Washington Snowed-in by Worst Storm in Years

With an unusual amount of snow – early reports indicated that it could be the worst such storm in 30 years – falling in parts of Washington, Jewish centers have canceled events and classes in the hope that all will improve in time for the upcoming Sabbath. But residents have taken the hassle in stride: Some in Olympia, by far the hardest-hit area, were out playing in the snow Wednesday and Thursday with their families.

For Celia Husmann, who attends services as the local Chabad-Lubavitch center run by Rabbi Cheski and Chava Edelman, the snow meant having to miss work while her kids had a blast outside.

“They’re going crazy building snowmen!” she exclaimed of her four-year-old and five-month-old sons.

Although the plows have been clearing up main roads, many who live off of smaller routes or who have long driveways have found it impossible to drive. That led the Edelmans to cancel their weekly Talmud class last night and tonight’s class on the weekly Torah portion.

For Tara Glynn, who usually attends both classes with her husband Michael Zorn, the snow and the cold temperatures have been more than a hassle. Because she has multiple sclerosis, extreme temperatures exacerbate her symptoms.

“If it’s really cold or hot, it bothers me,” said Glynn, 55. “The best temperature is moderate.”

Though she was born in Montreal, she lived in Ventura, Calif., for 35 years before coming to Washington.

“I’m not used to it anymore,” she said of the winter weather. “I don’t like it.”

Glynn was also upset the snow meant missing out on volunteering today at the nursery school run by the Edelmans, who canceled classes until further notice. But even though her car is stuck, she’s not worried about their food supply.

“My husband survived World War II [living in Berlin],” she remarked. “We never have an empty fridge.”

Snow Shutters Seattle

Over in Seattle, even though only a few inches of snow fell, the city shut down.

Chaya Estrin, who co-directs the Chabad House at the University of Washington, said that since classes were canceled yesterday, the students spent the day sledding, while her kids played in the snow.

With only three inches of snow on the ground, the Massachusetts-raised Chabad-Lubavitch emissary said the snow was “blown out of proportion.” In Olympia, Cheski Edelman – another Massachusetts native – agreed.

“Growing up, we had snow like this all the time,” he said. “But for Washington, even a little snow can be tremendous. And this is the most snow we’ve had in years.”

Estrin is inviting students to help cook for the Sabbath since they won’t be spending time at classes.

And Edelman is hopeful that, weather service predictions of an impending ice storm notwithstanding, the weather will clear up for the weekly holy day. Someone in his community needs a quorum of 10 men so that he can recite the mourner’s prayer known as Kaddish publicly.

“We will have services nevertheless, and will also have people over for dinner,” said the rabbi. “But we’re praying for a minyan.”