Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields, WLCJ Executive Director
At the end of December 2025, my husband and I were privileged to take a seven day cruise for an early 25th wedding anniversary celebration. One of my favorite activities on a cruise is attending the art auction. When I was waiting for the art auction on the cruise to begin, a couple sat in front of me, and he turned to me and said, “Am Yisrael Chai,” and pointed to my necklace. I thought I was wearing last year’s Torah Fund pin, but he was actually pointing to this year’s pin. Seeing Hebrew, he made the connection with me, and I noticed that he too and the woman he was with had something on their Apple Watch that said Am Yisrael Chai. He told me that he has made a point of speaking to everyone he saw with some symbol of Judaism. And of course, after meeting them, I saw them every few hours of the rest of the cruise.
The cruise took place on the first Shabbat of 2026. The greatest moment of Jewish joy on a cruise is the aniticipation of seeing Shabbat services listed on the cruise schedule. I wondered: Where will it be? When will it be? Who will show up? We gathered to pray together; to show our Jewish pride and share our Jewish joy of being blessed to cruise. Friday night services were held, much earlier than candlelightning, on the fourth level of the ship, where one usually only went to disembark or to go to the health center. It seemed a very out of the way place for services, but it turned out really nice. It was quiet and away from the loudness of a cruise. It truly turned into a sacred space, despite the Christmas tree in the area. The printed pamphlet for the prayer book was the best I had seen on a cruise ship, and we had electric tea lights, Manischewitz, and uncut challah. We could all see the other Jews on the cruise. Cruisers of all ages were there, and we all added to the service. The man I had kept seeing around the cruise who wore a kippah, finally noticed me and my husband, and afterwards, when we saw each other, we smiled and greeted each other.
I share these reflections of my cruise, to show the feelings of Jewish pride, which brought Jewish joy. I pray that in 2026, we can all live in a sense of Jewish pride, and show that Jewish pride, without fear or trepidation. And when we will inevitably have moments of unease, may our Jewish pride and joy override any other feelings. May we live each day of 2026, by truly reflecting the words of the psalmist, Ivdu Et Hashem B’Simchah, Boo L’fanav Birnana—Worship God with joy! Come before God with joyous song!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields
WLCJ Executive Director
ewolintz-fields@wlcj.org
