News flash! Jews are a minority in our country and in Illinois! We make up approximately 2.2% of the populations of both the U.S. and Illinois. In 2011, it is estimated that approximately 97% of the Jewish population of Illinois is in the Chicago metropolitan area. Most of us living near Oak Park Temple know that we are a small pocket of Judaism in the Western Suburbs. Concentrations of Jews are greater North and Northwest. It's not hard to feel that OPT is a bit of an island. However, we are really not as much of an island as you might think.
In the last few weeks, I have had remarkable experiences in connecting with a much larger community of Reform Jews in North America. I had the privilege to attend the Scheidt Seminar, conducted by the Union for Reform Judaism for Presidents and Presidents-Elect of URJ congregations. I spent four days with 81 presidents, 21 of them from congregations with between 350 and 500 members, very much like Oak Park Temple. This seminar was easily one of the most meaningful professional development experiences of my entire career. I took away useful information, made valuable contacts and I feel in a much better position to understand and navigate the resources of the larger Reform Jewish community of North America for the benefit of Oak Park Temple.
Not only was this an inspiring leadership development experience, it was a meaningful Jewish experience, as well. Praying, singing and studying with my fellow Presidents and Presidents-Elect strengthened my connection to our shared spiritual heritage. The things I saw and heard moved me deeply.
The Scheidt Seminar was like getting a view of being a temple president from 35,000 feet. Many more things make sense. I was comforted to realize that there are numerous ways that Oak Park Temple excels as a congregation. However, I also was able to learn things from other presidents, and our gifted faculty, that can help us to improve. Most importantly, the problems that we face are shared by other congregations and are not unique. There is a vast network of assistance into which we can tap. If your committee has a challenge, let me know. The “wheel'” has probably been invented before, many, many times.
After the Scheidt Seminar, I flew directly to New Orleans to join the Oak Park Temple group of 25, led by Rabbi Weiss, on a "Tour of the Deep Jewish South." The South is a part of Jewish America of which many of us on the trip had had no knowledge or experience. It was informative, enlightening and fun. We saw synagogues, important sites in southern Jewish culture, places of historic significance in the civil rights movement in our country and the home of the Blues, the Mississippi Delta. Oh, and did I tell you we ate? It's a very Jewish thing to do, you know! From New Orleans to Memphis, we saw a different slice of the Jewish world and history. My view of who “we” are as a people has expanded. We’re not such an island.
So remember, Oak Park Temple is part of something big, very big, and wonderful.
L’shalom,
Jeff Blaine
President
