By David Basior, JTNews Correspondent
In the past three weeks, I attended both a Friday night and a Shabbat morning service at Sephardic Bikur Holim, Seward Park’s Turkish Sephardic Orthodox community. What a pleasure it was! The warm reception I received from congregants and clergy was impressive and the service participation and congregant pride was an inspiration.
My 40-minute drive south to Seward Park was well worth it on both occasions. The Friday night service I attended was the smaller of the two, as seems normal for this community, most of whom live within walking distance. Despite its size, it was very participatory and warm. I happened to walk in during the afternoon service, mincha (which is performed directly prior to the evening, Shabbat service), and the room was still and quiet. I was moved by the austere atmosphere that told me shul-goers come to SBH to pray.
Everyone was deep in personal prayer as they were reciting the amidah, but once finished, many came out of their way to welcome me, shake my hand and say “Shabbat Shalom.” I felt good to be received so well, as the Orthodox community can seem intimidating at times. I saw the attention I experienced as both a sign of a welcoming community and of one that knows its members well. To see a stranger seemed an unexpected delight for those present.
The evening service, Kabbalat Shabbat, seemed instinctive to those in attendance. Participation was high, and I found myself able to easily follow along. The Turkish melodies made the experience new and added to the mystical and spiritual feel of the evening.
Once the service was complete, people made their quick, yet never-rushed goodbyes. It was nice to see a community with members so in tune with one another celebrating Shabbat. Seeing their interactions made me consider the importance of truly finding a Jewish community of my own.
I walked to a friend’s home nearby feeling quite complete. The weekend had gotten off on the right foot. It was not for another two weeks that I would return to Seward Park for a Shabbat morning service that would nicely complement my Friday night experience.
I woke up earlier that morning than I had the entire rest of the week to make sure I would not miss anything. The sanctuary was sparse when I arrived a little after 8:30 in the morning, but again I was greeted by warm smiles and hellos. I found a seat behind two older gentlemen who turned around to greet me. They were considerate and sociable, and at times shared bits of the synagogue’s lush history as we made our way through the service together. I listened with great respect as these men displayed their affection for both the community’s past and its current members.
Meanwhile, much to my surprise, the Rabbi of SBH, Simon Benzaquen, was making his way over to me. I had sat toward the back of the vast sanctuary, but the rabbi, having been seated on the stage behind the bima, must have seen me come in alone and unrecognized. He walked from his place at the front over to my seat near the back, seemingly just to acknowledge me personally. He shook my hand with a tender look on his face. I was speechless. I could not believe a rabbi would take such an interest in a new face, especially in the middle of the prayer service. He would later impress me with both his wit and passion during a poignant sermon about non-Jews who have helped the Jewish people throughout our history.
The sanctuary filled up as men packed into the lower level of seating and women crowded into the balcony. The age range was considerable, from families with young children to the elderly. There were also, to my surprise, more young adults than I have seen at a Seattle synagogue, and I felt the smallest sense of belonging just noticing this.
Accompanied by the compellingly numinous voice of Cantor Frank Varon, we went through a service that lasted at least three hours but felt much shorter. Cantor Varon’s voice made praying a joyous and awesome experience and I knew I would be back to this community soon.
The day lasted longer than I thought it would. After services I received an invite for lunch to the home of one of the congregation’s members. I was greeted with even more warmth and kindness by this family than I had even received in the synagogue. I was beside myself in admiration for a community so tightly knit and still so hospitable. Thank you to the Levy family for your wonderful generosity.
About the synagogue:
Sephardic Bikur Holim is a 90-year-old congregation founded by Jews who left Turkey in the early 1900s. Their Sephardic tradition is readily apparent, which includes the use of Ladino during the prayer service and the auctioning off of aliyot before the Torah service. The community is located at 6500 52nd Ave. S in Seattle’s Seward Park neighborhood.