My favorite sound is children in a synagogue. Each shout, each giggle, each whine, each shriek, each laugh. The clattering of prayer books accidentally knocked over, the rumble of chase and tag and pretend, the hard breaths held in during hide and seek, the thumps of jumping 1/4

and dancing. The squeak of shoes climbing handrails, the inconsolable wails of bruised knees, the arguments over turns, the eager munching of cookies and challah. I love the sound of children in synagogue. Nothing is more poignant or holy to me. 2/4

Never take it for granted that there are Jewish children. Too many times have our babies been taken from us, slaughtered and stolen and silenced. Each child is a triumph, a testimony to our faith and strength as a people. 3/4

The sound of children in a synagogue is a sign of the covenant, a promise fulfilled. Please don’t ever let this sound end. #halle #pittsburgh #yomkippur 4/4