This space is usually reserved for my thoughts on either what has recently happened at Temple or an invitation to an upcoming event. This month, I have a plea. Please help us fill the gap left by the death of our friend Jean Wood. If you have ever attended a Friday night Shabbat Service, or come during the High Holidays, you would have met Jean. She was almost always there. She handed out prayer books and service announcements. She greeted you and asked how you were doing. She watched out for visitors and pointed them out for attention. She watched the door for latecomers and she sat in the rotunda but knew where we were in the service so that she could open the doors just before we were ready to exit.
Jean was our friend. For those of us who attended services somewhat regularly, she knew everything about our families, including the names of our pets. She kept up to date on our children’s educations and social lives, she was truly interested in knowing us and she cared deeply about each of us. And the only reason she was here was because she wanted to be with us.
If you didn’t know her well, you probably didn’t even know that she was not Jewish. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of River Forest, and acted as a greeter there too. She became part of our congregation when she began ushering with her dear friend Marsha Pollay, and when Marsha passed away, Jean just continued on, because it was what she did on Friday nights. She didn’t drive and when she couldn’t get a ride, she walked here, no matter what the weather, she just knew we needed her, and she was right.
As president of this congregation, I know will never be able to replace her, but I now need your help. I have previously asked the members of the Board to volunteer as Friday night greeters and Saturday morning ushers, and many have stepped up, but there are lots of openings still available. The jobs are easy. On Friday nights all you have to do is hand out books and say “hello,” letting everyone know they are welcome. On Saturdays, it much the same, but we also ask that the ushers watch for things that might be disruptive to the service, such as cameras being used, texting being done and “inappropriate” behavior by young and old alike. The Cantor and Rabbi would be happy to explain the job more fully, but it really is something any of us can do.
This is a great way to be involved in our congregation and do a mitzvah at the same time. Please contact me (slevr@aol.com) if you are interested.
The hole left in our congregation and in our hearts by Jean’s passing will never be filled, but the example of her charity and love can always be followed.
May her memory be a blessing.
B’shalom,
Lauren
