Among my father z’l ‘s photography is his photo of Rav Breuer zt’l sitting at his place in shul perhaps listening to a speaker or waiting for services to begin. This photo was chosen by the Breuer family to grace the introduction to the book series, “A Time to Build’. Dad mentions this photo in an interview HERE.
Following the success of that photo, he later shot Rav Schwab zt’l in that same seat, and eventually Rav Gelley zt’l.
The same seat, the same cushions, the same cover of the podium. Only the person occupying the place had changed in the course of 70 years.
The Rov faces the front in a chair with a high back and unbending parts. The chair is affixed in its place, as much as the position of the one who occupies it has been affixed to its place in history. Three small lights illuminate his podium with the words “Thy Word Is a Lamp Unto My Feet and Light Unto My Path” in wood letters on the wall.
This is the front of the shul. A sacred historic place The Mizrach! It carries an importance associated with Rabbis and community leaders; responsibility and prominence. Dark tiles polished to a bright finish, red carpets and dark wood.
With Rav Schwab, a handle is added for the Rav to lift himself from his place. With Rav Gelley, a small bookcase. A strong exception to the dearth of seforim in the shul proper.
(The dearth of Seforim is not an accident, because following the old model of a shul- still used by Young Isreal type shuls that have retained the pews, the structure is not made for study-hall styled learning, nor is food ever served in the shul (other than kiddush, havdalah, and figs to accompany kiddush on the second eve of Rosh Hashanah.) For this reason, there is no Mezuzah on the shul -because its function is never compromised. )
The Rav’s seat to the right of the Aron has access to a private restroom. The one to the left doesn’t. (There is an old anecdote about that- which some in the family might confirm or deny.) But the presence of two rabbinic places raises the question of who was meant to sit there in 1952 when the Shul had only one Rav?
P.S. Please contact me for above or other versions of this picture.
A grandchild of the rav AG has supplemented some important and fascinating info to the above:
The posuk on the wall in front of the Rav’s seat is “נר לרגלי דבריך ואור לנתיבתי “. This was placed there in 1962 in honor of Rav Breuer’s 80th birthday. This same posuk is inscribed in the Ner Tomid in memory of the rav which hangs to the right of the Oron Hakodesh.
Regarding the second seat in front. This seat was originally occupied by the Gabbai on duty every Shabbos and Yom Tov as was done in the IRG in Frankfurt. When Rav Schwab came in 1958 it was naturally given to him. This is also why there was only room and bathroom built and located near the “official” rav’s seat.
If we’re getting technical, each Rav brought his own pillow for his seat. Surprisingly the Shul never supplied one. I know this as I purchased the last one that Rav Breuer used and now have it in my home (I don’t use it!). When Rav Mantel came there was no pillow on his seat as Rav Gelley took his with him when he moved over. I actually purchased the pillow for him at the time.
schuster's hall 