Laurie & Joe Brofsky - Hewlett E. Rockaway Jewish Center

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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
A new endeavor of HERJC Cares is participating in local runs/walks to benefit some wonderful charities. Here’s our first event! Join us on May 15 at the 5Towns5K Race* The race begins at North Woodmere Park at 10 am; be at the park no later 9:30 am. We will be distributing a free “HERJC ON THE MOVE” T-shirt to all participants. Email Tova Markowitz at ts825@mac.com for more information. *All proceeds benefit Beit Halochem Rehab <strong>Center</strong>s, which work with wounded Israeli veterans. For more information about the Friends of Israel Disabled Veterans, visit www.fidv.org. anyone can deliver a D’var torah JUDITH NYSENHOLC Do you like to inspire others Do you have a particular expertise you enjoy speaking about Or an unusual life experience you think others would want to hear Do you work for or support a little known charitable cause Do you feel strongly about some issue or news event Have you read a good book lately Did you take an interesting trip in the past few months Would you like an opportunity to reflect about what being <strong>Jewish</strong> means to you If so, we want to hear it! Come and share it with us on a summer Shabbat morning. Deliver a D’var Torah! A D’var Torah is a brief talk in which the speaker connects one or several elements from the weekly parsha (torah portion) to an idea—any idea. The term literally means “a word of Torah,” and Torah means teaching or instruction. One does not have to be trained as a rabbi to give a d’var torah. Any post-bar/bat mitzvah Jew can. Typi - cally, the speaker selects a theme, sentence, word or problem in the parsha, then relates it to something that they find interesting and relevant and that they believe others could learn from. It’s been a HERJC tradition that, in the summer, congregants take turns giving a d’var torah. If you have not participated yet, why not consider it Your audience will be most appreciative. Honestly, when was the last time that genuinely interested listeners gave you their undivided attention for fifteen minutes without interrupting Call Judith at 791-4375 or email her at jnysenho@yahoo.com to pick your date! For suggestions on how to develop a d’var torah, please read the article “D’var Torah: Seven approaches” by Rabbi Richard J. Israel at www.myjewishlearning.com/practices/Ritual/Torah_Study/Preparing_a_Dvar_Torah/Seven_Approaches.shtml. HAKOL www.herjc.org MAY/JUNE 2011 page 9
Page 1 and 2: The VOICE of Hewlett-East Rockaway
Page 3 and 4: From the Rabbi’s Study RABBI ANDR
Page 5 and 6: DAN GERSTMAN From the President In
Page 7: please join us Monday May 9 7:30 pm
Page 11 and 12: shavuot services EREV SHAVUOT TUES
Page 13 and 14: events Spring is in the Air! Let Yo
Page 15 and 16: of events 4 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRID
Page 17 and 18: of events 2 THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDA
Page 19 and 20: 12t h AnnuAl nursery school Art exh
Page 21 and 22: A huge and heartfelt thank you to a
Page 23 and 24: personals & donations Personals Maz
Page 25 and 26: join our summer fun Once again, we
Page 27 and 28: July 5 - Tammuz 3 Harold Kaufman Ro
Page 29 and 30: Joseph Brofsky, D.M.D. Pediatric De
Page 31 and 32: HAKOL www.herjc.org MAY/JUNE 2011 p

Laurie & Joe Brofsky - Hewlett E. Rockaway Jewish Center

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