B"H
This evening we gathered at synagogue, as usual, for Minha, read the small portion of the next parashah for the coming week. At the end, we proceeded to have our third meal and the last one of Shabbat, as usual.
But, this time, it was not as "usual".
As you know, we are not supposed to be sad on Shabbat.
But, this time was not just as other Shabbatot...
There were at least five times more people, we were to more than capacity.
Actually, when the Torah was taken out of the Torah, the most beautiful Torah was chosen.
And, before it was read, one of our young men did something unusual, that in hindsight, I now understand.
He made a humongous effort and he lifted the super heavy Torah, all opened, and then he raised it with his arms fully stretched, as high as he could, and with her in his hands and in his powerful arms, he turned around for all of us to see her. He turned slowly...
Back to the Seudah Shlishit...
Not only the attendance was overwhelming, but the meal was sumptuous and abundant.
In our synagogue, nothing is noisy, everything is trying to keep HaShem in our minds and in our behaviour as well.
Weddings are not announced with fanfare, Bar Mitzvot are held as the most natural thing, dinners, luncheons, seuda, are for everyone, all the same.
But, this time, it was not as usual.
This time, the Seuda was being hosted by two parents... in honour of their just deceased young son...
The Rabbis were there, we all were there... but, how can anyone console a mother and a father who have lost their precious son...
All of us, women, surrounded the mother, whose tears made ours roll...
There is nothing one can say. My eyes crossed his Mother's eyes, both with tears in our eyes...
So we did the only thing we Jews can do: We listened to the words of the Torah and we looked for refuge in G d Almighty Compassion...
Baruch Dayan Ha Emet
May you be consoled among the mourners of Sion and Yerushalayim...
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