I am writing this post during a break between sessions at the STAR PEER alumni retreat, an annual conference I attend as part of my connection with STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal). The conference reunites me with a small group of rabbis who are committed to ensuring a lasting, energized Jewish future by strengthening synagogues. The conference always brings stars - top scholars and Jewish community leaders - to focus and enrich our efforts. I want to share with you some of the best teachings so far from this year's conference.
Last night's key note speaker, Jewish Theological Seminary's new chancellor Arnold Eisen, offered an inspiring assessment of the state of American Judaism. Chancellor Eisen has embarked on a campaign to redefine the meaning of "mitzvah." He cited one of Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan's central principles: the Jewish people are commanded by more than just Torah from Sinai. Eisen believes that anyone who steps into a synagogue does so because they feel a sense of obligation or commitment to something. It may be an obligation to respond to the God of their understanding (revelation), an obligation to appease their parents (Jewish guilt), an obligation to preserve the Jewish people (ethnic pride), or any other compelling thing. Chancellor Eisen challenges us to expand our understanding of "mitzvah" to include the broad sweep of commitments felt by our people. I agree with him, but want to know from you: what obligation, tug, or commitment keeps you connected to Judaism and our synagogue?
Sandy Cardin, president of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, spoke to us about risk. He cited the amazing benefits reaped by entrepreneurial Jewish leaders in the past decade (he cited Reboot, STAR, and S3K as examples) and urged us "don't cede the territory of innovation to them just because you are in institutional settings." Sandy then drew on Jewish history for a number of examples of great risks that produced history changing rewards for the Jewish people: Yohanan ben Zakkai's worship revolution following the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, Rambam's codification of the Mishneh Torah, and Abraham Joshua Heschel's march with Martin Luther King, Jr. What risks have you taken in your life that have impacted your Jewish identity, practice, or beliefs? Are there limits to the risks we should take in a congregation? Are there limits to the rewards we can achieve?
Chancellor Eisen argued that the future of progressive American Judaism can be great and urged us to heed our calling to make it great. Again, I agree with his optimism but want to know from you if you think the glass of American Judaism is half full or half empty. And are you ready to fill it the rest of the way?
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ReplyDeleteHello Rabbi Roos,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a great conference. I think the most important reason that we belong to a synagogue is to teach our children moral values and the importance of living a "good and meaningful" life. We also as a family believe that it is a great joy to give our children pride in who they are and where they came from so that it will be an easier transition into where they will go as Jews and also as good people.
Having also been at the conference (I'm STAR's Executive Director), I'd like to suggest another "tug" that pulls us into synagogues--a desire for community. In a world dizzying with choices, synagogues can provide an anchor of stability. They're a place where you can explore with others the big and the small questions of life and a place where even though they are not always answered, you can find support from others who are on the search. While becoming involved in synagogue because of a sense of obligation is a desirable goal, I want to make sure that we leave room for people who may not be ready to make a full commitment yet, but are ready to find a place that they can call home.
ReplyDeleteAnd--on a different note--you have a terrific rabbi and we're delighted that he is one of the alumni of STAR PEER.
Rabbi Hayim Herring, Ph.D.
Executive Director STAR
www.starsynagogue.org