God Delivered the Pilgrims—and My People

The congregants of Congregation Shearith Israel, the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in NY City, are installing their 10th rabbi in 360 years. As this op-ed from the Wall Street Journal demonstrates, they chose wisely in selecting R. Soloveichik.

Being second generation born here, I was brought up a in public school environment in Middle Village, Queens, New York.  Although my grandmother spoke with a slight European accent and I knew the family came from Polish Russia, when I sang "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," I felt it in my bones then, and feel it now, that I, too, shared in the "pilgrims' pride."

R. Soloveichik reminds us that we all have something to be thankful to God for, and it's not just a big fat turkey.

Well, that's what I think.

Stephen M. Flatow

Rabbi Meir Soloveichik: God Delivered the Pilgrims and My People