As the 2014 Israel Riders gather officially tomorrow to register, check out our bikes, and begin getting to know one another, I will face the disappointment that my dear friend and Rabbi, David Lerner is a last minute scratch from our team, the Lexington Minutemenschen.
It will come as no suprise to those who know him that Rabbi Lerner takes his cycling with the same intense spirit that he brings to so many aspects of his life. I have been working on him to join us since I first did the ride in 2010. Since he schedules his life two years ahead (such is the life of a congregational Rabbi), by the time he was hooked, this was the first time he could do it. We have been training and planning for months, getting more excited as the time grew nearer. As he said in one of his High Holiday sermons, the Israel Ride combines three of his greatest passions: Israel, community, and cycling.
Sadly Rabbi Lerner took ill last week and is not able to join us. While he is recovering, and I fully expect him to be riding with us again in the spring when the snow stops flying, we will miss him terribly on the Ride. As we ride out of Jerusalem on Wednesday, his spirit will inspire us. He will be with us in our prayers and in our pedals.
L'hitraot,
Lester
No comments:
Post a Comment