Kibbutz Gvar Am Thank you

December 22nd 2013

Dear Shlomo,

Last Saturday morning a full minyan was held at Kibbutz Gvaram. These morning prayers were a first for our kibbutz since its foundation in 1942.

The prayer was organized spontaneously decided only on Friday. At 8:30 am we were only 3 but we remained hopeful that we’d reach a quorum. From the windows of the synagogue we could see the kibbutz petting zoo gathering for their activities every Saturday.

By 10:00 or so, we watched the faithful ‘congregants’ of the petting zoo arriving, including parents and grandparents and children. Meanwhile our synagogue had a little more than half a quorum .

But we had not lost hope and soon a third wave arrived and we had reached nine.

After waiting half an hour, we started thinking about the recruitment of an employee of the petting zoo ..

After a few minutes, a miracle occurred after the tenth worshiper came extracted from his home and immediately started the prayers that require a minyan .

To our joy we had a guest, the grandfather of one of the worshipers, and he helped us with the order of the Shabbat prayers.

We took out the Torah and honored the oldest of the group – Shabbtai ( 97 years old ) , with the holding of the scroll.

Shabbtai’s words moved us all that he said he had not dreamed of ever being able to hold the sefer Torah in his lifetime. The event was exciting for all of us and involved joy, excitement and tears of many of the worshippers .

We hope this will be a source of strength to move on in our activities in the synagogue.

On behalf of all in the members of the synagogue I want to thank you for all your help so far and I pray for continued cooperation .

With thanks

Moses ( Moishe ) Galanti

Gvaram