COMMENTARY
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have the makings of a genuine, if oxy-
moronic, secular religious denomina-
tion.
But it's in providing a third place
that Starbucks could teach the syna-
gogues a thing or two. The physical
setting of a Starbucks is often exquis-
ite, the seating is conducive to linger-
ing and conversation, the music is
current and tasteful, the price of
admission is small, and the entire
place commands you to "relax," albeit
in a highly caffeinated way.
That's not to say that we should be
selling our own denominations the way
Starbucks sells coffee. A religious insti-
tution should inspire its customers to
do considerably more than relax.
The ideal synagogue I have in mind
would place as high a value on the
friendly conversations in the hallways as
it does on the prayer service. Its leaders
Synagogue
hotshots should
stop at the coffee
bar to find out
what people enjoy.
would create space, literally and figura-
tively, for noshing, joshing and back-
slapping. Its members would under-
stand that holy work goes on not only
in the minyanim and formal services,
but whenever a few Jews meet to swap
inside jokes and gossip, commiserate
over one another's tragedies, or celebrate
their occasions of joy.
By the way, Oldenburg often serves
as a consultant to church leaders,
mainly Protestants, who want advice
on space and facilities.
"The loss of gathering places on
the public terrain generally has, I
think, been beneficial to religions in
America generally," he wrote me last
year. "Whereas one formerly found
churches and synagogues in the com-
munity, more and more people are
seeking community in the churches
and synagogues."
If that's the case, here are three
things synagogues should do before
their next planning meeting: read The
Great Good Place, watch a few
episodes of Cheers, and order a Gaffe
Latte Grande. ❑