure I undertand your comment? Can you please explain. Thanks.

socialworker/frustrated mom said...

Well you are alive so you did survive physically at least.

Anonymous said...

Fru, this is Max from Mentalblog. E-mail me at makumaku@mail.ru. REVEAL YOURSELF (but not too graphicly, please!:))

Sara with NO H said...

I hear in some of the men's mikvahs that they really do sit around and talk and splash like it's a pool. It's so funny to hear guys making coments about "this mikvah" or "that mikvah". I really feel for you lol. Some of the ladies mikvahs are more like spas.
Have a great, wonderful, restful, peaceful, shabbos, and hopefully the filter is working this week!

Anonymous said...

Once again, congratulations, you are seeing that Hassidic life in reality is not the paradise depicted in Hassidic fairy tales.

We must search for truth and not fall for lies, no matter how
enticing they may sound.

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