תקבל ברחמים וברצון סדר שופרותינו

Friday night at 7:00 people in Manhattan began clapping and shouting out their windows to show their appreciation to healthcare workers and others on the front lines of Covid-19. It was a moment that was surprisingly moving. It probably didn't do a whit of good for the healthcare workers but it was profound.

Unlike the videos I have seen of Italians  or Israelis singing together from their balconies, most of us along Broadway don't have balconies. Hearing the faceless whoops and claps of my neighbors reminded us that despite sheltering in our own apartments, we are not alone.

Last night at 7:00 the whoops and the claps began again. Again we joined in

Tonight my son brought me my shofar and he took the other shofar.

We added that ancient cry to the sounds our neighbors were producing.

We heard clapping and shouting and responded with our shofarot.

The sounds were supposed to last for two minutes but for about ten minutes we let our neighbors know that we are not alone.

Soon we heard our shofarot joined by a sax which at first was played as a saxophone typically is and then echoed the sound of a shofar.

I look forward to this nightly ritual of connection.