Congregation Beth Shalom, A Kehillat Kedosha
The first day that we came to Beth Shalom, about 12 years ago, I picked up the Ruach, our monthly newsletter, and during services I read it - cover to cover. I was looking for volunteer opportunities. I figured that if I wanted to get to know the community, what better way than to volunteer. It happened that in that newsletter, there was a request for a neighborhood volunteer for the Mitzvah Corps. Almost immediately, I answered that request and, as they say, the rest is history. All I really wanted was to meet people, we weren’t even members yet. I had no idea of the richness those encounters would bring me. It is because of those encounters that when Jill Cohen asked me to speak to you today about my experiences with the Mitzvah Corps, I was honored - and - I was thrilled. The Mitzvah Corps has changed my life.
At first, I had no idea what I was doing. I was finding my way back to Judaism. It is a good thing that Rochelle Roseman, Edith Horn and Lisa Low, Mitzvah Corps veterans, were there to teach me. I had no idea what Sheva Berachot were until I hosted a Sheva Berachot dinner for some newly weds, and realized that by increasing their joy, I was left a richer woman. I learned that it doesn’t matter if Mitzvah Corps chefs prepare gourmet meals or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. What really matters is the love with which the meal is prepared. I didn’t understand what it meant to provide support during Shiva and how coordinating minyanim and meals for mourners helps set them on a path of healing. I had no idea what a meal of consolation was and the comfort that food prepared by loving hands would bring to a family in mourning.
Most importantly though, I had no idea what an honor and privilege it would be to serve the community in this way. The Mitzvah Corps supports families at times of simcha and times of sorrow. Those of you whom the mitzvah corps supports or has supported let Mitzvah Corps volunteers into your lives at times of great vulnerability. You open your doors and your hearts to us and you let us into that intimate space. It doesn’t matter if I know you, or you know me - you trust us to help. Being let in is one of the gifts that you have given me, and one that I can barely describe with words. Thank you.
During my 12 year tenure with the Mitzvah Corps, I have worn many different hats. I have been a meal maker, I have coordinated support in a designated neighborhood, I have led the Mitzvah Corp and I have been a recipient of Mitzvah Corps support. In fact, you may remember, seven and a half years ago, you met Talya, my daughter. Because of the difficulties surrounding my pregnancy and her birth, you were there in full force to support us. You helped welcome her to the community with meals and visits. Not only did you share our joy, with your love and support you increased it.
Currently, under the leadership of Robert Hovden, I coordinate support for the 98115 neighborhood. In other words - when there is a need, I put out the call. Every time I send out a request for support, I am blown away by how quickly and lovingly our community responds. Again, it doesn’t matter if we know the family in need.
We help because we are members of a community and that is what we do. We help because we are needed, we help because we want to, we help because even though we know that we can’t remove the cloud of sleep deprivation from new parents, and we can’t make our loved ones come back, and that no matter what we do, we can’t make the cancer go away, our support envelopes the family in need and lets them know that they are not alone.
This past year, our community has experienced many losses. These losses have been significant and they have cut right to the heart of our community. They have been hard for us.
They have been hard for me.
This fall, I almost stepped down from the Mitzvah Corps. Really, for the first time, in my history as a Mitzvah Corps volunteer, I became overwhelmed. I was coordinating support for my friends and at the same time, I was dealing with the pain of my own losses.
Two things happened that enabled me to continue as a Mitzvah Corps volunteer.
First, I made a phone call and Margot Kravette answered the phone. Without hesitation and without asking any questions, she stepped in and led when I couldn’t, thereby reminding me that I am a part of this community and more importantly, I am not alone.
Second, I was inspired by Ron Dechene’s erev RH speech about community. Again, his words reminded me what it means to be a part of a community and in particular our Beth Shalom community. When we mourn together as a community, the pain of the loss is shared and in sharing it, the pain becomes more tolerable and we are better able to move forward. When we celebrate together as a community, our joy is intensified. We draw strength from each other to get us through difficult times and we allow others to be active participants in our simchas. By experiencing things together as a community, we enhance their holiness.
As a Mitzvah Corps volunteer, I am blessed to witness extraordinary moments in the lives of my community. These moments, while often sad, are a gift and they have changed me. They are the moments when women become mothers, when an otherwise healthy person processes a life changing diagnosis, or when sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, mothers, fathers, husbands and wives become mourners. My initial goal in joining the Mitzvah Corps was to meet people. By sharing in your sacred moments, I have gotten to know you in a very special way.
In conclusion, let me introduce you to some of the people that I have met.
This summer, I met a man. The truth is that I have known this man for a few years, our children are classmates. After losing his best friend and his brother, he became a different man. Because of my involvement with the Mitzvah Corps, I witnessed his transformation, I watched him change. Now, in his eyes, behind the sadness that still clouds them, I see a softness that wasn’t there before and I recognize how wise he is about the things that really matter.
This summer as I listened to our community singing by the graveside of my teacher and my friend, I rediscovered a woman whom I had known for 12 years. I was reminded of her love of learning and her unabiding commitment to Derech Eretz, treating others with kindness and respect. She set an example for all of us of how to live our lives and take care of each other and our community.
This fall, as I spent time with a family mourning the loss of their husband, father and grandfather, I met a man. That man was a founding member of Beth Shalom and a past president. He had devoted his life to serving the Seattle Jewish community and in particular our very own Beth Shalom community. He made sure that the structure was in place to allow our community to thrive and to allow us to grow together. He made sure that for all those who were seeking, there was a kehillat kedosha, a holy community, to be found.
And those are just a few of the people I have met. Those are just a few of the people who have changed my life.
May those whom we have celebrated continue to bring us joy and inspire us to lives of ma’asim tovim. May the memories of those whom we have lost be for blessings and may we follow in their footsteps, stand together and support our community. Thank you.
