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P. 52
that they assured him that no animal dates from before World War II and is My itinerary called for staying in dif-
products whatsoever were allowed in the primarily of East European origin, near- ferent parts of the country: I would start
place. ly half from two villages in Poland. They out in San Jose, in the center of the
daven nusach Sfard and are nominally country for Shabbos and to pick up
That sent warning lights flashing in Orthodox. The office recommended a kosher (frozen) dinners, then travel to
my head. There could be many other hotel near the shul, Hotel Rincón del Arenal in the north to experience the
issues, from bugs to bishul nochri to Valle, that “caters” to shomer Shabbos volcanos, coffee plantations, and cloud-
who-knows-what. On Google, I found the visitors. I later found out that the hotel is ed rainforests. We would then travel to
website of the Jewish community owned by a nonobservant Jewish officer Manuel Antonio in the southeast to
(www.centroisraelita.com) and the email on the shul’s board. They also recom- experience the lowland tropical forest
address of the Chief Rabbi’s office (cisd- mended a kosher caterer who connected and the Pacific coastline. To find a
cr@centroisraelita.com). They responded me with Sergio Heinfling, another secluded beach for swimming without
that there was no rabbinical supervision local Jewish fellow in the community problems of immodestly dressed bathers
of the hotel, and the rabbi said it was not (“You scratch my back…”) who runs a would require that we rent a car. I was
kosher. I forwarded the letter to the tour tour company (www.memorablecostari- advised to get an SUV because the roads
guide and the kosher tour company, and ca.com). My sister has a neighbor who in Costa Rica are sometimes not suitable
they informed me that they would not be had spent time in Costa Rica as an emis- for regular vehicles. When I got there, I
able to ship me kosher meals from San sary for some Jewish organization. found that they had paved most of the
Jose to Lands of Love, and shalom al Between her and Sergio, I came up with roads we used; only short stretches of
Yisrael. a hypothetical itinerary. I decided that I roads were graveled and severely pot-
would travel to the country and tour on holed.
Now what?? my own, without benefit of a guide or a
The Jewish community organization, tour bus. This was a little scary for me. I ◆◆◆
Centro Israelita Sionista de Costa Rica, imagined lunatic drivers on the roads,
did send me some names of kosher and I feared getting lost in the middle of I was still debating whether to go
facilities and of people who could help nowhere with no one who spoke English through with all this when I received
me. It blew my mind that there are three who could assist me. (Not that far off an invitation to a wedding in
kosher restaurants in San Jose, two meat from what did happen!) Washington D.C. of a good friend who
and one dairy, in a Jewish community of was remarrying. Wanting to share in his
2,000 souls! The present community simcha (long overdue!) was the final
Summer Learning א For Yeshiva High School
Boys Ages 15-18
&ינוTouring Program Summer 2017:
July 24-August 16
Achein
at Yeshivas Bais Yisroel, Yerushalayim
to the TorahConneCt Learning in a comfortable
Bais Medrash
to Eretz YisroelConneCt Exciting daily trips with
armed escort
ConneCt to Each Other Sharing an unforgettable
summer experience
For more information: R' Nachliel Friedman, Director R' Avi Schwartz, Head Counselor
AcheinuYBY@gmail.com 02.585.6918 / US# in EY: 718.689.1748 058.320.9157 / US# in EY: 917.724.2958
Program Cost: $2,500 (airfare not included)
44 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
products whatsoever were allowed in the primarily of East European origin, near- ferent parts of the country: I would start
place. ly half from two villages in Poland. They out in San Jose, in the center of the
daven nusach Sfard and are nominally country for Shabbos and to pick up
That sent warning lights flashing in Orthodox. The office recommended a kosher (frozen) dinners, then travel to
my head. There could be many other hotel near the shul, Hotel Rincón del Arenal in the north to experience the
issues, from bugs to bishul nochri to Valle, that “caters” to shomer Shabbos volcanos, coffee plantations, and cloud-
who-knows-what. On Google, I found the visitors. I later found out that the hotel is ed rainforests. We would then travel to
website of the Jewish community owned by a nonobservant Jewish officer Manuel Antonio in the southeast to
(www.centroisraelita.com) and the email on the shul’s board. They also recom- experience the lowland tropical forest
address of the Chief Rabbi’s office (cisd- mended a kosher caterer who connected and the Pacific coastline. To find a
cr@centroisraelita.com). They responded me with Sergio Heinfling, another secluded beach for swimming without
that there was no rabbinical supervision local Jewish fellow in the community problems of immodestly dressed bathers
of the hotel, and the rabbi said it was not (“You scratch my back…”) who runs a would require that we rent a car. I was
kosher. I forwarded the letter to the tour tour company (www.memorablecostari- advised to get an SUV because the roads
guide and the kosher tour company, and ca.com). My sister has a neighbor who in Costa Rica are sometimes not suitable
they informed me that they would not be had spent time in Costa Rica as an emis- for regular vehicles. When I got there, I
able to ship me kosher meals from San sary for some Jewish organization. found that they had paved most of the
Jose to Lands of Love, and shalom al Between her and Sergio, I came up with roads we used; only short stretches of
Yisrael. a hypothetical itinerary. I decided that I roads were graveled and severely pot-
would travel to the country and tour on holed.
Now what?? my own, without benefit of a guide or a
The Jewish community organization, tour bus. This was a little scary for me. I ◆◆◆
Centro Israelita Sionista de Costa Rica, imagined lunatic drivers on the roads,
did send me some names of kosher and I feared getting lost in the middle of I was still debating whether to go
facilities and of people who could help nowhere with no one who spoke English through with all this when I received
me. It blew my mind that there are three who could assist me. (Not that far off an invitation to a wedding in
kosher restaurants in San Jose, two meat from what did happen!) Washington D.C. of a good friend who
and one dairy, in a Jewish community of was remarrying. Wanting to share in his
2,000 souls! The present community simcha (long overdue!) was the final
Summer Learning א For Yeshiva High School
Boys Ages 15-18
&ינוTouring Program Summer 2017:
July 24-August 16
Achein
at Yeshivas Bais Yisroel, Yerushalayim
to the TorahConneCt Learning in a comfortable
Bais Medrash
to Eretz YisroelConneCt Exciting daily trips with
armed escort
ConneCt to Each Other Sharing an unforgettable
summer experience
For more information: R' Nachliel Friedman, Director R' Avi Schwartz, Head Counselor
AcheinuYBY@gmail.com 02.585.6918 / US# in EY: 718.689.1748 058.320.9157 / US# in EY: 917.724.2958
Program Cost: $2,500 (airfare not included)
44 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
