If you are going to an all day service you might not expect to find the unusual or an atmosphere charged with emotion.  But it can and did happen.  Rabbi Litwack had visited the Ukraine last month, visited a “sister” synagogue and paid his respects to Babi Yar.  He brought back a piece of the memorial erected in marble at that burial place for thousands of Jews massacred by the German Nazi occupying army.

Now, this memorial was made of marble with steps on three sides leading up to a platform.  Plaques on either side explained the significance of the construction.  When Rabbi Litwack and his party arrived they found that the memorial had been vandalized and, the marble hacked in pieces and the plaques smashed.  He bent down and picked up a piece of the white marble and was emotionally snared by what it represented about those it memorialized and those who chose to further desecrate the event.

It was a difficult thing to do for him to pick up that piece of marble and bring it back with him and even more difficult to raise it above the Bimah to show it to the entire congregation as he explained what he saw and what he did.  He broke down and cried and took that piece of marble into the Sanctuary and placed it on a shelf used to hold one of the Torahs – for that is where they live when not being read.  He did this quickly and hesitated only long enough to get his composure back.

This was the emotional high point of a service filled with high points for those who assemble on this day are there to participate in the way Jews do to slough off sins and bad memories in order to be fresh for the coming new year.  What the Rabbi did made a difference in the ambience of this day and this place in contrast to where he had been a short time ago.

Vandals have always been with us.  You build a snowman if you are lucky to live where there is snow and someone will come along and push it and you down.  You put up plaques to memorialize something significant and when you come back years later they are gone.  I find it quite human and quite expected if you value something and it speaks to you that someone else will sneer and curse you for your weakness. 

Thanks must be given to Rabbi Litwack.  No one in that Sanctuary on Yom Kippur will ever forget the sad history of that event at Babi Yar.  We are all stronger for you united us in our grief and dedication to never again let this happen.