Laurie & Joe Brofsky - Hewlett E. Rockaway Jewish Center

BY COUNT ME IN
the way that I prefer to ride
The American novelist and screenwriter, Niven Busch
in writing about the power of communal prayer said,
“My basic belief is that I don’t like to ride in taxicabs…What
about the subway There at least you’re
not alone. In the subway car there are lots of people, all
kinds. Riding in a taxicab, one lacks of company. The
way I make the trip can be my faith. When I pray, I can
lock the door and pray by myself. That’s like riding in
a cab. Or I can pray in a temple, where people pass in
and out every day. They are all praying too. They are
taking the same ride I am. And in mingling my prayers
with them, I join the fellowship of the
world, in humility before the mysteries
that surround the journey. I think
that is.”
For years I prayed alone. Whether
I was praying at home, or at work, I
prayed alone. Even at the shul I formerly
attended, never being counted
in the minyan nor participating in the
service, did I pray alone. I discovered
that it is entirely possible to be
amongst hundreds of people and yet
be alone. There is ample Biblical evidence
to support the power of individual
prayer. The Bible tells us in
Genesis that Isaac went out into the
field to pray alone. Then there is Hannah in the Book
of Samuel, who prayed in solitude for a son. While the
Bible does acknowledge the power of individual supplication,
it promotes the strength of communal prayer
even more.
Recently I decided to join the morning minyan at
HERJC and I have discovered “that it is not good for
man to be alone.” From the very first day I joined the
minyan I was welcomed whole heartedly and encouraged
to participate and to lead the service as well. I felt
and still feel honored, to be part of a group who attend
minyan faithfully and who count on me to attend as
well. I awaken each day at home and thank God for
reuniting body and soul. At minyan, I thank God for
the blessings of friendship and community. When I
“At minyan, I thank
God for the blessings
of friendship and
community. When
I pray with others,
I am reminded of my
connection to them.
I rejoice in their
happiness and sadly
share in their grief.
”
pray with others, I am reminded of my connection to
them. I rejoice in their happiness and sadly share in
their grief. In our minyan, we are emphatic about congratulating
those who lead the service, or read from the
Torah. All hands are extended and “Yasher Koach’s” are
generously offered. We literally touch each other’s lives
and recognize in those handshakes the power and
strength of our prayer together.
My experience is somewhat unique since I am most
often the only woman in the minyan. It is a fact I take
note of only when a man arrives in the morning and
greets us as “gentlemen and lady.” Mostly we are a
group of people, who choose to meet up each morning,
greet the day together and thank God
for the chance to do so. Yet often I
won der, in a community where wo -
men are welcomed and encouraged to
participate in the service, why more
women don’t attend minyan. Cer tain -
ly I recognize that most are mothers
of young children who are busy with
the morning rush of breakfast, bus
and school. Many also have to head
off to work, or get busy with a myriad
of chores as homemakers. As a
wife and mother I too am conflicted
by the choice I’ve made to at tend
morning minyan. My daughter has
told me more than once, that she
liked to see me in the morning before she left for
school. I imagine my husband, who now gets the kids
up and out, also preferred sharing that task with me.
And yet they have been gracious enough to understand
that I will be a better wife, mother and human being if
I take a few precious moments every morning to thank
God for the very blessings I left at home. In the dizzying
rush of my day, I set aside some time for reflection
and gratitude. Words that I have said for a lifetime have
miraculously taken on a new and deeper meaning when
said together with others. As the Rabbi told me, the
words of the prayers are always there waiting for you. I
have discovered anew, their power to comfort and sustain
me now more so than ever before, because I pray
with a minyan. It is the way that I prefer to take the ride.
page 8 MAY/JUNE 2011
www.herjc.org
HAKOL