Life is strange. Two weeks ago today I was sitting in Rabbi Pachter’s Sunday morning class studying the siddur. The topic for the day was the first prayer of the birchot ha-shachar - introduction to the shacharit (morning service). The rabbi explained it is actually a step-by-step description of how we wake up, sit up in bed, put our feet onto the floor, and so on. Simple things we never really take the time to think about – especially if you are like me and when the alarm goes off in the morning everything gets compressed into a leap from bed to the bathroom.

You don’t appreciate being able to make each of those small, individual movements until it’s difficult or impossible to do so. I vividly remember the weeks that chemotherapy made getting out of bed a real effort and more recently trying to sit up after abdominal surgery.

Ironically, less than a week after the class, an unexpected health problem and emergency surgery put our rabbi in the position where doing the simple movements most of us take for granted is – for some period of time (hopefully short!) - not possible or very difficult. We all pray for the refuah sh’lema, complete recovery, of Rabbi Pachter and look forward to his return to our bimah in the very near future. We also pray his family has faith and strength during this difficult time.

Meanwhile, Congregation B’nai Moshe continues to operate. Being temporarily without the services of a rabbi brings to mind the period of time about 18 years ago between the time Rabbi Meyerowitz left the congregation and Rabbi Pachter was hired. The synagogue leadership knew it was critical to continue serving our members while transitioning from Oak Park to West Bloomfield. To do so, not only did staff have to assume a more pivotal role, but lay members needed to step in and help with key functions. They successfully met that challenge – not simply filling in, but acquiring and improving skills that made them better and enhanced the organization. What could have been a period of weakness was turned into an opportunity for vibrancy and growth.

Let’s meet the current challenge with a similar spirit. So please: Respond to Cantor Berris’ call to assist with a d’var torah on Shabbat; Attend daily services to assure there is a minyan; Contact executive director Chuck Berris to volunteer for other jobs. Help make this unfortunate event into one that benefits us individually and as a community.

Speaking of volunteers, I would like to thank the tremendous group of volunteers led by Jon Isenberg and Carol Pollack for the wonderfully successful “Night Under the Stars” fundraiser. Thank you also, to the many who attended the event and bid on the auction items. (And remember the helpful staff people from the Best Buy store at Orchard Lake and 14 Mile Roads. Check there when shopping for electronics or appliances.)