Rabbi Beller Memoir-Yom Kippur 2015

Just after Mussaf had finished, I was sitting at the bottom of the steps outside of the hall together with three other ladies. We were thawing out after several hours in a very cold shul and enjoying the warm air, when Rabbi Beller came through the door still wearing his tallit and with a big smile on his face. After asking how we were feeling, he said,” Now is the part of Yom Kippur I really look forward to; I’m going to join the youth minyan for Mincha.” You could see that the thought of being with the teenagers energized him. Before he left though, he began to talk about Arnie. He told us about how hard she had been studying for her nursing qualification and how much she had enjoyed all the learning. His pride in her achievements & successes was clearly written on his face. His admiration for her ability to study & run the household were evident. Rabbi Beller was also pleased to inform us that he too had shared in the domestic chores. I think washing the dishes was his speciality! These few minutes encapsulated what Rabbi Beller held closest to his heart ;his family and the next generation of the community

Isabel Morris