MOWS WATCH

Feeling Goose Bumps In Synagogue

l t r aaW n : •
How do we trans-
as a life experience.
Foremost, the synagogue should be
o matter how observant we
By doing so, they
form
such
indiffer-
a
haven
to
learn
and
to
teach.
It
are, the synagogue is the
would begin to reach
ence?
should
be
the
great
equalizer,
a
com-
gateway to our Jewish soul
the uninvolved and
It's partly by shul
mon ground. Social standing shouldn't
and the epicenter of our
under-involved — and
leaders making their
count.
Nor
should
the
degree
of
Juda-
spiritual lives.
introduce many of them
congregants feel
ic
commitment
—
that's
no
So says Dr. Ron Wolfson,
to what's beyond the
empowered and partly
one else's business.
one of the architects of Syn-
synagogue foyer.
by congregants opening
Synagogues
collect
dues
agogue 2000, a national
Ultimately, we must
themselves to divine
to operate — there's no
\outreach that's geared to
decide individually how
inspiration.
denying
that.
But
I
wonder
/energize shuls of the 21st
much, or how little, to
Studying together in
how many of the complain-
century.
make shul part of our
synagogue is one way for
ers
who
say
"all
synagogues
The synagogue is impor-
lives. But I hope each
congregants to unite Jew-
want is my money" ever ven-
tant to our Jewish lives, but
decision is based on
ishly and, in the process,
ture inside one to survey the
it's not essential. The spiritu-
knowledge, not heresy.
affirm their Jewish iden-
range of services and pro-
al enrichment that good
I was moved by how
tity
—
perhaps
the
most
Dr. Ron Wolfson
grams.
ones provide, however, is
ROBE RT A.
Dr. Wolfson put it:
enduring way.
That apathy is corn-
invaluable.
SKL AR
Jews come to syna-
To truly appreciate
pounded by parents who
So I was intrigued by
Edi for
gogue for lots of reasons, not the least
the history, customs and rituals of our
drop their kids off for
'Nhat Wolfson had to say
of which is the kishkas connection —
4,000-year-old faith, Jewishly ignorant
Hebrew school, a bar/bat
during an April stop at the
a connection not of the head but of
adults must resolve to study our sacred
mitzvah
or
confirmation
class
and
Max M. Fisher Federation Building in
the heart."
texts at their comfort level, without
then
drive
off,
because
there's
little
Bloomfield Township.
being pressured to conform. What
inside
the
synagogue
speaking
passion-
"We want a synagogue to be engag-
better place to become motivated to
ately to them.
ing, stimulating and fulfilling," said
To leave a message for Robert
do just that than in shul?
So
it's
not
surprising
that
studies
the animated, kippa-wearing professor.
Sklar, please call (248) 354-6060,
For their parr, clergy and lay leaders
show
less
than
half
of
all
Jewish
house-
"We want the answer to be 'yes' to
ext. 258, or send e-mail to:
must dispel the notion that synagogue is
holds (Jews from birth who maintain
the question, 'Am I moved?'
rsklar@thejewishnews.com
synonymous with unrelated religious
a Jewish identity) belonging to a syna-
\
, -- "We're always in search of the
events. Instead, they should talk up shul
gogue.
, goose-bump moments.
That's true. But do we find them?
Surely, some of us do. We feel the
goose bumps.
But for others, the synagogue is
more likely to be service oriented —
nothing more than a repository for the
rhythms of our Jewish activities.
_ Variously, it's a house of worship, a
He believes peace will be hollow unless both
Jerusalem
ischool building, a study hall, a ban-
Jews
and Arabs work at it. "It may take genera-
s an editor, I'm always interested in
quet site, a meeting spot, a social
tions,"
he said, "but we've got to stop demoniz-
what
other
journalists
have
to
say.
action outlet, a comfort zone and a
ing
each
other."
So
I
looked
forward
to
hearing
communal square.
Bus
driver
Dani Elias, a Haifa native,
Stuart
Associate
Editor
Jerusalem
Report
Wolfson, affiliated with the Univer-
1
opposes
statehood
given the disarray in
April
23
in
Schoffman,
who
addressed
tourists
sity of Judaism in Los Angeles, calls
Palestinian
leadership.
"In both Jordan and
Miracle
capital
during
the
third
Michigan
Israel's
the typical North American shul "a
Egypt,
we
spoke
with
one
man to achieve
Mission.
kind of Jewish shopping mall."
peace. With the Palestinians, there's Arafat,
His talk was on Palestinian statehood —
He writes: "It's where Jews come
the Jihad, Hamas. Beyond land, the Pales-
which, he said, is inevitable, no matter who
when they need something — a High
tinians will need us to help supply them with
becomes Israel's next prime minister. The timing Stuart Scho an
Holiday seat, a religious school for the
an
army, police and airplanes. And I'm suspi-
Schoffman
and
the
terms
are
open
to
debate,
kids, a rabbi on call — or when they
cious
of that," Elias said. "I don't believe real
said
but
not
statehood
itself.
are invited to a simcha or, God forbid,
peace
is
possible."
"War,
nobody
wants,"
he
said.
a funeral."
Elias wonders why the Palestinians can't continue to live
The majority of Israelis believe in the essence of the
Baby Boomers especially, he
in
the
West Bank and Gaza Strip but under Israel's control.
there's
a
difference
in
said,
although
Oslo
Accords,
he
writes, are looking for something
Tour guide Frances Oppenheimer, a Jerusalem resi-
depth of understanding and level of concern.
more: "We've made it materially.
dent who made aliya from New Zealand 30 years ago,
"Most Israelis are on board," Schoffman said. "The
We've got our beepers and cell
thinks statehood is a good idea.
train, in effect, has left the station."
\-9hones and Land Cruisers. But we're
"Statehood is something the Palestinians would not
In
fact,
half
of
all
Israelis
believe
the
Palestinians
left with that great existential ques-
want
to lose," she said. "So maybe if they got it, they
deserve
their
own
state,
said
the
editor.
tion, immortalized by Peggy Lee: 'Is
would
devote themselves to building an economy and an
"And
that's
not
an
expression
of
a
Good
Neighbor
that all there is?' So we search for
educational
system. Then maybe we can have true peace."
Award
or
a
Good
Terrorist
Award,"
he
said.
"Rather,
it's
a
spirituality in just about every place
Such
a
contrast
in opinion underscores how strongly
fundamental
understanding
of
a
mature
society."
but the synagogue."
Israelis differ on the issue of statehood — despite what
Schoffinan yearns for a peace based on an apprecia-
Maybe, he writes, were not search-
the polls and pundits say. E
tion for roads, infrastructure, the environment, English
ing hard enough there — and maybe
as
a
second
language
and,
most
importantly,
"stewardship
he's right. Too many of us look for
— Robert A. Sklar
of a land most people love."
\ _ Kodak moments there rather than
7 -g o os e- bump moments.

N

Palestinians Will Get State,
Israeli Editor Says

A

5/7
1999