Greg Arnold named Minyannaire of the Year

GREG ARNOLD NAMED MINYANNAIRE OF THE YEAR AT THE JACKSONVILLE JEWISH CENTER

By Faye Hedrick, 2021 JJC Minyannaire’s Shabbat Chair

Each day, twice a day, both morning and evening, members of the Jacksonville Jewish Center gather for prayer. As many of us know, minyan is the Hebrew word that describes the quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain religious obligations. The word itself comes from the Hebrew root maneh (מנה) meaning to count or to number. You can always count on Greg Arnold.

Together with his wife Barbara, Greg moved to Jacksonville in December of 2001. Shortly after they joined the Jacksonville Jewish Center. Anyone who comes regularly will tell you the two are almost always present on Shabbos and the holidays. However, due to work hours, it was more difficult for Greg to attend minyan. This changed in 2008 and Greg began to attend morning minyan on a more regular basis. Then with a further change to job requirements in 2010, he began to attend minyan every day in June of that year and has missed very few since. He has been a ‘regular’ for about 11 1/2 years and has served as the Monday morning captain, subbing for Harry Shmunes for about a year and a half, and as the Thursday morning captain since replacing Phillip Bloom in that position.

In a brief discussion with Greg, it became obvious how important this ritual and all that it encompasses is to him, and so many others. Greg states, "Being a member of the JJC has been central to our life since Barbara and I moved to Jacksonville. Being active in minyan has given us many new, close friends and has allowed me to be there for other people who needed just that one more person to make a minyan for kaddish, to read Torah, or celebrate a simcha. Join us; you are always welcome and will have the chance to be that one more person who makes the minyan (and the difference!) for others."

Prior to belonging to the Center, Barbara and Greg had been active in shuls in Chicago; Kankakee, IL; Seattle and Olympia, WA; and Heidelberg, Germany. Greg served on the synagogue board in Heidelberg and was instrumental in the negotiations with the Federal German government to replace the synagogue that was destroyed on Kristallnacht in 1938. Prior to his marriage, Greg was active in military congregations in many locations as well as in Kansas City, and Barbara had been a member of the Heidelberg synagogue since high school.

One can always say prayers by oneself, at any time or place, but praying with others brings a sense of connection and closeness. By requiring a minyan for many fundamental rituals, Judaism encourages communal cohesion and we’re proud and grateful people like Greg Arnold have made a commitment to this ritual and this community. As Rabbi Jonathan Lubliner stated, “It’s those who are quiet about it who tend to make a great difference. You don’t have to be a clergy member or have a Ph.D. in davening. It’s ordinary people who make a commitment and usually find a meaningful connection to one another or their spirituality when they do.”

This year, the Center proudly announces Greg Arnold as the recipient of the Scott Zimmerman Minyannaire of the Year. Please join us on Shabbat morning, December 18th, as we honor Greg and all the ‘Minyannaires’ during this special Shabbat service.