One Voice: Jewish Surfers Speak Up

I am 33 years old and went to yeshiva all my life. First, in Toronto and then College at Yeshiva University. I ended up staying in New Jersey where I became a builder. Five years ago after a long hard search and with G-d's help, I married the most wonderful woman, Miriam. We have two children, Malia and Shaje.

I have always loved water sports and the ocean. I love to sail, windsurf and swim but most of alI I Iove to surf. Miriam's parents have a summer place in Long Beach, Long Island. After my father a"h was niftar (passed away) we started spending the summers there. It was a very depressing time for me and I used to take long walks on the beach to try to clear my mind.

I became good friends with Corki who is a great surfer and a good person. He suggested that I try surfing. Well, the rest is history. I went out and bought a longboard and for the rest of the summer I got "pounded". But the next year was not so bad, I actually caught a few waves. This last summer Corki and I were actually surfing the same waves together with a group of about ten middle-aged surfers. About half of them are Jewish.

When you tell a "frum" person that you surf they look at you like you are crazy. But when I surf I really feel like it is a religious experience. When one sees the wonders of the sea with it's waves, tides and currents and how it interacts with the wind there can be no doubt in the greatness of Hashem.

So what is the purpose of this letter? I have no idea, except that it feels good to communicate with someone who is obviously "frum" and sees things a little differently than the flock.

One day I hope we get a chance to meet . . By the way, don't think I didn't notice the way you "snaked" the guy on your second wave.