34 SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 5, 2017 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP
VICTORIA’S
SECRETS
Victoria
SCHNEPS-
YUNIS
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There were hurricanes and
earthquakes and rainstorms
but somehow, for the celebration
of Rosh Hashanah last week, the
sun shone brilliantly as I made my
way to the synagogue. The holiday is
the beginning of the Jewish New Year,
with worshippers asking for forgiveness
for their sins and to be written in
the Book of Life .
When I was a little girl, I went to my
shul with my mom and dad for the New
Year’s services. My father wore a tallis,
which is a prayer shawl, and I remember
how I would sit for hours, and he kindly
let me braid its silky strings as I listened
to the prayers and awe-inspiring music.
To this day, I feel the power of the
prayers and the fervent praying and
familiar embracing music. It's a time
for family, and this year I got to sit with
my daughter Samantha, who knows I
like to sit up close because then I don't
feel the immensity of the 4,000 people
who are also praying with me.
Temple Sinai is the largest reform
congregation on Long Island and when
I'm sitting in the front, I cherish the
intimacy with the rabbi and the cantor
and the choir. I feel more connected
to them sitting up front and hearing
their words, prayers and songs.
Since my grandchildren pop in and
out of the service, they sit in the back
so they can anonymously disappear
and reappear. I hope they heard the
blast of the shofar (a ram’s horn), my
favorite part of the service.
For me, it's reflective time, an opportunity
for staying in the moment
to think about my life, both the good
moments and the challenging ones,
and to think of my path.
Here's one of my favorite prayers,
taking me into Yom Kippur where I repeatedly
ask for forgiveness. My rabbi
makes me feel like I can see the book
slowly closing and my fervent prayers
asking to be written in the book of life,
repeating my plea over and over again
throughout the day.
The prayer is actually the poem
“Unetaneh Tokef,” a “wake-up call” of
sorts. It states:
New year’s blessings
From my family to yours, Happy New Year!
On Rosh HaShanah this is written; on
Yom Kippur this is sealed:
How many will pass away from this
world, how many will be born into it;
who will live and who will die;
who will reach the ripeness of age,
who will be taken before their time;
who by fire and who by water;
who by war and who by beast;
who by famine and who by drought;
who by earthquake and who by plague;
who by strangling and who by stoning;
who will rest and who will wander;
who will be tranquil and who will be
troubled;
who will be calm and who tormented;
who will live in poverty and who in
wealth;
who will be humbled and who exalted….
I like what one commentator wrote
about Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur,
that they "take care of the small,
almost invisible choices of our lives.
Rosh Hashanah reflects on our mission
in life and Yom Kippur is about
the details that will get us where we
want to go and inspire our success.”
The other wonder of the holiday is
being together with all my children
and grandchildren. On Saturday of
Yom Kippur, there is fasting from
Friday night to sundown on Saturday.
That is the day of my most heartfelt
prayers to be asking to be written in
the Book of Life. The culmination of
Yom Kippur, is when the family gathers
for a “break the fast” celebration, a
wonderful time to cherish with loved
ones.
May all of you reading this pray for
yourselves, your families and those
families who lost so much in the
horrible hurricanes and the Mexico
earthquake. May the new year be a
better one for all.
One great debut
Madison Frankel of Little Neck and Roslyn was awarded high point rider
for the day she made her Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) debut
at Sagamore Hill Stables in Huntington, winning both Future Novice over
fence class and flat. Sagamore Hill Stables and Coaches Lisa Kaplan, Omri
Adut and Jen helped her succeed.