Siman Tov
This past Shabbes we had a surprise simcha at Beth Shalom. Jordan of is one of many, many people whose lives have been disrupted by Katrina. He was supposed to be on the bima of Gates of Prayer this past Shabbat for his Bar Mitzvah. Instead he and his family joined us for the Green Room Minyan.
Mike, our able gabbai, made sure that Jordan had the first aliyah and he was called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah. It so happened that Rabbi Loewy was also with us for Shabbat. The previous evening, Jordan had helped him lead a special New Orleans service prior that was held prior to our service. At the morning service, Rabbi Loewy was invited to give Jordan a blessing. The kahal of Baton Rougians and New Orleanians belted out “siman tov” in Jordan’s honor.
It certainly was not the Bar Mitzvah that Jordan and his family had planned. We did, however, manage to cover the basics: Jordan was called to the Torah, his parents got to kvell, his Rav blessed him, and he was embraced by a warm and caring kahal.
At the end of services, just as we finished Adon Olam, a reporter from the San Jose Mercury News rushed in. He had tried to make to services to say Kaddish, but had been delayed. The reporter asked if a few people could stay for a moment and repeat the Kaddish. The whole kahal regrouped and provided him with an instant minyan.
It was a morning filled with Mitzvot.
Mike, our able gabbai, made sure that Jordan had the first aliyah and he was called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah. It so happened that Rabbi Loewy was also with us for Shabbat. The previous evening, Jordan had helped him lead a special New Orleans service prior that was held prior to our service. At the morning service, Rabbi Loewy was invited to give Jordan a blessing. The kahal of Baton Rougians and New Orleanians belted out “siman tov” in Jordan’s honor.
It certainly was not the Bar Mitzvah that Jordan and his family had planned. We did, however, manage to cover the basics: Jordan was called to the Torah, his parents got to kvell, his Rav blessed him, and he was embraced by a warm and caring kahal.
At the end of services, just as we finished Adon Olam, a reporter from the San Jose Mercury News rushed in. He had tried to make to services to say Kaddish, but had been delayed. The reporter asked if a few people could stay for a moment and repeat the Kaddish. The whole kahal regrouped and provided him with an instant minyan.
It was a morning filled with Mitzvot.
posted by Rabbi Stanton M. Zamek at
1:46 PM
1 Comments:
One way or another, it was going to be an event unlike any other of its kind for Jordan. How sweet that it was something relatively good -- so easily it could have been otherwise.
By the way -- I'm the Simon belonging to "your" Gail. Glad to have loaned her, but glad-er to have her back, today. Be well, Rabbi Z, Martha and the brood.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home