Rabbi Hayim Herring, the Krivosha's son-in-law, wrote an article about using a blog to encourage synagogue conversations. I'd like to use today's post as a means for starting one such conversation.
I just watched a morning news show that had a section about the value of nostalgia. Nostalgia helps us survive tough times because it helps us know what has been and what we can still look forward to in the future. So here goes a piece of nostalgia:
When Charlie and I were much younger, we would bring our babies to the synagogue every Shabbat. At that time I was in charge of Jr. Congregation and I either wore a baby in a snugli on my chest or placed a sleeping baby on a blanket in the back of the sanctuary. They grew up feeling like the synagogue was a 2nd home. The older kids all knew the little ones and took great pride in looking out after them as they got older and started crawling and then walking. There was an amazing sense of connectedness among Tifereth Israel's children of all ages.
Another piece of nostalgia...when I moved back to Lincoln I volunteered to be a member of the women's chevra kaddisha committee. At that time, Dorothy Kushner (Sheldon's mother) was still very active in the group. I remember going to the funeral home for the first time and having Dorothy lead me through all the customs/traditions of preparing a congregant for burial. Dorothy must have been in her 80's at that time, but she led me gently and let me know that even though I had great concerns about my ability to handle being in a mortuary, the mitzvah would provide me with a sense of holiness. She was an amazing teacher!
I invite you to share a piece of nostalgia about life at Tifereth Israel. Nothing is too corny to be shared. What fond memories do you have about some of the best parts of being at Tifereth Israel? Please use this space as an opportunity to write your thoughts...And you don't have to be a long time "veteran" of TI in order to share a memory with us. I look forward to reading your stories.
Nancy
Brenda: In 'the old days' at TI, we didn't have an 'official caterer', except maybe for Chef Reiny of the Cornhusker Hotel for super-special occasions. We all just helped each other. I remember multiplying the ingredients for the swiss cheese-asparagus-mushroom quiches for family Bar and Bat Mitzvot and making 27 quiche shells and filling them with Gerry S. , Nancy C., Betty M., Dory G., Barb S., Jan B. and so many more -- all helping. The shul and even its kitchen [maybe especially its kitchen] were home to us. I remember it as great fun. It was Where we Were. Brenda [PS: I will do a Profile tomorrow.]
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