It's the busy time of year at a synagogue. Since last Sunday, we have had Kol Nidre (which is the night before Yom Kippur, actually the start of the observance) and Yom Kippur itself (on Weds/Thurs).
Nath and Jackie were there again on Yom Kippur day for the memorial and concluding service. Thank you both again for your support. It was a pretty difficult afternoon. It was not easy for Rabbi either. He reads a list of names of those members, relatives, friends who have died since the last Rosh Hashanah. Linda's name was on the list. It will be the only time her name is read in that way. I thought Rabbi did a great job, with a difficult list. It seemed that he went right along but in talking afterward, he said saying Linda's name hit him a few names down the road. It was quite a list. Including the man who sliced the challah after Friday night services for 20 years. and Linda. So I was worried how I would handle it, and it was hard, but it is over and we made it through. It was the first service that I actually sat down for. Working for a synagogue, I don't get a chance to actually experience the services very much. We need to figure out how to change that a bit for next year.
I talked to Audrey. She went to the cemetery on Yom Kippur Day. Also hard.
When I came home on Thursday, there was an email from my cousin Mike, telling me that his sister Judy had died that morning, almost one year after diagnosis with inoperable pancreatic cancer. Very sad. She had promised her 9 grandsons that they would spend time in Vermont (where she had a house) in the summer. And they did.
Tomorrow is a Zen meditation retreat in the afternoon, part of Adult Ed at the temple. I'm looking forward to it and the 4 followup weekly sessions. I think I can really use the relaxation and renewal.
