New Chairs Invite You to Take a Seat in the Sanctuary

As soon as the TBE Brotherhood put up the sukkah at the conclusion of Yom Kippur, our Genesis staff put out the long-anticipated new sanctuary chairs.

The arrival of the chairs fulfills a wish older than Genesis itself, as the old wooden chairs were first used by St. Clare's before our partnership began, now over 50 years ago.

Rabbi Chelsea Feuchs enjoys a comfy chair

Most TBE & STC congregants have long dreamed of more comfortable seating, frequently sharing their fervent dreams with the Genesis board and the congregational leadership, as well as with each other. But more urgent needs—repairs and essential building maintenance—have always taken precedence given our tight budget.

Thanks to the enormous generosity of an anonymous donor, our wish has come true, met with many smiles and much gratitude.

The occasion is so momentous that Rabbi Josh has been inviting people to say the shehecheyanu the first time they sit in the new chairs. At one recent service he offered his benediction: “May they last fifty years longer than the wooden chairs did!”

The shehecheynu is the blessing offered for being able to reach a joyous or special occasion for the first time during a year—or ever.

At St. Clare’s, the excitement has been no less heartfelt. Rev. Anne shared that the Vestry “got a kick out of writing a thank-you note to the donor,” and that at a Sunday evening gathering, the church youth group was quick to volunteer to stress-test the chairs with intent and intensive lounging.

Getting the 120 chairs into the sanctuary was no small task for our staff. Mike and Steven removed and stored all the folding chairs used during the High Holy Days, then unloaded and moved each one of the new chairs individually, as the chairs were not shipped on pallets.

So eager was everyone to get them in place immediately after Yom Kippur on October 3, that they didn't even have the time to install the 480 felt pads—a detail not missed for a moment by our scrupulous first-sitters. Steven promptly put to rest worries about the chairs not sliding and making noise when moving them: “We will be installing them today,” he assured the board on October 6.

Our new quiet and comfortable chairs have already become part of the rhythm of worship, offering us a touch of comfort that makes our shared sanctuary feel even more welcoming.

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…and now for something completely different: the comfy chair!