From the July/August 2008 Bulletin
I recently experienced a surprising revelation: The San Francisco Bay Area is CRAWLING with Jews! Why it was a surprise to me after so many years of living in the area, I don’t know.
But it WAS!
The majority of my rabbinate at Beth Israel Judea is spent in conversation with congregants, students, lay leaders and staff and leading services, lifecycles ceremonies and events at our shul, but over the past several weeks I have also participated in a number of major events that have taken place in the greater Jewish community.
Two of these included the always inspiring Israel (at 60) in the Gardens (which I have creatively redubbed ‘the annual Jew-Fest’) and the thrilling opening of the magnificent new Contemporary Jewish Museum. Gathered among the swarms of MOTs (members of the tribe) at both of these events I was overcome by a powerful feeling that, contrary to the arguments, Judaism is alive and well and THRIVING in San Francisco.
At the museum, I felt an intense urge to lose the “rabbi” garb, go under cover, pull out a microphone and steno pad and wander around grilling attendees, “What in inspires YOU Jewishly?” But reason got the best of me and I remained a silent (though not anonymous) observer.
What struck me as I people-watched was the insight that this generation of Jews is genuinely driven by a curiosity for and desire to engage with things Jewish; that our culture and religion, when presented in a creative and compelling array is providing inspiration and meaning to our lives. This renaissance is especially evident in Eastern Europe, but it is also happening in our very own community.
Today’s Jews are also thrilled by the experience of being part of something bigger, part of something special, part of something rooted, part of something
…well…Jewish! It may be a phenomenon—but it is surely a sign of the times. What else explains the success of our bustling SFJCC, the popularity of the annual Bible by the Bay Feast of Jewish Learning, among other large scale events?
Beth Israel Judea is also undergoing a Jewish renaissance.
Our congregation’s most successful events and programs this year (and there were A LOT of them)—our Israel Fest, our adult ed events and programs, the sofer Shabbaton, the Purim feast and celebration, the Taste of Judaism and Jewish Time classes, our first ever Tikkun Leyl Shavuot, our weekly Torah study group, our experimental Shabbatot including the Hebrew chant and drum services—drew large crowds of members and new folks, learners and participants all inspired by the opportunity to engage, to learn to celebrate, and to explore all things Jewish.
I admit that as a rabbi what inspires ME Jewishly is gathering Jews together and witnessing groups of Jews engage in dialogue with Jewish text and tradition, in Jewish culture, art and music in vibrant exploration of our living Judaism. Truthfully, what gives me THE MOST NACHES, is celebrating that moment when attendees are transformed from strangers into friends, from acquaintances to mishpocha, from occasional drop-ins to genuine community.
A CONGREGATION OF LEARNERS is more than an aggregate of individuals who take a simultaneous dip into the well of Jewish learning. It is a true community where—in relationship with one another—we develop and share a common language that enables conversations about the things that matter most to us. When we know one another on a deep level, we develop a sense of mutual o responsibility and commitment to community.
Does this inspire you? I sure hope so! I look forward to the conversation that I hope will unfold between us and between the members of our shul when you read this article.
And, I hope that you will register for and attend weekly Wednesday afternoon and evening classes that will begin this fall including a pre-Rosh Hashanah class in September called, This is Real and You are Completely Unprepared based on the best-selling book by Rabbi Alan Lew. In the meantime, I wish you and your families a most joyful and blessed summer.