The air was heavy with the damp chill of an early November evening, while the darkness of mid-autumn pressed in, but within the hall, a different atmosphere was taking hold. Our first Friday night service in what felt like an age was beginning, and as the room was filled with song and the Shabbat candles were lit, the surrounding gloom of the wet night seemed to fall away, replaced by a sense of communal warmth and light.
Rabbi Anna led a lovely erev Shabbat service. It was a spirited and joyful evening, largely characterized by the delightful, musical sounds of the ‘Tent’ tunes. The chairs were arranged in a semi-circle, making it all the better for us to see one another’s faces as we celebrated the evening in song. Shalom Aleichem served as our signal that the service was starting, instantly bringing a hush and focus to the room. The hypnotic repetition of Adonai S’fatai had us rise to our feet once the crescendo stirred us. You couldn’t help but tap your feet to the upbeat, infectious rhythms of Mizmor Shir La’Yom HaShabbat and Yom Zeh L’Yisrael. Luckily, Natalie brought along copies of the ‘Tent’ CD to hand out, for those of us who were born before the 1990s and still possess a fully functioning CD player (good job they weren’t 8-tracks!).
The service culminated in a meaningful sermon from Rabbi Anna. She spoke about the transformative nature of Shabbat, exploring how, on this sacred day, even the most mundane or routine things can be elevated and transformed into something holy. Some members shared the different ways they prepare and ready themselves for Shabbat. Lighting candles, making the table special, having the same meal every week, and going to the farmers market, were some of the rituals that become hallowed on this festive day.
After the profound and spirited service, we were treated to a fabulous spread for the oneg. The community potluck was a feast: a creamy, comforting leek soup, a hearty chili and rice dish, a flavourful vegetarian stew, a rich potato bake, and a beautifully presented cheeseboard, to name just a few of the delicious offerings. For dessert, Adele’s notorious apple crumble was so unbelievably good you could have easily been forgiven for having it for dinner. Many hands made light work of the post-dinner clean up; the chatter and laughter continued as the dishes were quickly washed and put away and the tables and chairs put back in their place.
It was a truly fine and memorable start to Shabbat, an evening that chased away the November darkness and filled us with light and song. And I’m sure I’m not the only one whose drive home was serenaded by the joyful sounds of the ‘Tent’ CD echoing through the car stereo.