By David Rosenblum, , Seattle
February is the anniversary of my partner’s passing. For the last six years I asked the rabbi of a large temple to say kaddish for her, and he did. This year, however, I called and again spoke to the rabbi’s secretary. She told me as a non-member the rabbi would not read the name and that if I went to the service I could stand and say the name.
At first this sounded reasonable, then I realized how petty this is. I wasn’t asking for free High Holiday tickets. The reading of all the names at a service for kaddish only takes about 12 to 15 seconds. Is not one of the main missions of a religious institute charity? What a way to treat a potential new member, or one who wants to give a donation or support a children’s fundraiser. Are we not all brothers and sisters? No wonder Nordstrom has such excellent customer service.
I also called another temple and they had the same policy. It’s time the temples and synagogues who have this policy to rethink it.