Where are we one year later?

Last year during High Holidays I raised the question with you. Can the current model of synagogues take us into the 21st century in a way that helps us live more meaningful and compassionate lives? What, I pondered out loud, if we started from scratch with no assumptions? What might be new ways to conceive of the purpose, the structure and the forms of a 21st century synagogue?

As a community we continued the conversation with Rabbi Larry Hoffman who was our scholar in residence last fall. Rabbi Hoffman talked about how synagogue models had changed as the American Jewish community itself changed from colonial days to the immigration of German Jews, followed by the waves of Eastern European immigration and the subsequent move to suburbia and finally to the current situation. Rabbi Hoffman spoke about the challenges of change and set out the notion that most institutions make only modest changes. They create better programs, handle their PR better, or hire better staff. He challenged us to look for models that would be transformative, change that would radically recast our institution.

David Meer, the chair of the SAJ, set up the synagogue initiative committee to explore the essential purpose of a synagogue. We met and read a number of books on synagogue change. We organized a number of open discussions on this question, first with the board, followed by focus groups and finally at the annual meeting.

Before sharing with you some of the things we have learned from this process, I want to set our discussion in the context of the current moment in Jewish life. For as long as I can remember, there have been voices who proclaimed the imminent doom of the Jewish people. Dwindling synagogue attendance, Jewish illiteracy, assimilation, and intermarriage have been part of the gloomy view of Jewish life. An historian famously referred to this syndrome as “the ever dying Jewish people.”

I always looked upon that view as fairly irrelevant. Perhaps I am more optimistic (Pollyannaish?) by nature, but it seemed to me that 1) we could not do much about some of these trends 2) Does it actually matter whether there are 6.4 million Jews in America or 5.7 million Jews in America. Numbers never seemed the essential question to me.

The focus of my professional journey has always been on striving to create a vibrant Jewish life. For me that life was focused on Judaism as a religion, or more recently as a spiritual practice. Prayer, singing, Jewish texts form the architecture of my soul, my being. I believed that the Jewish people would in the end find their way through whatever challenges arose in the 20th century and now the 21st. I had more faith in the people than the so called Jewish leadership.

I am no longer so sure. I think we are entering a period of grave challenge to the future of the Jewish people. One indicator: Synagogue membership overall is in decline. I think the economic situation only masks a truth that is really not related to money. Those factors that brought people to the synagogue for the last 50 years are fading---nostalgia, the sights and sounds of childhood, the Eastern European grandparent, the Holocaust and anti-Semitism. Indeed the ethnic sense of Judaism that sustained synagogues during the 20th century is rapidly vanishing. The Conservative movement's success was its ability to modify Judaism in America so it was not too much (Orthodoxy) or too little (Reform). Today Jews have no need for their synagogue to represent the right balance between being too Jewish or not Jewish enough. The role of Jewish institutions, JCCs or synagogues, in finding the right balance between acculturation and assimilation is over. Jews feel at home in America. We speak the language. As it turns out in the latest survey Judaism is the most admired religion in America. We are no longer immigrants or even the children of immigrants. No one needs to change their name—we are fully part of American life. Not only does Chelsea Clinton marry a Jew but the niece of Pres. Bush marries the son of a famous Jewish clothing designer and Lauren Bush becomes Lauren Lauren.

Today liberal Jews would rather have a Judaism that is more accepting of the choices they have made in their lives, especially when it comes to who they have married. This has led to many Jews leaving Conservative Judaism for Reform. Some predict a rapid decline in the Conservative movement in the coming decades. Yet the challenge is across the board. All the liberal movements see evidence of declining numbers.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks wrote the following a few weeks ago:

The real issue facing world Jewry is the one no one talks about. It is not anti-Semitism. It is not the isolation and condemnation of Israel. It is not assimilation and out marriage. These are all symptoms, not causes. The real issue is that for a large proportion of the Jewish world, in Israel and the Diaspora, Judaism no longer makes sense. It does not move them, inspire them or transform them. It does not speak to them at the deepest levels of our being. The crisis facing Jewry is not social or economic or political. It is spiritual. Religion, devotion, faith: these were the secret of Jewry’s almost unbelievable survival through centuries of hardship and persecution. For two centuries Jews experimented with other forms of identity: social, cultural and political. These were honest, decent, impressive efforts, but in each case they lasted no more than three generations.

Without a spiritual dimension Jews become like every other small, scattered nation: no better, no worse, but no longer the people capable of transforming the world by the fire of their passion.

That’s really what I want for our synagogue. That’s really what I want for each of us. I want us to be individuals and a people capable of transforming the world by the fire of our passion. I want SAJ to feel like an igniter to your better selves, supporting your challenges, encouraging your better instincts, and propelling you forward into a better world.

So what did we learn from the focus groups and our reading? There is no magic solution or people would be doing it. Not surprisingly people want different things—some want more of the way we used to do it. Some want less of this and more of that. When asked to name important experiences here at SAJ, a number of people gave moving answers about a particular time that was important to them. While much remains unclear even after these discussions a few common themes emerged. You care about community. In this arena, more than in belief and practice, there seemed to be a consensus on a desire for community by many people.

The other major themes related broadly to study; spirituality and social justice.

It also became clear that change is difficult. One person said she really appreciated the community when her mother died and she found attending Shabbat services helpful and comforting. When asked why she no longer comes to services, she couldn't really answer.
We all have activities in our lives that we want to do, whether it’s going to theater, being more in touch with friends, or working out in the gym but it is hard to get ourselves to do them. And truth be told it wasn't clear that being in synagogue was high on the wish list for many people.

Somehow, we have failed to communicate the significance that Judaism can play in people's lives not just at moments of crisis but in the daily ups and downs of life

What then?

All these somewhat inchoate opinions didn't seem to provide a roadmap for moving ahead until…I was reminded that the year 2012 will mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of SAJ. How should we mark that anniversary? We will find a way to celebrate the accomplishment, but beyond that, how might we use this significant milestone in our history to be what Mordecai Kaplan imagined us to be—a new model of synagogue that better addressed the needs of the present, while preserving the past and imagining the future? First, we decided that it seemed appropriate to mark the 90th and continue the conversation we had this year, by planning a lecture series on the theme of Imagining Our Future:

We will begin on Yom Kippur afternoon at 4 pm with Ruth Messenger and Rabbi Steve Gutow talking about the role of social justice in the Jewish future. In Nov John Ruskay head of NY UJA_federation will speak about the role of Jewish communal organizations in the 21st Century., In Dec, Peter Beinart will talk with us about Israel and American Jewry. Peter Beinart is known for his article in the New York Review of Books about young American Jews drifting away from Israel. In Jan., Robert Putnam will deliver the first annual Jack Litman memorial lecture. Dr. Putnam is known for his book Bowling Alone, which talks about the decline of community in American life. His recent work is American Grace: How religion unites and divides us. He will be followed in March by Rabbi David Ellenson, the pres. of HUC, who will discuss religious aspects of the Jewish future. Dr Bethamie Horowitz will speak in April on sociological trends and the Jewish future and finally Elise Bernhardt of the Foundation for Jewish Culture will talk about the role of culture and the Jewish future. Except for the first all these talks will take place after services and Kiddush on Shabbat at 1:15pm.

Besides being an exciting series, we hope these talks will stimulate ideas about our future.

Yet, that seemed only one aspect of an appropriate celebration of our 90th. What if we mark the anniversary by encouraging our community to live up to the central values that we heard associated with SAJ? These values parallel the traditional teaching in Pirkey Avot, that the world rests on three pillars torah, avoda and gemilut hesed-- study, worship/spirituality and acts of loving kindness. To these three we added a fourth pillar--the importance of community. What if we spent the year, this New Year that also coincides with our 90th anniversary doing a 90-90-90, encouraging 90 Sajers to volunteer on a social justice project, 90 Sajers to take on a Jewish learning project and 90 Sajers to engage in community building. How would this work? For those of you whose passion is social justice, the social concerns committee has come up with a number of specific volunteer opportunities.

The idea is to give of your time, not send a check or drop off used toys, however important those activities continue to be. For this project, we’re not looking at one shot deals—the halakha of this project is that whatever you choose, it should involve a commitment to do it at least 3 times. If you are already doing something great perhaps you can add one of these or let us know so we can encourage other Sajers to join you. The opportunities include the Literacy programs through the JCC and especially the new math tutoring project—an idea generated by Joan Budish and new at the JCC this year; West side campaign against hunger’s food pantry, working with elderly at Dorot, or mentoring the homeless at IAHH.

In the area of Jewish learning, we are developing a list of 10 basic Jewish skills that we hope every member will acquire. Such skills might include the blessings for an aliya, Fri night home rituals, the motzi—blessing over bread. Or a different kind of skill such as how to pay a shiva visit. These skills could be acquired in the coming year or over the course of the next ten years. In the area of Jewish learning, there might also be basic Jewish knowledge (learning 100 Jewish words like tikkun olam, bikur holim) or a basic comprehension of Shabbat morning services.

The concept is to find ways to encourage us to have a basic Jewish literacy. The goals would be modest and therefore within the reach of everyone. There would also be learning opportunities beyond the basics. The learning could be on your own or with a study partner or with a teacher. The Cantor will record any home or synagogue liturgy you’d like to learn and we’ll match you with a mentor to make sure you have it right. A new committee is being formed to set goals as well as figure out the mechanisms to make these learning opportunities possible. We will also respond to your requests e.g. I want a recommendation for a good one volume Jewish history or I want to know what Judaism has to say about the afterlife.

The third area of 90 is community. This is so critical that the board has taken upon itself to work on this area. Board members will meet with at least 3 SAJ members. They will sit with them for a half an hour or so to get to know them, hear part of their life and Jewish story. The board member will share their own story as well. The purpose is to better weave together our community, not to ask you for money or to volunteer or to serve on a committee. It is to hear your story and to discover ways SAJ can serve you better—programs you would like to see, classes you would like to have offered, issues in your life to be addressed. Even if you are not on the board and would like to join them in reaching out to fellow congregants, please let David Meer know.

