Marblehead Rabbi Holds Service For Temple Filled With Smiling Pictures
MARBLEHEAD (CBS) -- The coronavirus pandemic hasn't stopped services for members of the Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead. Despite the emergency order forcing them to close doors back in March, the temple has continued to virtually gather on Facebook Live.
While the Friday night services draw between 80 to 100 worshippers, Rabbi David Meyer and music specialist Jon Nelson still felt lonely standing in the empty temple.
"It's been leading services for an empty congregation for all these weeks," Rabbi Meyer says. And a stark contrast to the warmth of worshiping together. "The Friday evening services are really the heart of so much of what we do," the Rabbi explained.
Thirteen-year-old Gabbi Chapper set out to fix that. She and her mother, the temple's engagement and program coordinator, worked together to tape pictures of members of the congregation on pews.
"We jumped in the car and went to the Temple and started printing pictures and putting them on the seats of the pews," said Shelby Chapper, Gabbi's mother.
It was a delightful surprise for Rabbi Meyer. Now there are about 100 photos where the people used to be. The photos show individuals, couples, and families smiling from their seats.
"This evening I'll be speaking to the photographs and several hundred people watching online," Meyer said.
"I'm just really glad we made rabbi smile because he's one of my favorite people," said Gabbi.
Meyer was overcome with emotion the first time he saw it and shared his excitement with the congregation during the May 8 service.
"It's really a reflection of how the connections within the congregation are so strong," Rabbi Meyer explained.