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He was known as a lightened presence at his previous job, when he was cantor of the Beth Judah Congregation on the Jersey Shore: good for a pinch of scotch after the services of Shabbat, for talking about his darlings of New York Giants, for his teaching of Judaism for children and orchestrating elaborate productions of Purim Spiel, comic plays commemorating the deliverance of Jews from an anti-Semitic emperor.
Now, Myers wonders why God would have sent him to Pittsburgh, where he landed his first job as a rabbi at Tree of Life / or at Simcha a little over a year ago. He wonders if he could have done more to save his flock. He hears the cries of Bernice Simon while her husband, over 60 years old, was shot in front of him, then he hears his silence.
When he is awake at night, the rabbi thinks of Psalm 23 which begins with: "The Lord is my shepherd, I will not miss anything."
Later, Myers recalled how Psalm 23 ended with gratitude for an "overflowing cup". He then reflected on the wave of support from hundreds of texts, e-mails and messages on social networks.
Watch Myers in the spotlight this week, explain the rituals of Jewish mourning to President Donald Trump and the first lady, answer the questions of many reporters or advise a nation in mourning, that's it. to marvel at his calm and apparent kindness. His shear mensch iness.
As the week progresses, Myers prepares again for the Sabbath, planning to lead the services Friday night and a "unit service" Saturday, a week after the shooting, bringing together survivors from the three worshiping congregations Tree of life.
Friends and former colleagues say they are impressed but not surprised by Myers' spiritual endurance.
"He assumes his responsibilities, but I also know that deep inside him, he is overwhelmed by events and that he is still doing very well," said Rabbi Aaron Gaber, who worked for seven years alongside Myers at the Beth Judah Congregation in Ventnor City, New Jersey. "I'm impressed."
But when Myers talks about Psalm 23, it's hard not to think about the middle of David's old song.
"I run empty," said Myers in a brief email message.
The & Kiddush Club & # 39;
Growing up in Newark, New Jersey, Myers heard a call to join the clergy from an early age, when the cantor of his local synagogue introduced him to the intricacies of the Jewish liturgy.
In Judaism, the cantor, or hazzan in Hebrew, leads the congregation singing, sometimes composing new melodies to accompany ancient prayers. In the 20th century, singers could become as famous as opera singers among American Jews. Today, many singers also support the youth education programs of a congregation, as Myers often did.
After graduating from Rutgers University and the Jewish theological seminary, he regains his love of sacred song, even though his wife, Janice, sometimes amazes with his passion for arcane art .
"Mine is a sacred call," he said during the celebration of his farewell to the Beth Judah congregation in 2017, "and although Janice sometimes asks me:" Are you obligated to respond to the call? I can not put God's call to voicemail. "
"Everyone was invited to have a glass of Scotch and have fun," Gaber said. "It's like that it is, it creates a lot of joy."
"Thank you, my faithful," he said, "for the opportunity to represent you before God in prayer."
While he was at the Beth Judah congregation, Myers was discreetly ordained Rabbi, thinking that this could broaden his job prospects. It made. Tree of Life / Or The Simcha hired Myers a few months after leaving the Beth Judah congregation.
& # 39; A stronger tree & # 39;
During his installation ceremony at Tree of Life, Myers began with a joke: a rabbi finds a box in the attic, which his wife tells him not to open.
Surprised by curiosity, the rabbi opens the box, discovering three eggs and $ 2,000.
The rabbi's wife told her that she had put an egg in the box for every bad sermon delivered by the rabbi. "In 20 years, only three bad sermons? This is not bad," said the rabbi.
Uh, yes, the rabbi's wife said, except that every time the box filled with a dozen eggs, she sold them a dollar.
After the joke, Myers became serious.
American Judaism is changing, he told members of his new congregation, and to survive, they would have to change as well. They should find new ways to reach a country in full diversification.
Tree of life will now be noted for a different and tragic reason. Already, it has become a place of pilgrimage for Jews and other sympathizers around the world. In the meantime, Myers said, the "hard work of healing" is yet to come.
"We are going to rebuild to become a stronger tree, offering a new light," said the rabbi during Sunday's interfaith vigil. "People will come and say:" Wow, that's how you're supposed to live your life. "
The audience applauded, and then the rabbi began to sing. The song was a lament for mourning.
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