Temple Gates of Prayer- Rabbi Thaler's Message

FOR ZION'S SAKE I WILL NOT BE SILENT

FOR JERUSALEM'S SAKE I WILL NOT BE STILL- ISAIAH 62:1

From the Rabbi's Desk..

           I have always felt that our Temple's morning and evening Minyan, although poorly attended, was a sustaining factor benefitting the entire congregation. Not only did it benefit each of us personally, it made us a complete congregation. While far from the consciousness of most Temple members, I believe we all knew that should we need the minyan it would be there. Not too many people entertained the thought that the Minyan needed us.
          A Minyan is actually the symbol of a community. A gathering of ten people constitutes the requisite number for 'public' worship, and it is only when there is this 'public' dimension that communal prayer can take place. Torah readings, the Mourner's Kaddish, prayers for the ill, prayers which contain the 'Sanctification of God's Name', all require a public or communal presence. Attending and supporting a Minyan thus becomes a communal responsibility, one which should be borne willingly by members of a congregation. Was not our congregation formed one hundred five years ago so there could be 'public' and 'communal' worship?Are we not bound together as a congregation so as to help each other....to mourn and to celebrate together? What would a Bar or Bat Mitzvah be without a congregation within which it could be celebrated? What would a Shiva be without a congregation to offer comfort by sending food and gathering for a Minyan?
          During the past year our daily Minyan had been woefully neglected. The few who attended regularly were justifiably upset as were the few volunteers. In total no more than twenty individuals, men and women, out of an entire congregation, tried valiantly and devotedly to sustain the Minyan every morning and every evening of every week. In recent months, more often than not, we were unable to muster the necessary quorum.Sadly, in order to observe a yahrtzeit a few people decided to look elsewhere for a Minyan. All of which led to my passionate plea for support at Ne'ilah on Yom Kippur. The response to my appeal was good...good but not overwhelming. There were approximately seventy responses distributed widely through a week of Minyanim. There is still time for people who were not at Ne'ila to commit to one evening or one morning a week. We never have too many people, certainly not in the morning.
          Happily, since Yom Kippur, our morning and evening minyanim have a whole new look and a whole new feeling. One can actually feel the presence of a 'congregation.' By that I mean a gathering of more than the bare minimum of ten. I am deeply appreciative of the effort of those who made a commitment and have been attending. I know how great an effort it can be, for it is no less of an effort for me. Nevertheless, I cannot help but think of the wise words in Pirkei Avot, "According to the sacrifice so is the reward." I do not know about a 'heavenly' reward but I do know there is an 'earthly' reward....one that brings a smile of satisfaction to the face of every Minyanaire.

Rabbi Albert Thaler

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