On Saturday, Oct. 12, along about 7 p.m., magic happened at 519 Fourth Street, right here in Greenport. Following a day-long schedule of Yom Kippur services, it took only a magic minute to transform the community room into a haven abuzz with activity, chatter, and the good fellowship of friends and neighbors. Together, we had come through the rituals, the liturgy, and what we had discovered after a hard look at ourselves and our thoughts and actions during the past year. There were maybe 40 of us, plus Rabbi Gadi, and Cantor Marc, all sitting together at the tables, joyously sharing a break-the-fast meal following the concluding Yom Kippur service.

Before that, Patty Ciacia, was busying herself in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on the platters of food in the kitchen fridge and from the overflow stored in the fridge downstairs. At the sound of the Shofar, Patti plugged in the coffee pot, and could be seen carrying out to the tables platters of sliced tomatoes and onions, olives, rolled lox, sliced cheese, bowls of herring in cream sauce, plates of cream cheese and butter, and enough warm bagels for an army regiment, plus hot coffee and cold drinks.

Before that, some members and friends scrambled to put away more than 100 chairs that had crowded the community room for the afternoon services on Yom Kippur, making room for the helpers setting up folding tables (complete with tablecloths) and moving about 40 chairs into place for the feast to come.

Before that, Adrianne — summoning all her strength (and breath) — treated us to one last Shofar blast, signaling that formal prayer had ended, the Yom Kippur fast was over, and the first communal meal of 5785 — break-the-fast — was upon us. We cheered and applauded in communal solidarity.

Before that, a group of meal-prep folks met in the shul kitchen with Adrianne — Cookie, Michael, Liz, Roberta, Sara, Madelyn, Joanna, Rena, Caren, Miriam (with apologies if I forgot anyone) —  to wash, slice, arrange, roll, fill, cover, store in every spare space in fridges upstairs and down, and clean up.

Before that, Madelyn, Joanna, Liz, Roberta, Adrianne and maybe others scoured local markets and other food purveyors for the best break-the-fast offerings at the best prices, and delivered all to the kitchen.

Before that, Rabbi Gadi trekked to Great Neck for fresh baked goods from kosher bakeries offering cakes and pastries with ta’am.

Before that, Adrianne sent email messages to her usual volunteers for break-the-fast setup on Friday, Oct. 11, at 10 a.m.

Before that, Rabbi Gadi, Laurie Short and the members of her exercise class set up a pattern of 120 chairs in the community room in preparation for High Holiday services and the crowd to come.

Before that, the community room was a bare floor for Laurie Short’s Monday/Thursday exercise class.

Before that, Adrianne woke up one morning and said to Miriam, “I gotta get going on break-the-fast.”

Before that, it was an ordinary day.

—Sara Bloom