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The Cantor's Voice
May 2008

The recently released and beautiful produced documentary, "Praying with Lior" hit a chord with me. In this pedagogically sound movie, a 12 year old boy with Downs Syndrome is getting ready to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah in a Reconstructionist community in suburban Philadelphia. With help from his father, a rabbi, his siblings, and members of his supportive community, Lior's rite of passage is uplifting and inspiring.

I have had the honor to prepare young Jews who struggle with disabilities, including Downs Syndrome, for Bar and Bat Mitzvah. Much like Lior in the movie, I can say that there is an added dimension of holiness to these s'machot. Lior's participation in his Shabbat service, from both leading the t'filot and reading from the Torah, raises up his entire congregation, and motivates his fellow worshippers to focus on God, Torah and community. It is remarkable. Lior's d'var Torah is delivered with sensitivity and menschlekeit-it is truly remarkable.

In the town of Berdichev, in Rabbi Levi Yitzchak's synagogue, the congregation was deep in prayer. The holy tzaddik, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, was not happy. He stood under his large tallit, which covered his head and body, shukeling. He sensed that the prayers of the congregation were not making their way into the heavens. He tried, but in vain, to elevate the prayers.

At this time, the young boy, who had decided to come to Berdichev, entered the synagogue. He was totally amazed at the sight of the townsfolk engaged in prayer. Each person was praying to God to give them a good year. In their devoted concentration, they did not notice the young lad enter the synagogue.

The young boy, not totally understanding the scene that he saw, felt unhappy. Each person in the synagogue was able to commute with God but not him. He felt an urge to do something, but what could he do? He could not read Hebrew, he knew no prayer. With streams of tears, he decided to play a tune to God. It was his way of communicating. Unknown to him, playing music on this - the holiest day of the year - was forbidden. He pulled out his flute and in sincere concentration dedicated a soul searching tune to God. As he began his melody, the entire synagogue became astounded. The turned in anger to look at this terrible desecration of the holiday. As they shouted at him to stop this terrible desecration, the boy looked terrified. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, came running to the boy smiling and joyous.

"Ah," he laughed, "know that this boy's innocent mistake has saved our prayers."

The congregation stood back in awe of the tzaddik's words. What had happened?

"This boy saved our prayers." Rabbi Levi Yitzchak continued, "I saw that our prayers were not ascending to the heavens. We were not able to pray with the purity and sincerity that are required to elevate our prayers into the heavenly courts. Suddenly, this boy with his unknowing error but pure heart and tears began to play his flute. His purity was added to our prayers and the doors of heaven opened up and our prayers were accepted.

"We owe our thanks to this young man." He finished his words and took the young boy with him to the front of the synagogue. "You shall sit with me, for you have saved our prayers."

Go out and see this movie-you will be touched and inspired.

Keith Miller
Hazzan
Director of Education