Your Seat in Synagogue
When my family attends services at Stephen Wise Temple, we invariably sit in the section on the right, third row, on the aisle in the sanctuary. We are not alone. Many who regularly attend services also sit in their “usual” seats. On High Holy Days, congregants often look for specific seats year after year. If they are not available, they tend to look for seats nearby.
Those seats feel like home.
The concept is called “makom kavua,” a person’s designated place to pray. It is not a new notion. The Talmud (Berakot 6a) attributes it to Abraham, suggesting that when Abraham stood before God, he was careful to do so in the same place.
Familiarity often brings comfort. We settle in quickly. As a youngster, when I went to services with my parents at Adat Ari El, my father was vigilant, especially on the High Holy Days, making sure to secure the same seats for the five of us. They were not in a particularly coveted part of the sanctuary as they were at a sharp angle to the bimah, and we had to crane our necks at every service all day.
And yet, those were our seats. We never considered moving.
Whether you attend services regularly or occasionally, we welcome you to choose your “usual” seat. It’s another way to make the temple feel like home.
With wishes to you and your loved ones for a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Woznica