In the waning hours of Tisha B’Av, when many people are tired, weak, thirsty and hungry, some truly inspiring community gatherings did a lot more than just help people “get to the finish line.”
It is amazing to witness the energy we can muster when we are united in thought and intent. It os kind of reminiscent of the endurance of a shaliach tzibbur (leader) for Mussaf or Neilah on Yom Kippur.
The Unity Kumzitz hosted at the Jewish Center of Teaneck was partnered by numerous congregations; and in the name of unity we are listing all of them:
- Ahavat Achim
- Arzei Darom
- Bais Menachem
- Beth Shalom
- Beth Tefillah
- Darchei Noam
- Jewish Center of Teaneck
- Kehilat Kesher
- Lev Le’Daas
- Netivot Shalom
- Ohr Saadya
- Sephardic Congregation of Paramus
- Shaare Tefillah
- Temple Emeth
- Young Israel of Fair Lawn
- Young Israel of Fort Lee
The kumzitz was organized and hosted by Dr. Josh Schwarzbaum, with beautiful and harmonious vocals led by the a cappella group Barock Orchestra. About 125 people attended all told, including many families with children and others of all ages and stripes, drifting in and out of the spacious community room at the center, arranged with seating set “in the round.” Several of the musical selections were introduced by various rabbis from the partnering shuls, as well as Rabbanit Alissa Thomas-Newborn of Netivot Shalom. Each spoke poignantly and briefly relating the song that would follow to a relevant topic of Tisha B’Av, to Jewish unity or the abiding faithfulness of the Jewish people down through history.
Schwarzbaum has spent the past 10 years where he lived organizing events to promote unity, and has continued since moving to Teaneck about a year-and-a-half ago. “After a recent event, Ari Greene, leader of the Barock Orchestra, approached me with the idea of doing this and I thought it was a great idea.” They started the planning about six weeks ago. “I reached out to every shul in Bergen County that I could find via email or phone, inviting them to participate, and sent out messages to the community, spoke with the rabbis/rabbanits to get their participation.”
Schwarzbaum said there was no financial commitment to any of the shuls; the only ask was for them to share it with their membership.
Asked what most resonated with him about the event, Schwarzbaum observed: “At the very end after the last song finished, there was an extended period of silence before people stood up and started moving. That’s always a mark of a meaningful event, when people stay where they are connected, before moving and jumping to go to the next thing. It shows that what we did was meaningful, special and something that connected people.”
Meanwhile on the north end of town, another kumzitz was also taking place at TABC. It was organized by Ariel Reiner of the TABC 8:40 Maariv minyan, a vibrant minyan affiliated with TABC which takes place in the beit midrash. Over 40 gathered at TABC about an hour before Maariv to join in singing and to conclude the fast “strong and together.”
Reiner shared, “It was incredible to have dozens of people who were motivated to carve out time from their busy schedules with work, internships, school, children, to come together to end Tisha B’Av on a high.”
