CyberTorah:  United Synagogue in Monterey

Last Shabbat I had the good fortune of attending the first Northern California United Synagogue regional Shabbaton.  50 of us from 16 Conservative Synagogues in the Bay Area joined together for a Shabbat in Monterey.  While there, I learned and was reminded of a few key elements of Jewish living that I wanted to share with you.

We can strengthen one another.  Monterey has a tiny Conservative Synagogue of 15 members.  They are entirely lay led and meet in a small space rented from a local Church.  They have a strong sense of community and are dedicated to Jewish tradition.  This Shabbat reminded them that they are part of something larger.  It gave them an opportunity to hear from 5 different Rabbis, from lay people involved daily in building the Conservative movement, and simply to celebrate Shabbat with a rich community.  This conference was rejuvenating for the Monterey Synagogue.

It’s good to hear different Rabbinic voices.  5 Rabbis attended this conference.  We all had opportunities to teach, to tell stories, and to sing.  That variety is something we rarely experience because we stay in our own communities.  I enjoyed hearing Rabbi Steve Vale from Vacaville tell Rabbinic stories.  They were inspirational for people and reminded me how much I love stories and storytelling.  Rabbi Art Gould taught a whole carefully researched session on the phrase “ki Tissa.”  I learned  a lot and saw another way of approaching text.  The five of us sat on a panel to share our thoughts on spirituality.  Hearing different voices and perspectives was a high point for everyone.

Strong community creates ruach, spiritual energy, that draws everyone in.  The weekend started out in a lovely fashion as Rabbi Berkenwald from San Jose led Kabbalat Shabbat.  As he was chanting one of the Psalms, the Kol Emeth section looked at one another and we decided to get up and dance as we were singing.  Suddenly, over half of the people in the room were dancing, singing, and rejoicing in Shabbat.  At dinner that night, and lunch the next day, we sang Shabbat songs together.  With that many knowledgeable people, the room was filled with song and joy.  People who knew the songs sang enthusiastically; those less familiar with the melodies and words either hummed along and helped bang the table. Fifty people together rejoicing on Shabbat with no where else to go, nothing else to do except celebrate.    (We have such a singing group every Shabbat after morning services.  It’s a great group that is incredibly welcoming to newcomers.  No knowledge is required – after a couple of sessions you won’t be able to help yourself from singing together.)

Our region is serious about Jewish tradition.  Northern California stands out as a region filled with Synagogues committed to traditional liturgy, in love with Shabbat observance, serious about Kashrut.  People at the conference wanted to pray, wanted to learn, and wanted to have the feel of a traditionally observed Shabbat. 

Finally, our movement can strengthen us and we can help strengthen the movement.  It is a credit to Conservative Jews that we are committed to the value of Klal Israel – the community of Israel.  This commitment has often come at the expense of supporting our own Synagogues and movement.  We love and support Judaism and therefore spread that support broadly.  Our movement stands for tradition and for brining people close to Torah in a modern idiom.  We are dozens of Synagogues, some strong, some struggling, all offering people a way of being deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and living in the modern world.  That deserves support.  Put another way, its okay for us to trumpet our own vital voice in the Jewish world.

I feel renewed and energized by my time away and connected in a new way to other area Conservative Synagogues.  I am glad to bring these lessons home with me.

Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi David Booth

If you would like to be added to the CyberTorah distribution list, please email Rabbi Booth at RabbiBooth@kolemeth.org.