by Deborah Silverthorn

Special to DJW

The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Dallas (JCRC) and 13 area synagogues will come together at Temple Emanu-El on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 7:30 p.m. for an evening of recognition and remembrance during "We Remember."

"We felt it important to come together at this time," said Marlene Gorin, director of the JCRC. "The events of last Sept. 11 were lasting and horrifying to all of us and we truly believe in sharing moments of grief, consolation and solace in a synagogue. This is the place where people come to hold onto and to support one another."

The evening will begin with the colors of the flags, Israeli and American, being presented by the Jewish War Veterans Color Guard. Poems, psalms, commemorative songs and the listening to the blowing of the shofar, by Cary Rudberg, will be shared by members of congregations from all branches of the Dallas Jewish community.

The evening will begin with the colors of the flags, Israeli and American, being presented by the Jewish War Veterans Color Guard. Poems, psalms, commemorative songs and the listening to the blowing of the shofar, by Cary Rudberg, will be shared by members of congregations from all branches of the Dallas Jewish community.

"The shofar is known and respected as a call to worship and a call to action," said Rabbi Mark Kaiserman of Temple Emanu-El. "This first anniversary comes between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and, as the high holidays are a time to reflect and to examine the changes in our lives and on this day in particular, I believe we will all look at the year past, at our own lives and at how the world changed for each of us and for all of us collectively."

Congregation Adat Chaverim, Congregation Anshai Torah, Congregation Beth Torah, Temple Emanu-El, Congregation Kol Ami, Congregation Ner Tamid, Congregation Shaare Tefilla, Congregation Shearith Israel, Temple Shalom, Congregation Tiferet Israel, the Rabbinic Association of Greater Dallas and other synagogues will join the JCRC in co-sponsoring the evening to which family members of all ages are invited.

"We do hope that families will come together," said Gorin. "The effect on our whole country, and on each and every one of us, is great and this occasion will offer something for everybody."

"It is important for parents and children to come to this service together and to pray to God together," said Kaiserman. "Our job is to help each other mourn and shielding our children from the pain isn't the answer."

The JCRC, a department of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, is a joining force among Dallas' Jewish organizations, agencies and religious institutions as a partner, advocate and coalition-builder within the Jewish community.

"Marlene Gorin and the JCRC have put together, with great effort, a wonderful program," said Kaiserman, "and it is with their continual hard work that this very important evening is possible."

For Jews to be together is imperative, said Rabbi Stefan Weinberg of Congregation Anshai Torah. "A community service is critically important as, when we feel threatened, we yearn to feel each other's presence and we turn to each other for support. These events will resonate with us for decades and far too often it is these kinds of tragic events that draw us closer as communities, reminding us of the strength that we garner from each other. While it has been stated that it takes a village to raise a child, we Jews know that it takes a community to experience life to its fullest and life is to be shared."

With the focus of the evening on the planes that were commandeered into tragedy, two candles, one slightly taller than the other to symbolize the twin towers of the World Trade Center, will be lit in tribute.

"The candles will be lit by community leaders and we will be remembering everyone affected in New York, Washington, Pennsylvania, around our country and around the world as the morning of Sept. 11 left memories embedded in each of our minds," said Gorin.

Music too will play a large part during the program. "Music is often a way for people to lose some of their inhibitions when it comes to emotion," said Cantor Don Croll of Temple Shalom. "This is a terrible time for our nation and we hope that the melodies will bring us all to a different place and help in the healing of the wounds we all share that will no doubt last a long time."

According to Jewish tradition, mourning periods are broken throughout the first year after a loved one passes away, but at the end of the first year there is to be a separation and end to the formal mourning period. "The shape of our mourning changes and our responses will change as well," said Kaiserman. "This has affected all of us as Jews, as Americans and as citizens of the world. It is our obligation to remember those who died, and as a community we are required to stop, think, care and share this very powerful moment in time."