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Valerie Bacharach: The Synagogue

Someone enters the sanctuary, picks up the chair

thrown by the Rabbi,

places it gently with the others, a straight row

waiting for bodies.

Someone checks the doors of the ark,

makes sure they are secure as they guard

the holy Torah.

Someone looks up, sees the Ner Tamid,

the eternal light, still shining,

sets out candles and Kiddush cup for Shabbat.

Someone carefully unlocks the door

to let in congregants. Just a few men

and women, sitting together, hearts united.

.

The Rabbi stands on the bimah, says the blessing

over candles, adds the Shehecheyanu, thanking God

for the miracle of this day,

leads everyone in prayers of praise,

.

as doors are locked,

as armed guards patrol the grounds.


Copyright 2022 Valerie Bacharach

On Saturday, January 15, 2022, four people were held hostage at Beth Israel Synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker threw a chair at the gunman and then escaped with two other hostages after a 10-hour standoff, crediting past security training for getting himself and his congregation out safely. (photo: Google Maps)
 
 

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5 comments on “Valerie Bacharach: The Synagogue”

  1. Sister Lou Ella Hickman, I.W.B.S.
    January 27, 2022

    Curious as to why the word for ark is spelled arc.

    LikeLiked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Valerie Bacharach
      January 27, 2022

      This was my spelling error. It should be ark.

      LikeLiked by 1 person

      Reply
    • Vox Populi
      January 27, 2022

      Thank you for catching this, Sister. I’ve corrected the spelling.

      LikeLiked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Diane Kerr
    January 27, 2022

    Gentle and heartbreaking. Amazing courage of the rabbi and the writer.

    LikeLiked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. Barbara Huntington
    January 27, 2022

    Sometimes there are heroes

    LikeLiked by 1 person

    Reply

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This entry was posted on January 27, 2022 by Vox Populi in Poetry, Social Justice, War and Peace and tagged anti-semitism, antisemitism, Beth Israel Synagogue, Colleyville Texas, holocaust, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Jewish Americans, Jews, judaism, Prayer, Shabbat, The Synagogue, Tree of Life shooting, Valerie Bacharach.

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