Serve Us vs. Service?
December 18, 2011
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, the incoming President of the Union for Reform Judaism, raises a compelling question. Should the primary role of the synagogue be to address the desires of its members? Or should it be to offer an opportunity for members to participate in Jewish life? Are we here to give members what they want that a synagogue might provide, or are we here to engage members in service of something greater that Judaism gives all of us?
It is not a simple question.
In my view, the model of the synagogue as a fee-for-service institution, trying to address the specific needs of individual congregants, cannot work very well over the long term. This kind of transactional relationship inevitably turns members into “consumers,” who naturally want to get more for their money. The model may work for the cable company but not for a Temple.
Instead of asking new and existing Temple members who are not facing a current crisis, “What can we do for you?” perhaps the key question should be, “How would you like to engage Jewishly? And how can we assist you?”
Judaism holds a unique place in our lives. For most of us, it is part of our core identity, though not something that looms large in our thoughts most of the time. How can our Judaism make our lives more vital and meaningful? The answer is surely not to be found in a consuming frame of mind.
If the synagogue is to be important for you or for me, it should help us build meaningful lives and support us in our Jewish journey. It can be a place to reconnect with our traditions or find solace in difficult times. It can open doorways to learning and reinforce the cultural pleasures that go along with being a Jew. It can give us the strength to face the outside world.
If you’ve never asked yourself what being Jewish means and can mean, and how Temple Emanu-El can support you, these are great questions to ask. Please send me your thoughts via the Temple office or email me at president@emanu-el.org.
Wishing you and yours a Happy (secular) New Year.
