Torah Ideals

Seeking direction in a misdirected world

Bio

Rabbi Yonason Goldson

 

Graduating from the University of California at Davis with a degree in English, I took the only practical course open to me and began hitchhiking across the United States.  Returning home after five months, my resolve to enroll in a graduate program for social work gave way before a recurrent bout of travel fever, and I set out to backpack across Europe, intending to continue on to Africa and Australia, and to revisit Asia as a follow-up to my previous trip around the world.  (But that’s another story.)

 

Half-a-year in Europe left me burned out on travel and psychologically drained, so I crossed the Mediterranean for the Land of Israel, supposing I would occupy myself picking oranges on a kibbutz before returning to the road.  You can read about some of it here.

 

A strong dollar had given a few million other American youths a similar idea, and there wasn’t a spot on any kibbutz to be found.  With dwindling funds and a weary constitution, I took the first opportunity that presented itself:  yeshiva.

 

It took Rabbi Dovid Gottleib two months to convince me that the Torah had indeed been handed down from Sinai.  It took me nearly nine years to begin to learn the language, begin to study the accumulated wisdom of 3300 years, begin to familiarize myself with the ins and outs of Jewish law and practice, start a family, and acquire the most rudimentary qualifications to teach Torah to others.  I describe the influence of my background in literature on my transformation to orthodoxy here.

 

A year in Budapest, Hungary, followed, then two years in Atlanta, Georgia.  You can get a taste of Hungary here.

 

My family now lives in St. Louis, Missouri, where I teach Torah at Block Yeshiva High School.  My writings can be found frequently at jewishworldreview.com, aish.com, and beyondbt.com, and occasionally in the Jewish Observer, HaModia, and Jewish Action.  For several years I was a regular columnist with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and an irregular contributor to the Baltimore Sun.

                       

When unencumbered by the responsibilities of my day-job, I can be found as an adult lecturer on contemporary issues, parenting, education, and Jewish philosophy.  I have also served as a guest scholar-in-residence and a ba’al tefillah (or chazzan) for the High Holidays.

 

Interested parties can contact me at

aspaklaria[at]sbcglobal.net.

 

To be added to my mailing list, send an email with “subscribe” in the subject box.

 

 

5 Comments »

  1. Loved your article about your stay in Hungary. I’ve also been pushed to do things I would have never done in order to get out from under debts. However, nothing as drastic as going to Hungary to teach English. I have a brother-in-law who lives in Budapest parttime with his Hungarian wife Zsuzsa. I always wondered what it was like over there. Besides giving me some idea about what Hungary is like, the article was completely delightful, funny, moving, and evocative. Great writing. Looking forward to more of your stuff.

    Comment by Varda Branfman | August 31, 2008

  2. I really liked your article about your stay in Hungary, especially because I’m one of the hungarian girls your wife used to teach!! I remember babysitting your adoreable kids, and Mrs Goldson even left me her Kitchenaid before you left!
    I was wondering if you could e-mail me your phone number, bec I’d love to get in touch with your wife.
    thank you for a great year: yudit ungar (rona)

    Comment by yudit ungar | October 12, 2008

  3. Yudit:

    My wife emailed you but hasn’t heard back. If her message didn’t reach you, please email. My address is at the bottom of this post and on the sidebar.

    Comment by torahideals | October 28, 2008

  4. Rabbi,

    While in Atlanta, did you know a really wonderful man named Sheldon Little? His wife is a cousin to the famous Arlene Peck.

    I am sorry to say Sheldon died several months ago. He is sorely missed.

    Did you know any Hazans? Randy Hazan is a good buddy of mine. I see him down at the Atlanta Masonic Center near Tech for the lecture championships.

    alles mi best immer!

    Steven Edward Aanes in Oakwood GA 30566

    Comment by Steven Edward Aanes | September 4, 2009

  5. The names are not familiar, I’m afraid. Then again, my memory for names isn’t what it used to be.

    Comment by torahideals | September 6, 2009


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