G’mar Chatima Tova. You should be sealed for a good year. This is how we greet each other during the period that ended yesterday, which began with Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, followed by the Aseret Yemei Teshuva, the 10 Days of Repentance, culminating in the fasting and praying of Yom Kippur. It will be Shabbat in Israel in a few hours, and we have arrived here to spend the next holidays of Sukkot in Israel with Ariel, Gila and Elisha. In general, I post after we have been in Israel for a few days, not just hours, but there were events this week that need to be written about and preserved.
We were
fortunate to spend Yom Kippur with Monty, Daniella and Tali in Buffalo for the
second year in a row. Yes, Buffalo may not be on the travel plans of many, but
first, you can’t beat being with family and second, Monty is the Baal-Musaf
(volunteer cantor) for the synagogue, the Young Israel of Greater Buffalo. In
truth, both Monty and Daniella bring a lot to the community, in spite of their
hectic schedules (residency program, taking care of Tali, running the house…).
Monty has been very active in their synagogue and this is the third year that
he has led the high-holiday services. This is something that takes special
expertise, as the melodies are not the same as those used all year round. Monty
also has a great voice and can engage the congregation to sing along. The
services were terrific, and he had as much energy at the end of the fast day as
at the beginning. It was very impressive. Daniella has been working on a
special project for the community, bringing in two girls from Israel to work in
the schools and synagogues. These girls are in their second year of Israeli
National Service (Sheirut Le-umi) and they provide educational programs and
tremendous spirit to the places they work. Residents of Cote-St Luc know very
well the contribution these young ladies can make, having hosted many over the
past 15 years. Daniella worked hard last year to interest the community and
fundraised successfully to start the program for this year. We met the two
girls Stav and Adi last night, and wish them great success.
So, we
arrived in Buffalo on Tuesday around noon, and till we left we were entertained
with non-stop Tali! We learned all about
princesses, fairies, Rapunzel and a host of Disney characters; we played word
games, memory games, read stories, and very much enjoyed spending time with
her. She is a bundle of energy and can converse for hours, and she’s only 3½!
It was hard to leave this morning, and we look forward to our next visit.
The
solemnness of Yom Kippur was made even more sobering this week by the sudden
passing early Monday morning of a great community leader in Montreal, Rabbi
Sidney Shoham. Rabbi Shoham was the founding Rabbi of our synagogue, Beth Zion,
steered the synagogue as Rabbi and Rabbi Emeritus for 60 years. The sheer
longevity of his service to the community is praiseworthy enough, but how he
did this is even more impressive. As one of the many who was touched by Rabbi
Shoham, I would like to share a few thoughts on what he has left behind.
Rabbi
Shoham had an uncanny ability to make everyone feel comfortable in his
presence. Despite being tremendously learned and a powerful presence in the
pulpit, he always had a personal greeting for everyone. I will really miss him
saying “So, how’s the doc?” when we would meet, always with a firm handshake
and smile. I am sure he had hundreds if not thousands of pet phrases for the
people he knew. He always remembered important details about people. Moreover,
it did not matter who you were, Jewish or Christian, observant or secular, he
would talk to you, engage you, and impress with his wit and insights. His
son-in-law Willy would regale us with stories of visiting the Hasidic community
in Outrement, and giving a long and complex dissertation in Jewish Law, in
Yiddish; he was equally at home counseling lay members of his congregation, or
discussing golf and baseball.
Barbara
commented that in the synagogue’s heyday, Rabbi Shoham would follow the Torah
Procession on Shabbat morning, with a handshake and a personal word for each of
the congregants. People often thought this added time to an already lengthy
service. Yet for many, this was the most important part of coming to synagogue.
To be able to connect to their Rabbi, their spiritual leader, teacher and above
all a friend, was part of his priceless contribution. He will be missed greatly.
Our
sincerest condolences to our friends Linda and Willy Lieberman and to Mrs. Jewell
Shoham and the extended Shoham family on the passing of their father,
father-in-law, grandfather and great-grandfather.
We wish
Orly Fruchter safe travels and good luck in her new job in Manilla!
We wish a
Refuah Shelema to Zysel bat Bella
We wish a
Refuah Shelema to Ha-Rav Hayyim Yechiel ben Malca
We wish a
Refuah Shelema to Noam Shmuel Hayyim ben Yehudit
Wishing you
a Wonderful Shabbat Shalom and G’mar Chatima Tova
Barbara and
Bruce
