friclay, 0c4oben19, i1:904 5 THE DETROIT JEAISH,NEWS SPITZER'S LETTERS Of Harvard Row SEYMOUR 'tit CADILLAC CAMLUICS & SAAB COST LESS ON JEFFERSON DRIVE A NEW 1985 Sedan DeVille FOR $2QC42, per mo. ONLY ITHE LARGEST HEBREW BOOK SHOP IN THE MIDWEST LSolving the problem of non-affiliation It was with equal portions of iiaterest and anguish that I read Rabbi Jack Riemer's recent arti- cle, "Why Belong?", in The Jewish dos. I recognize that considera- te. thought must have gone into the article. However, the re- sponses of the questions posed by Rabbi Riemer regarding non- Affiliation with synagogue life by such a great percentage of Ameri- 17-01 Jews did not, as I perceive it, deal substantively with the prob- lem. The need for synagogue affilia- tion, as indicated by the article, is greater than merely providing bat and bar mitzvah and performing at funerals. I wish to address the (nE.‘7;ds of one segment of congreg- cajas, namely those of us no longer young but not yet old who seek meaningful value from our synagogue affiliation. The synagogue or temple that I have become familiar with in no ay resembles the synagogue of which I have such fond memories, ur does it in any way encompass the synagogue that I envision as ideal. I recognize that the ideal facility (not in the physical sense aine) is not within the realm of achievement, but that which con- (gregants in the main now have is so far less than that which they ar- '- seeking that it may preclude affiliation with the synagogue. I do not believe that people do not belong to a synagogue because of its costs or the fact that their ildren are grown, or even that their parents have passed on. I be- -1 eve that people do not join rsynagogues or temples for reasons &.,-)emingly esoteric but truly sub- stantive. Let us look at the synagogue, the physical facility. In the main, it is vast, intimidating and, by its very nature, precludes the inti- ,?,P.cy that I believe most people are searching for. I recognize that (there are certain economies of scale in bigness, however, one ' weighs the benefits achieved and the burden subscribed to in af- filiating with the "grand Lgynagogue." I, for one, believe there are too few synagogues 9 S distinguished from the popular thought today that there are too many. I believe that the synagogue should be the center of J'-nvish cultural and religious life and an extension of the family nit. I believe that the size of I I synagogues with membAships t=anning from 500 to 2,000 families are of such a nature as to preclude personal relationship with the rabbi, the cantor, the sexton and other leaders of the congregation. There is also a negative factor, as I perceive it, in synagogue life, I which should be an extension of the family and encompass tradi- tional Jewish values, but has now become a safe harbor and an alter ego for country club life. There is a - cult of exclusivity which is always 7-prevalent in any group and the \---conomic imbalance of various congregants, as related to other congregants, bestows certain honor and credit which histori- eally was vested in our learned and righteous people. 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