From
the Rabbi…
Fall
2006
Yes I agree….The Neilah
service went on too long after the fast was out on Yom Kippur.
Next year, it will not go on as long, although it will go
on after the fast for a little bit. The question is…why?
If other synagogues can be done 10 seconds after the fast
has gone out why can't we?
The answer is obvious to those who were
present for Neilah and its aftermath, and was expressed
by a congregant to me this week. He told me that he was
moved to tears by our spiritual and special Havdalah service
that we experienced at the close of Yom Kippur. All of the
children surrounded me holding glow sticks, and they in
turn were surrounded by all of the adults in the shul as
we sang the Havdalah blessings to the stirring melody by
songster, Debbie Friedman. It truly was a wonderful inspiring
service, despite the fact we were all quite hungry and tired
at that time of the Yom Kippur day. And then to close Yom
Kippur, all those with shofar in hand blew the Tekiah gedolah
of tekiah gedolahs! Daniel Lipsitz must have bionic lungs
(for all those who understand the reference.) Kol hakavod,
Daniel!
Some have asked why the final tekiah is
left until AFTER the evening service (Ma'ariv) and Havdalah,
since traditionally, it seems, that it is blown directly
at the end of the fast. Well, you should know that there
is a teshuvah (responsum) which suggests it is more correct
to blow the shofar after everything is completed, since
the evening service and Havdalah are part of Yom Kippur.
Of course, there is another reason for
postponing the shofar. What happens if the shofar is blown
before Ma'ariv and Havdalah?...... Everyone makes for the
exit and Ma'ariv and Havdalah are done in 10 seconds with
no one in particular taking much notice. What a pitiful
conclusion to a glorious day. At B'nai Torah we have an
outstanding end to our service achieved by simply moving
the final shofar blast to the end.
I began by saying that we went on too
long…which we did. Next year we will cut the English
readings in Neilah, and begin the Ma'ariv service 10 minutes
earlier. This year we ended 25 minutes after the fast ended.
Next year, it will be 10. And that 10 minutes will be well
worth the wait. Indeed, I recommend that you come to Neilah
next year. It is an exceptional service which we end at
B'nai Torah in spectacular fashion All children will receive
glow sticks, all those who wish to, can blow the shofar,
and the singing will be truly special.
Returning to this years High Holiday services,
I would like to wish yasher koach to all those who participated
in our services. To our daveners, Zelig Zacharow, Manny
Lobel, and of course, Cantor William Helmreich for again
providing us all with spiritual and meaningful services.
To our Torah readers, Susan Elkodsi, David Elkodsi, Dustin
Schwartz, Cheryl Wollner, Sam Zuckerman, Idalia Friedson,
Josh Volpe, Craig Rogoff, Ariel Fein. Penny Volpe, Matt
Fodor, Rachel Morsches and Jocelyn Rosenberg. We had more
Torah readers this year than ever before. To our Haftarah
readers, Ariel Fein, Manny Lobel and Cantor Helmreich. To
our shofar blowers, Jeff Arron and Daniel Lipsitz. To our
chief usher, Alan Frankel and to our chief gabbai, Bernie
Finegold, and their respective teams. To Bernice Friedson
and Michael Lantowski for their
magical rendition of Kol Nidre. To Paul
Antell, for his passionate appeal on behalf of Israel Bonds,
and to our president, Hal Schwartz for his stirring appeals
for your participation at B'nai Torah. Every year, I feel
that our services were the best ever. That is certainly
true this year. They were the best ever! And I do not want
to forget (as I did last year!) Susan Elkodsi who is, without
a doubt, the mastermind behind the success of our services.
She, again, gave substantial time and effort, behind the
scenes, in order that we had meaningful and smoothly run
services. Kol Hakavod to all of you. And, of course, Kol
Hakavod to all of our members and guests who prayed with
us these High Holidays. All of you made the feeling in the
synagogue as wonderful and awe-inspiring as it was again
this year.
Shanah Tovah and Kol Tuv to you and your
loved ones. I hope to see you soon!
Rabbi Colin
(203) 268-6940
rabbi@bnaitorahct.org
