Jewish bikers receive blessing at Burlington City Temple B'nai Israel

Standing on Burlington City Temple B'nai Israel's porch, Rabbi Joe Domosh (far left) blesses about 100 Jewish bikers about to ride some 20 miles to Hamilton, NJ. The May 5 event was the second annual Blessing of the Bikers at B'nai Israel. Dressed in studded leather, some 100 Jewish bikers—most of them professionals, many of them married couples—converged on Temple B'nai Israel Sunday morning, April 5,

for a blessing just before the Pesach pilgrimage holiday and at the start of the riding season.

This was his second annual "Blessing of the Bikers," said Rabbi Joe Domosh, pulpit rabbi for B'nai Israel, and road rabbi for Star of David Bikers, an affiliate of the international Jewish Motorcyclists Alliance (JMA). Members of two other JMA affiliates, Hillel's Angels and Chai Riders, joined the Burlington bunch for the blessing, which was preceded by a prayer session and socializing over a kiddush snack. Then the whole bunch took off on a 20 mile ride to Grounds for Sculpture in Trenton.

The Burlington City Police helped with parking and departure.

The Star of David Bikers wore tee shirts bearing the slogan "Love of Our People: Love of the Road." Some members of that group will participate in the May 14-16 Ride to Remember, a 110 mile ride from Savannah, GA to Charleston, SC, to raise funds for Holocaust education in those communities.

The JMA has coordinated a Ride to Remember since 2005, Domosh explained. The Jewish Federations of Savannah and Charleston are JMA partners in the 2009 event, and Club-affililated and individual Jewish bikers from Australia, Canada and Israel, as well as throughout the United States are expected to participate.

For information about Star of David Bikers, the Ride to Remember, or Temple B'nai Israel, email rebyossel@comcast. net. .