I spent Thursday morning, Shemini Atzeret, at Hebrew Institute of - TopicsExpress



          

I spent Thursday morning, Shemini Atzeret, at Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, where Avi Weiss is senior rabbi and Lopatin and Kalb are members. When Weiss got up to give a sermon about how this holiday is not one of history but of transition, he announced a major transition of his own: after 40-plus years, he will be stepping down as senior rabbi. There were no gasps, clearly because congregants knew it was imminent. But there was a sustained ovation and tight embraces afterwards. Though I was standing on the women’s side of the mechitza in this shul as well, I felt none of the exclusion. Maybe because the two sides have comparable space, maybe because the mechitza wall is low, maybe because the bimah is situated deliberately in the center of the sanctuary. Or probably because the faces in both sections appeared similarly entranced and involved. I could see how separate can feel more equal, even if I’ll always prefer to pray not just alongside my daughter, but also my husband and son.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 01:08:14 +0000

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