On Oct. 24, more than 150 relatives, friends and members of Shaare Tefila Congregation in Olney attended an unusual type of brit – one at which its rabbi, Jonah Layman, had never officiated in his 25 years as a rabbi — the baby namings and britot of twins. These were the second and third children for Cantor Wendi Fried of Shaare Tefila and her husband, Giora, who invited the congregation to share their nachas by attending the event. Rabbi Layman officiated, as did April Rubin as mohelet. The fraternal twins, named Yonatan Natanel and Rafael Kai, responded well to the ceremony, although as Yonatan began to cry, one congregant called out that he sounded like a future cantor, and just as much in the spirit of the occasion, Dr. Rubin suggested that his brother might become a future rabbi. The event concluded with an invited performance, the Shaare Tefila Choir’s lively rendition of “Shehecheyanu,” joined in by all attending.
