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I expect the Kol Shalom sanctuary will very soon be filled when we gather for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. While it is certainly possible to observe certain aspects of the High Holy Days without attending synagogue services (e.g. sounding the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah, fasting on Yom Kippur), nevertheless, on these “Days of Awe,” so many more Jews seek the communal experience of synagogue services to enhance the observance of the holidays. Surely, most of us feel that the synagogue, our synagogue, Kol Shalom, is a most special and holy place, the place where we want to be on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I would like to describe two other very special events which took place recently at Congregation Kol Shalom. They are very different in nature, but again, in both cases, the synagogue/congregation experience elevated these experiences into the realm of holiness. I was extremely impressed and proud of our congregation’s response to Natalie Lobe and the rest of her family upon the recent death of Natalie’s beloved husband, and member of our congregation, Bernie Lobe. Bernie’s funeral took place in Congregation Kol Shalom, and members of our congregation sat as “shomrim – guardians” over Bernie’s body beginning just a few hours after his death in the middle of the night until he was laid to rest almost three days later. Another group performed the ritual known as “tahara – purification” to prepare Bernie for his funeral and burial. These mitzvot were performed by loving members of our community who knew Bernie personally. The shiva services were led and attended by many congregants of Kol Shalom. The other very different event just celebrated in our congregation was the Bat Mitzvah of our daughter, Hadar Yael Pohl. Sharon and I are so happy to be part of this congregation and we were honored to include so many of our congregants in our Shabbat service and the lunch which followed. Of course, we were very proud of our daughter, but we are also very proud of our shul. There is no substitute for the holiness achieved when sharing life-changing moments with others in your congregation community. A colleague recently referred to the High Holy Days as a life cycle event. Indeed, it is exactly that, and we experience this life cycle event each and every year. I can’t imagine being alone, apart from the congregation and synagogue with which I affiliate. Nor could I imagine how different it would be if I were not part of our congregation at the time of the death of a loved one or when celebrating our most happy occasions. In an age when synagogue affiliation is considered low on the list of priorities for Jewish families, I, and I hope you also, know that the value of affiliation with Congregation Kol Shalom is truly unparalleled anywhere else in our communities, or in our lives. Sharon, Rebecca, Ariela, and Hadar join me in wishing everyone in our community a shanah tovah u’metukah, a good and sweet year. Rabbi Philip Pohl |
