Houston, TX

Here I am, back in Houston, TX. I think I've done ten brisses in Houston in the last few years. Here was the first one... 

Anyway, that's old hat. This was my first time doing a bris in United Orthodox Synagogues since Hurricane Harvey destroyed their main building (I've been here since that flood, but the brisses I've done did not take place in the synagogue). 

The building itself is now just one big room - their social hall is now serving as their sanctuary, while one third of the room remains dedicated to whatever catering, such as their Kiddush on Shabbos, or the meal at a bris. Here's a balloon!

And here's a view of the front of the room from the "catering" area (taken while I was eating breakfast, yes.)

Being that the building now has no offices and no private rooms, I was in a bit of a quandary as to where I might prepare the baby and check him after the bris. But the rabbi had a great solution... a movable wall!

Now isn't this a nice little tucked away corner?

This particular trip was a bit of a nail-biter because the bris was Friday morning, and the only reasonably priced ticket I could find to get me back home for sundown on Friday (and the onset of Shabbos) was a 1:30pm Spirit flight.

And, of course, delayed....

But, thank God, everything worked out in the end. I got home with about 25 minutes before Shabbos, so despite any nail biting, I still have a full set of nice nails. 😁

My next travel bris is coming up Wednesday. You'll just have to check in again to see where I'm going. It's pretty exotic!