Kol Nidre Appeal
by Alan Smirin, President
It was a cold Chicago winter night back in early 1951. The State of Israel Bonds annual dinner was hosting none other than Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion as the guest of honor and featured speaker. The ballroom was packed. The non-kosher event attracted members of Chicago’s wealthiest businesses and professional secular leadership, all who braved the frigid temperatures to support the fledgling state.
They hovered around the ballroom, offering contributions at a rapid-fire pace, while carefully balancing both their martinis and checkbooks. There was not a kippah in sight.
However, one individual, who stood in a corner of the massive lobby, outside the ballroom, was markedly unique.
He wore a long dark caftan and sported a large black fedora.
His beard encircled his face that was lined with the creases of hours of Torah study.
His piercing eyes darted about the scene, observing the philanthropic flurry of activity.
An ancient relic tucked in the corner of a sea of modern American Jews, he stood stoically, observing the entire scenario, a slight smile emulating from his lips.
He was about to leave the hotel and return to the Yeshiva where he taught when a loud voice boomed from behind him, “Rabbi Mendel Kaplan! What brings you to the Israeli Bonds Dinner”?
Reb Mendel turned around.
He stood face to face with one of Chicago’s wealthiest donors. Though a very secular Jew, the man was still a major supporter of the Yeshiva at which Rav Kaplan was employed.
Rav Kaplan was known in the Yeshiva as a zealous individual who disapproved of many of the policies surrounding the Labor Party and the Prime Minister, and so, baffled, he man continued his mocking inquisition.
“Surely, Rav Kaplan, you did not come to pay your respects to the Prime Minister and join us in this event!” he added sarcastically.
Then he broke into a wider grin, “I am positive you did not come here to partake in a little shellfish!” The man let out a slight, loud laugh.
Rav Kaplan did not return the tease. Instead, his answer was open, honest, and quite blunt.
“I came here for one reason”, he said, “to stand and watch how the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob stand in line to give charity.”
This is true story was taken the book Parsha Parabales by Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky.
The Shulchan Aruch, code of Jewish Law, rules that one who sees 600,000 Jews together recites a blessing.
That blessing is:
Baruch Ata Adonoy, Eloheinu Melech Ha Olam Chacham Harazim
Blessed are you Hashem, our L-rd, King of the universe the
wise one who knows secrets. The Talmud explains what is meant by “the wise one who knows secrets,” and why we are to recite this blessing when we see so many of us Jews gathered together. It states that each one of us thinks different and each one of us looks different, yet G-d, in his infinite wisdom, knows what is in the heart of each and every one.
Even though there are so many different Jewish people, G-d notices the individuality of each. G-d does not lose the trees for the forest.
No, I’m not looking at a crowd 600,000 tonight; however, according to my sources, I’m looking at well over a thousand of us right now and it is quite beautiful sight from up here.
Yes, we all look different, think different, and come from different backgrounds.
That’s a fact.
However, what makes most everyone in this sanctuary the same is:
Our Judaism is very important to us and we love our synagogue, Congregation Bnai Torah; otherwise, we would not be in this packed house of worship tonight. Ask me why I invest my money and I will tell you it is because I want to make money. Ask me why I work and I will tell you it is because I need to make money.
But ask me why I work for Congregation Bnai Torah and I will tell you it is because we are building a great synagogue and community.
Like each of the Presidents before me, I work for this shul because of the love we have for what it stands for,
The respect we have for our Rabbis, staff and volunteers that serve it,
and our commitment to Judaism.
Ask yourself one question: how important is our synagogue to you?
If the answer is that our shul is important to you
For your heart,
For your mind,
For your soul,
For your family,
and for your community, then make your donation tonight really matter.
Yes, we have many bills to pay here. Many large ones.
As most of you know, our dues are not going to cover them all.
What’s important is that we have a mission to be the Conservative Synagogue for you, your family and our Jewish Community.
If you love this place, and I know you do;
if you believe in our mission, and I know you do;
if you wish to serve others and I know you do,
then make this moment count for yourself and Bnai Torah.
Let’s all show Rabbi Mendel Kaplan, may his memory be a blessing,how the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob stand in line in order to give to Congregation Bnai Torah.