What's New Rabbi's Article A Happy Ending
Written by Rabbi Norbert Weinberg
The Fast of Asara B'Tevet coincided with Friday last week. This is very rare, but since the T’nach specified this day of the month, it has to be observed on the tenth, even if it falls on Friday. One of the reasons why Fridays are avoided for public fast days wherever possible is because we do not want to enter Shabbat in a depressed and hungry state.
I want to share with you some of my feelings of last Friday. I thought it would be very important for us to have a Mincha service prior to Shabbat, which would reflect the fast by by the reading of the Torah, etc. However, it was very early in the day, and we have a small shul with a limited membership. I contacted as many people as possible and could only hope that we would have the necessary quorum for the minyan. I was very doubtful of success.
What unfolded was deeply touching. The first one to arrive after me was a teenager who used his bicycle to be there on time. One father rushed home to bring two Bar Mitzvah sons who had already said the Mincha service in school. Another father called me from the emergency room of a hospital to let me know that because his son needed some treatment, he could not attend the service. Another person ran to the shul so quickly that I had to physically slow him down. Some came eventhough they were not "regulars." I do not mention the names of these people, because it would only embarrass them. They did it because they were wonderfully motivated to do so.
Needless to state, we had a very nice minyan, after which we welcomed the Shabbat. I did not feel sad or even hungry When Shabbat began, I had a great feeling of nachat at seeing the powerful and positive potential, which defines our shul.
I want to share with you some of my feelings of last Friday. I thought it would be very important for us to have a Mincha service prior to Shabbat, which would reflect the fast by by the reading of the Torah, etc. However, it was very early in the day, and we have a small shul with a limited membership. I contacted as many people as possible and could only hope that we would have the necessary quorum for the minyan. I was very doubtful of success.
What unfolded was deeply touching. The first one to arrive after me was a teenager who used his bicycle to be there on time. One father rushed home to bring two Bar Mitzvah sons who had already said the Mincha service in school. Another father called me from the emergency room of a hospital to let me know that because his son needed some treatment, he could not attend the service. Another person ran to the shul so quickly that I had to physically slow him down. Some came eventhough they were not "regulars." I do not mention the names of these people, because it would only embarrass them. They did it because they were wonderfully motivated to do so.
Needless to state, we had a very nice minyan, after which we welcomed the Shabbat. I did not feel sad or even hungry When Shabbat began, I had a great feeling of nachat at seeing the powerful and positive potential, which defines our shul.
Post a Comment or Question:
