Rabbi’s June 2000 Message
“A Thought for the Summer
Interlude!”
Dear friends,
The approach of summer provides us with wonderful opportunities for rest, relaxation and renewal. It is a time to catch our breath from the hectic lives we lead, look back at where we have been (spiritually and emotionally) and look forward to the directions we want to take in our lives as we move forward. For many of us, summer is a time to “regroup our forces,” so to speak, and “rearm” for the frenetic pace of life that will surely resume in September with the winding down of the summer doldrums.
As we apply this annual summer process to all parts of our lives, I would like to suggest that we apply the same analysis to the role that the synagogue plays in our lives; except that this year, we must also consider the other side of the coin. That is, the role that we, each one of us, play in the life of the synagogue. Recently a new book appeared on the Jewish scene, “Finding A Spiritual Home,” by Washington-area Rabbi Sid Schwarz. Rabbi Schwarz suggests very powerfully that the traditional paradigm by which American synagogues of all denominations (Conservative, Reform, Orthodox, and Reconstructionist) have operated is outmoded and must be replaced by a new one. This new paradigm is based on two major concepts:
Rabbi Schwarz suggests that synagogues that make these paradigm changes will succeed in helping their members realize that meaningful Jewish lives cannot be lived vicariously, through a surrogate synagogue or rabbi, whose purpose it is to live a Jewish existence in behalf of their members. No, meaningful Jewish lives can only be lived when each individual “roles up her/his sleeves” and is taught, guided, inspired, and empowered to live her/his own meaningful Jewish life for herself or himself.
Two immediate
consequences flow from Rabbi Schwarz’s book. The first is that synagogues can
no longer be just child oriented. They must be oriented to all members, regardless
of age or marital and family status. The second is that synagogue members
must change their expectations of the synagogue and its professionals and lay
leadership. The job of the professionals and lay leadership has changed!
They are no longer supposed to live exemplary Jewish lives for the express
purpose of providing their membership with the good feeling that they (the
membership) are Jewishly fulfilled because of the Jewish lives that their
leadership lives. The job of the professionals and lay leadership is to
inspire the membership to live their own Jewish lives, to take ownership of
their Judaism and live it themselves so that they will be fulfilled Jewishly
because of what and how they themselves are living, and not because of how
others are living for them!
Seen within this context, B’nai Shalom is well in the forefront of making this paradigm change in the way in which we operate our synagogue. We are empowering our entire membership to role up their sleeves and find Jewish fulfillment by living Jewishly in a variety of ways. We are moving from a synagogue culture that says, “You, the synagogue leadership, live Jewishly in my behalf so that I can feel good about being Jewish” to a synagogue culture that proclaims, “We, the synagogue, are here to empower you and enable you to feel good about your Jewishness through active Jewish living that you, yourself actually do!” And in doing this we are in the process of creating a very special Jewish community.
It is this shift in paradigm that explains so much of what is happening at B’nai Shalom! Members of all ages are learning to read Torah and chant Haftarot, and come to the synagogue to do that! Members are attending morning and evening minyanim faithfully and in increasing numbers. Jewish study is growing, with classes and learning experiences being offered in Talmud, Mishna, Bible study, Perek Yomi (the project of reading a chapter of the Bible every day), adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and Jewish mysticism. Our monthly parallel minyan is an expression on the part of a growing number of our members of a desire and need to participate actively in and lead Shabbat morning services. The increasing numbers of our members who construct their own Sukkot is an inspiration for the entire community! And through all these activities, those who participate are experiencing an increasing sense of spiritual fulfillment and belonging to a wonderful community that makes life meaningful and purposeful! It is not what others do for us, but what we do for ourselves that makes the difference!
As the summer approaches I hope that you will give serious thought to the ideas suggested by Rabbi Schwarz. Even more important, go beyond reflecting on his suggestions by changing your own paradigm of Jewish living by choosing for yourself one area of Jewish living in which you will become active in the year to come. You will be enriched, feel empowered, and find it will open up for you heretofore unexpected additional paths to living an exciting Jewish life! All my best wishes for a thoughtful, restful, and reinvigorating summer experience.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Stanley L. Asekoff