K'ish Echad, B'lev Echad: Yom Kippur on Kibbutz

How was Yom Kippur by Kibbutz Tirat Zvi?

Spirited and soulful. And yet also down to earth. To wit, the schedule allotted five minutes for the community rabbi to speak to the congregation before the concluding prayer of Ne'ilah. When the previous mincha prayer ran a few minutes late, the rabbi knew his marching orders and kept his remarks to a sparse two minutes!

The highlight of the day came at the end, moments before the final shofar blast. After standing by my lonesome since seven am, I was suddenly surrounded by a horde of squawking, smiling children. The kids were all over the bimah, excited to be in synagogue after spending most of the day away from their parents. As the chazzan led us in a rhythmic cry of 'ה' הוא אלו-ים' my eyes traveled around the crowded hall, taking in the laundry-ladies, lifeguard, date farmers, meat plant staff...in short, the entire population of the kibbutz. And for the first time in my life, I truly appreciated the words from the U'netaneh Tokef prayer "And all mankind will pass before You like members of the flock."