Because the area of community seemed so important it became a particular emphasis in this year's program planning including:
Getting to know us---a couple times in the year members have been asked to talk about their professional lives. Our community is filled with fascinating people doing interesting things who are happy to share their work with us. We began with Katie Daniels, a sculptor who showed pictures of and spoke about her sculpture and Mary Fuss, who spoke about her work at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Last week, David Katz spoke about his new book of poetry. Ben Dattner will talk about his book, The Blame Game.

Voices from the SAJ is back this spring, a program that gives voice to the many SAJ members who are talented writers.
We are offering a cooking class. 5 individual sessions led by an SAJ member teaching you how to cook their favorite dishes.
When I was at the University of Michigan this summer helping my son move in as he begins a doctoral program there, we had lunch with the Hillel Director, Michael Brooks, an old friend of mine. Because Ben was about to have root canal surgery—his second day in Ann Arbor, Michael mentioned a project of their Hillel, which delivers Chicken Soup to anyone on campus who is ill. They simply call Hillel. I was really struck by this idea and its power to help connect us to each other. We hope to launch the Jewish Penicillin hotline at the SAJ—under the Bikur holim comm. this fall. With the hotline, you will be able to contact Bikur holim when you are feeling under the weather and a member will deliver a bowl of chicken soup to your home. (If you would like to volunteer to make or deliver soup, let bikur holim know).
Look for info about all of the above in the coming weeks.

There is one more 90—maybe for us the most challenging—Avodah-- prayer and spirituality. I want to talk about that on Yom Kippur by focusing on gratitude and hope.

We live our lives in many places at home, at work, at retirement, with family, with friends, in play and entertainment.
Living life in the synagogue and in Judaism has a different role than the any of the above. It is the place that should add meaning to all of the above. It is where we can reflect on who we are and who we want to be. It is where we can pause and catch our breath, find our bearings, and even adjust our course direction. Each of our stories is unique and yet million of Jews before us have made life's journey. The teachings and texts of the Jewish people contain the accumulated insights of all those journeys and can provide helpful wisdom to us still traveling on the road.

The synagogue should be a setting for deeds of compassion and social justice, for learning and spirituality.
It should be a place of community.

God says in the Torah: I have set before you this day life and death: choose life.

I always come back this time of year to that verse. What does it mean to choose life? Don't we all choose life?

This year has been a difficult one for Joy and me, filled with losses. In Dec., Joy's cousin Deb, with whom she was very close, died after a long battle against cancer. In Jan. our good friend Debbie Friedman, with whom I had co-led a monthly healing service for 10 years, died at too early an age. And a few months ago, Joy's father, who has been here for high holidays every year of the last ten, died. In the face of death, I, like many of you, wonder what that verse really means. Do we really get to choose life as the verse implies and what is that life we supposedly get to choose?

Many of us believe we can overcome death or at least create a lasting legacy if we can become famous or change the world or acquire lots of money or lots of things. But here I think the writer of Kohelet—Ecclesiastes--is correct, that is all striving after wind. The Buddhists are right--everything passes. Nothing lasts forever.

Think for a moment of how many of the most famous people of our time will be unknown 5,000 years from now. Who will be remembered in 7011? Probably not Madonna or Michael Jackson, not Derek Jeter nor Michael Jordan. Not even Elie Wiesel or the Dali lama. There is nothing wrong with fame or fortune—But I increasingly try to hold on to this simple truth that this verse--"I set before you this day life and death—choose life" means just that. Choose a life well lived. The point of life is not fame and fortune—the point of life is life itself—it is our relationships with others, with friends and family. It is about caring and compassion. It is whether in the end we added to the world's treasury of goodness and blessing, whether we did more tikkun-repair or we sunk the sparks of holiness deeper in the mire of envy and anger, of hatred or hurt.

That is the legacy that each of us leaves—a legacy written in sand that will be erased by the tide of time as all those who remember us will themselves die. That is the way of the world. What's then the point? Life. Live every moment because this moment will never come again.

That's it—that's the secret of life? I think of Enid Clott who lived a life filled with caring about community, about making people welcome and though she never discovered the cure to cancer or hit 800 home runs, added to that treasury of goodness and blessing.
She chose life.

I think of my father-in-law Gene Levitt. When we were sitting shiva at his home on LI, Joy got a call from the K-Mart pharmacy informing her that her father’s prescriptions were ready. Joy explained that he had died. The caller asked Joy to wait a minute that the pharmacist wanted to speak with her. The k-mart pharmacist got on the phone sobbing, He said: Your father wasn't a customer—he was a friend. He knew all about my children and I knew all about his. He took the time to know me. And so I took the time to know him.

Gene Levitt created webs of connection, of warmth, of humanity with everyone he met. He too chose life.

The Torah of Judaism is a guidebook to living life---a guidebook created by the discussion of the Jewish people's journey that has taken us from Egypt thru the wilderness on a way to the Promised Land. That journey takes place in community even as for each of us it is a unique story.

The synagogue then is about perspective, it is not about fame or career or fortune --it is a place to get perspective so as to make the only choice that does ultimately matter. I set before you this day life and death. Choose life.

Let us celebrate our 90th by choosing life.