But what defines community? If I am trying to find sacred community, how do I know when I'm there?
Three kehillot:
Lexington, KY - It's the centennial of Ohavay Zion Synagogue. Hundreds of people are in the sanctuary on Friday night who have come from all over the country to celebrate and re-connect with old friends. They will be there again on Saturday morning, and then spend the entire weekend in carefully orchestrated events that accentuate the unique history of the community. Sunday's breakfast, in the restaurant on the site of the original synagogue building, has the hot buffet on the former bima.
Every person I talk to is eager to tell me how OZS is different. On my walk to shul on Saturday, my companion tells me about the houses we're passing, and the community event they had years ago. OZS had an open house tour to illustrate Jewish holidays, each home displaying the finest tables set for Rosh Hashana, Passover or Chanuka, one home with a sukkah. Each host welcomed visitors and explained Jewish customs for the holiday. Hundreds of people from the community came out, some on buses. The majority were not Jewish, and the OZS members were delighted to show and share the sacred in their lives with their Christian neighbors.
New York, NY - On Friday night at Park Avenue Synagogue, the four clergy sit on stools on the bima facing the congregation, Rabbis Cosgrove and Rein on the left, Cantors Schwartz and Kidron on the right. The music of the two cantors fills the Kabbalat Shabbat service and elevates those of us who sing along. The next morning, Cantor is accompanied by a choir and full orchestra synthesizer. There is less congregational participation, but, rather, an experience of divine sound - the angelic tenor of a masterful young Cantor blending the ancient with the present.
Newark, NJ or Palatine, IL - About 30 incoming or new synagogue presidents are on retreat at Sulam for Presidents. They have taken two days off from work to spend from Thursday until Sunday together. We have a schedule that goes like this: Learn, Pray, Eat... Pray, Learn, Eat, Pray, Eat, Drink... Pray, eat, pray, pray, eat, learn, pray, drink, laugh.... Pray, learn...Say goodbye.
They will learn about mission, vision, values, budgets, and other things that anyone can read in a book. They will share with each other their best ideas, their stories and fears about being president. They will pray so much that they will say things like, "I would never be able to let my rabbi run services so long on Saturday morning." And at the end of the retreat, they will say that they have never had an experience of sacred community like this before.
So where do I find sacred community? Not in a place or a building. I find sacred community in relationships. It's in intentions - best intentions and even failed intentions - to connect human to human and human to divine. I find sacred community with experiences that connect the ancient with me now. It only happens when we act. When we connect through prayer and music, celebrate together, when we visit the sick, comfort a mourner, notice when someone loses a job or a friend. I find kehilla in action. Kehilla as a verb.
No comments:
Post a Comment