Because we are Jews

Because we are Jews, we are here tonight. Something impels us to worship with our fellow Jews on this occasion. We may embrace it with enthusiasm, or we may not even be sure why we are here. Because we are Jews, we come, knowing that we belong. And being here honors our mothers and fathers and grandparents and all who came before us back into the dim corners of our collective past.Tonight, I am asking you to live a bit more Jewishly. Light Shabbat candles. Collect tsedakah in your home, and distribute it where it is needed. In my laundry room I keep a box by my washer and put in any money that gets left in pockets.

If we can’t be bothered, to remember, to live Jewishly, what message will our children and grandchildren receive? And make no mistake: living Jewishly is not a matter of juggling the schedule. It is a series of actions born of deliberate choice.Once we choose to live more Jewishly we can then work on re-vitalizing our congregation. I have a vision of Oak Park Temple. I see this temple as a vital expression of who we are as Jews. As a place that ripples with the passion for life that is central to what it means to be a Jew. A place that transcends generational boundaries. The more families we have with children and grandchildren, the more brimming with life the Temple will be.
I visualize weekly Shabbat services vibrant with sacred meaning that comes not from sitting back and mouthing the words but from jumping in, heart and soul first. Worship only works to the degree we invest ourselves in it. You can’t sidestep the leap of commitment and expect any meaningful benefit. I invite everyone here to attend Shabbat services at least twice within the coming year. And when you do, take a chance. Participate with kavanah, with spirit. It may take some practice, but you’ll get the hang of it.
I see our education programs stimulating and rewarding for children and adults. Continuing learning is central to what it means to be a Jew. If you crave more Jewish learning and are not getting it, whatever your age, ask. I bet there is someone here who can teach it to you.

Mostly what I see in this vision is our engagement. Yours as well as mine. We each benefit from the gifts of our fellow congregants. If you’ve got something you’d like to share, please come talk to me. Serve this community and help shape it. Be counted.
Finally, when you come on a Friday night, there is a prayer you may hear, that I would like to share:
May the door of this synagogue be wide enough
to receive all who hunger for love,
all who are lonely for fellowship.
May it welcome all who have cares to unburden,
thanks to express, hopes to nurture.
May the door of this synagogue be narrow enough
to shut out pettiness and pride, envy and enmity.
May its threshold be no stumbling block
to young or straying feet.
May it be too high to admit complacency,
selfishness, and harshness.
May this synagogue be, for all who enter,
the doorway to a richer and more meaningful life.
kanye yehi ratzon
May it be so