My fellow congregants:
Nearly 20 years ago, I started attending daily minyan at the HEA. At the time, all it sounded like to me was a bunch of old men mumbling. That’s all I knew.
With the loving guidance and instruction from Fred Karp, I began to understand the prayers, nusach (melody), and meaning. After many years of repetition, I was able to participate more and even started to lead. The service became meaningful.
My primary reason for attending was essentially selfish: I was there to communicate and deepen my relationship with G-d. My secondary but much more powerful reason for being there was to be a part of and support the HEA community. Several people were there to honor a loved one that had died, and by being part of ten adult Jews, a minyan, I helped focus the presence of G-d on our gathering. This allowed us to recite Kaddish and perform a complete service.
Due to COVID restrictions, for over two years, this sacred practice went online. Despite my aversion to this medium, I attended and even led prayers on Zoom. I overcame my aversion for the sake of the community. The clergy has determined that this is the week when we will finally start meeting in person again. They have also determined that only ten adult Jews present in the room will count as a minyan.
I am concerned that after years of the safety and convenience of the online minyan, people will be reluctant to return to the in-person minyan.
I need your help.
My family and I have decided to move my mom home from the hospital into in-home hospice care. I don’t know if I have days, weeks, or months left with my beloved mother. One way or the other, sooner or later, I will need to start saying Kaddish. I do not believe this is merely coincidental timing now that in-person minyans are starting up again.
My request of you, similar to my reasons for attending minyan, is both selfish and communal. Selfishly, I want you there so I will be able to say Kaddish with my community. You will find me there every Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m. and every Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. until sundown dictates otherwise.
My communal request is more impactful. Not only do I need you, but your community needs you as well. Every Monday-Friday morning, your fellow congregants will be there, many of them needing to say Kaddish. If you aren’t there, they will not be able to.
I’ve been there for all of you for nearly 20 years. I’ve attended shiva minyans, daily minyans, Friday evening minyans, and Mincha/Maariv Shabbos minyans to support those saying Kaddish. Now my fellow regular minyan attendees and I need you.
I promise you will be warmly welcomed and feel good about yourself and your contribution when you are done. If you want to know more about the daily prayers, I would be happy to learn with you, as Fred Karp once did for me.
Thank you for your consideration.
Jonathan Defez
HEA member and regular daily minyan attendee
