Fiddler on Broadway

Published in The Post-Star (D1)
7/17/06

Broadway isn’t such a surprising place for a certain familiar Jewish fiddler to show up, but in this town, his cry of "Tradition! Tradition!" is coming from a storefront rather than a roof.

Fiddler on Broadway, a seasonal shop filled with Jewish art, games, literature and religious objects, recently opened its doors for the summer in downtown Saratoga.

It’s operated by the local branch of Chabad, a worldwide community of Jews who place a strong emphasis on spreading Jewish tradition and teachings through social action and the arts.

"The idea of Chabad is that wherever you are, you should bring godliness and goodness," explained Devorah Rubin, who works at the store. Her brother, Rabbi Abba Rubin, leads the local Chabad community with his wife, Rochelle.

The group welcomes Jews of all ages and backgrounds to participate in worship services, study groups and other events at the Saratoga Chabad Center on 130 Circular St., but Rabbi Rubin said he hopes the store will give them a more visible presence downtown.

He wants "Fiddler on Broadway" to be more than a store — it’s a sort of visitor’s center for Jews, where they can find out things like where to buy kosher food (the closest place is Price Chopper in Colonie) and when local synagogues are holding services.

"I think people should be exposed to their heritage and be proud of it — not just in a synagogue, but also in public, in a friendly way," he said. "We picked the theme of the fiddler because it’s something that most Jewish people can recognize and relate to."

So far, he said, the response has been very positive.

"Sometimes, people don’t even need to buy anything, they just want to pop in and say they’re Jewish," Devorah said. "It’s neat."

From menorahs and prayer scrolls to kosher Candyland ("Magical Mitzvah Park"), the merchandise is meant to appeal to Jews of all ages and types. Framed prints and paintings by Jewish artists line the walls of the long, narrow shop, sharing space with kitschier items.

There’s a tower of plastic cups bearing the design "Torah — It’s the Real Thing" in the shape of the Coca-Cola logo, and a shelf of kosher candy imported from Israel. In the back of the store, kids can make arts and crafts while watching videos about Jewish history.

On Friday afternoon, Rabbi Rubin stopped at a shelf of mezuzas — small parchment scrolls, containing a Hebrew prayer for protection, that are placed in doorways — and decided it was time the store had one of its own. Uttering a brief blessing, he attached it to the store’s entrance, then turned and smiled.

"It’s kind of like an insurance policy," he explained.

IF YOU GO
Fiddler on Broadway, at 466 Broadway in Saratoga Springs, is open now through September 15 from 11 to 5 p.m. Monday to Wednesday and Friday, 11 to 7 p.m. Thursday, and 11 to 6 p.m. Sunday. More information at www.saratogachabad.com