Last night, before our annual Trunk ‘r’ Treat celebration at The Refuge, we participated in a short liturgy of lament and remembrance for the 11 individuals killed at their synagogue in Pittsburgh last Saturday. My friend, Kathy, adapted the liturgy from other “Moments of Blessing” that we’ve done in the past, and asked if I’d lead a small part of it:
…”Honoring the Names of Those Killed
Leader: Each human being is made in your image, God. We honor the loss of your creation and grieve for the families who are weeping tonight, some of them with multiple family members [lost]. We remember them by name and age.
Joyce Feinberg, 75 years old
Richard Gottfried, 65 years old
Rose Malinger, 97 years old
Jerry Rabinowitz, 66 years old
Cesil Rosenthal, brother of David, 59 years old
David Rosenthal, brother of Cesil, 54 years old
Bernice Simon, wife of Sylvan, 84 years old
Sylvan Simon, husband of Bernice, 86 years old
Daniel Stein, 71 years old
Melvin Wax, 88 years old
Irving Younger, 69 years old
(moment of silence)
ALL: Hear our cries, O God. Hear our prayers. From the ends of the earth, we call to you. We call as our hearts grow faint. Lead us to the rock that is higher than we are.”
Lord, have mercy on us.
