During Sivan, we don’t say tachanunum (supplications) for twelve days. In the desert of Sinai, each day, one of the twelve leaders of the tribes brought his offering for the dedication of the tabernacle.

During another Sivan, long ago, the Jews of Taipei assembled in their make-shift synagogue at the President Hotel for Shabbat morning service. It was getting late. One of the congregants had to say Kaddish, but we were only nine.

The poor man stared at the door with despair. I heard him moaning “umepene hataenou” (“on account of our sins” he would be unable to say Kaddish). Seeing his despondency and anxiety, I volunteered to go down to the lobby and see if I could find a tenth person for the Minyan.