Tales of two sections, in shul and in chocolate

Growing up in Boro Park, my family and I were members of Temple Beth El. Prominently rising above its neighboring  buildings and appearing as a manifestation of regal elegance, my shul was known for its statuesque edifice, majestic interior and world-renowned chazanim.

Rosh Hashonna and Yom Kippur were truly days of awe.

The shul seated close to 1,500 people and was always packed for the yom tovim. When I was little, I would gaze up at the beautifully carved dome ceiling and wonder how the hundreds of light bulbs were changed, the carved ceilings were dusted, and how in the world did the men in the choir navigate their journey up to their perch in what looked like a stage in the heavenly clouds above. Of course my dreams were dashed when, as I got older, I realized there was a staircase that led to a platform high above and the walls behind were painted like clouds. It was almost like Toto discovering that the wizard was a mere mortal behind a curtain.

There was never an issue of men in the women’s section. Men sat downstairs and women sat two flights up, in the beautiful balcony. Amazing how today we need about ten minyanim in different buildings to house an entire congregation, whereas Beth El was able to fit our entire congregation of close to 1,500 in one building.

And as beautiful as the shul was, the davening was equally magnificent. Cantor Moshe Koussevitsky left an indelible impact on me.