Sometimes it is better to listen then to speak. One must hold ones silence so that another voice can take hold. I had planned to pen an essay based on this week's Torah portion, but someone has already done it for me. I was going to write about the biblical cities of refuge, and how Chabad houses across Asia serve as their modern-day metaphorical counterparts. My colleague Dovid New and I have spent this past week in Taiwan visiting with Jews who have little or no exposure to their identity. We provided services and resources, but above all we offered our unique camaraderie, manufactured by 40 years of the Lubavitcher Rebbe's unparalleled example of love for his fellow Jew.

I proudly present a substantial substitute to my weekly essay. It is a letter that we received from a Jew whom we contacted:

Greetings Getzy,

Many thanks indeed for taking the time to call and introduce yourself, it made me feel, well shall we say ''not so alone'' down here in South Taiwan. As you can imagine it's pretty difficult to practice our beliefs here, but I do try to keep in touch with G-d on a daily basis, either through thoughts or prayers.

Whilst in South London last May I decided to visit the Synagogue where I was Bar Mitzvah nearly 46 years ago. Met some of my late fathers friends and parents of my old school friends there too. It was very emotional for me to return after so many years, and it was there I decided to try to return to Judaism, after marrying out of the faith on 2 occasions and being single since my arrival from Switzerland (resident for 20 years) in Taiwan 10 years ago.

Unfortunately I cannot read or speak Hebrew, the little I knew has long since been forgotten. By listening to some of the prayers and songs on Chabad.org I realize this is really where I belong. As we used to say back in the UK, once a Jew always a Jew and so rightly so.

Concerning your proposal (to study weekly via telephone), yes I would be interested, only to find time during the week is extremely difficult and I do not have a private office. Our office is 50% Christian with 'roving preachers' passing every other day, my partner is an ardent Christian and we therefore have some rather 'toasted' conversations.

Naturally I could go on and on with my thoughts etc, but do not want to bore you too much, believe you have already understood by our brief conversation and the contents as above.

Again, many thanks for the first contact, to be truthful, in the first instance I did believe it was a hoax ! Apologies.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards

 Rabbi Getzy Markowitz studied for his ordination at the Institute for Talmudic Study and Scholarship in Midtown Manhattan. His writings have appeared in the Jewish Press and are features on Shmais news service, Kabbalah Cast, and JewCrew.org. He has served Jews, and lectured to audiences, on five continents. The Rabbi heads the Solomon Institute for Jewish Wisdom and may be reached at getzym@gmail.com