In the parking lot of our synagogue, to commemorate the brutal attack a year ago. We'll also do tashlich at the stream behind the property. The power there came back over the weekend, but still no water, so unsanitary to have anything inside.
We were going to plant a tree, but it couldn't get delivered to us due to Hurricane Helene. There are 3 synagogues in the Asheville Hendersonville area, plus chabad, and a JCC. None could hold services for Rosh Hashanah this year, no power no water no traffic lights. YK Shabbat services dependent on if we have water, or if we can get porto potties which are in high demand here in Western NC.
Nighttime services of kol nidre and Neilah probably won't happen even if we have water, because there's a curfew and still many streetlights out. It's a disaster zone, best not to be out after dark. I've thought about the hostages a lot more lately, as this region experiences limited resources, aware that we still are better off than those held in Gaza. I can go outside, enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. They can't. And I worked tirelessly to get status reports on every member, to make sure we knew everyone was safe. Cell and internet disruption in this area has made that challenging.
On the bright side, our community will probably come out in force tomorrow morning, to commemorate and connect, to grieve and mourn, to pray for the return of the hostages, for peace in that region, for healing in our region, and for a brighter future.
We will pray, hear poetry, hear words from our Rabbi;
We will mourn and grieve. We will cry, happy to be in community and sorrowful the hostages are still in captivity, grateful we survived with our lives and were able to touch base with all of our members this past week. And we will hug each other, a lot; bitter bitter sweet.
I'm so looking forward to it.
Shana Tova, and gmar Tov, my DU mishpocha.
Thanks for posting their names.
They have not been forgotten.
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