Being There

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Summer is really here. School is out, kids are off to camp, summer vacations have begun. Summer is defined, for most of us, by being out of our normal year round routine – enjoying late days outside whether cooking on the BBQ or playing sports under the lights, and having those late night walks, bike rides, and tennis matches.

Summer is a different routine for two months of the year. However, certain events still happen despite the warm weather and hours and hours of daylight. There are births and deaths to our loved ones. Lifecycle events bring the community together to share happiness for moments of joy and to give support during moments of grief.

In our Jewish tradition, a minyan (10 Jewish men and women over the age of 13) must be present to pray publically. Shomrei is a small community, and during the summer months, as people are away, even smaller. We struggle on Friday nights to have a minyan and, though less of a concern on Saturday mornings, the time that we have enough people for a minyan is not guaranteed.

Members of our community have deaths in their family also during the summer. Attending a shiva is the mitvah of nichum aveilim [comforting mourners]. Attending the shiva assures that there is a minyan to recite the Kaddish. Performing this mitvah is one of the hightest honors a person can do for another in the community. Though it may be uncomfortable, it is not necessary that you know the deceased or the mourner, your presence is giving comfort to a member of the community.

We are all busy and have our summer lives – including me. Please, if you are around on a Friday night and can help make the minyan at 6:30, (services are usually an hour) people you may not even know will be much appreciated as they are saying kaddish. If you can be there on Saturday morning, and participate in the service, the Rosh Gabbai [head assistant for organizing the service] will be forever thankful. And most important, if there is a call for a Shiva minyan, even if you do not know the family, stop by for the half hour, you will be giving a family one of the greatest gifts you can give anyone, your time and presence.

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Image: “Hands” by Ian Brown is licensed under CC BY 2.0

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