A member of Arad's Ethiopian synagogue (left) talks about his congregation while Shmuel Kaplan, Living-Bridge coordinator at South Jersey's Partnership 2000 community, translates. A South Jersey delegation of 70 visited Arad during a recent UJC Solidarity Mission to Israel (photo by Barry Tuman).

Six rabbis and a cantor . . . It is not the name of a movie, but rather, for me, another chapter in the story of our Jewish Community in Southern New Jersey. This chapter is about solidarity and as I make my way through it, I see solidarity between Jews in Israel and Jews in the United States, solidarity among the 70 Solidarity Mission participants from South Jersey and solidarity among the seven clergy.

Six rabbis and a cantor: Not in words, but through quiet examples of camaraderie, our clergy led the way. Lubavitch, Orthodox, Conservative and Reform -- we traveled together, we prayed together, we ate together. We watched and we listened. We talked, we reacted and we cried. Together we celebrated our shared heritage. And together we shared our concerns and fears for the future. Just as we share the same history, so do we share the same destiny. We recognize that our destiny is inextricably linked to one another and to the State of Israel.

Six rabbis and a cantor with 63 participants, lay and professional, from our Federation, went to Israel on a United Jewish Communities Solidarity Mission along with more than 800 other North American Jews. In a major show of force we demonstrated our support and love for Israel at a time which many Israelis describe as the most difficult in their 53 year history.

It was also a major show of support for the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey. We were the fourth largest delegation, only Boston, Los Angeles and Detroit outnumbering us. We had the largest number of religious leaders from any community and the only rabbi-cantor team from the same synagogue. As we experienced a greater connection to the people of Israel, we became more connected to one another.

In the city of Arad (which is our Federation's "Partnership 2000" Community), in a small Ethiopian synagogue, we saw just how our Jewish identity transcends denomination, nationality and race. Having spent the day in Arad visiting many points of interest and seeing how our AJA dollars were being spent, we ultimately stopped at this synagogue, recently completed with a substantial donation from a family in Atlantic City.

We walked in towards the end of Mincha services. From the women's section I could see our American men and the Israeli men davening together. The men from Arad had finished praying, but we came in so close to the end that the men decided to start over. This time we were led by our cantor and it was startling to again watch the men pray together.

An American cantor was leading prayer in an Israeli shul. Orthodox, Conservative and Reform were davening together. Young and old, black and white, rabbis and congregants, the men were intermingled throughout the sanctuary. The members of the congregation and the visitors were singing the same words, swaying together.

After minyon, we learned more about this Ethiopian community. A translator told us that of their three Torahs, two were damaged and unfit for use. They were excited to learn that we had six rabbis in our group who could examine the Torahs.

As I stood up with everyone else, I could see the ark being opened and two Torahs being removed and I could hear both Hebrew and English. But mostly I saw rabbis and congregation leaders huddled over a Torah, examining the damage it had sustained in travel from Atlantic City. Leaning over the scroll, they were examining those Divine words which have preserved us as a People for millennia, even when the land of Israel was only a hope.

The rabbis were on the bima examining one torah and then the other, discussing the cost to repair them. They agreed that one Torah could be repaired at a reasonable cost, but that the others should be replaced. (Editor's note: Rabbi Addison, from Philadelphia, traveling with the South Jersey delegation, said that his congregation would donate a sefer Torah.)

In a brief moment our rabbis spontaneously came together as an authoritative body to counsel their fellow Jews from another land and another culture in appreciation of our shared heritage and our sacred writings. The experience transcended time and place to another time and place, perhaps 3,000 years ago at Mount Sinai, when all of us received God's Laws.

Six rabbis and a cantor -- seven clergy: The number seven is symbolic of completion and fulfillment. It serves to further remind us of the story of creation. Our seven religious leaders, along with the 63 of us, created a special moment during those four days in Israel. We completed the goal of our mission: to demonstrate our solidarity with the people of Israel. I achieved so much more on this trip that I am fulfilled beyond my expectations.

Shvat 5761 - February 2001