Edgar Bronfman: Synagogues must experiment
Edgar Bronfman, writing in yesterday’s JTA:
[W]ithout experimentation the synagogue will continue to diminish as Judaism’s central institution. An ethos of experimentation is precisely what is needed in order to attract more people to Judaism and create a renaissance in Jewish life.…The challenge before rabbis of all the branches of Jewish observance is to make the synagogue experience joyful and affirming on an everyday basis.
May 10th, 2007 at 7:35 am
May 14th, 2007 at 10:46 am
First of all , who says the synagogue should be Judaisms central institution. It seems to me that the Synagogue is the main portal to Judaism central institutions which are the home and the community. But of course the home and community are also diminishing so there is a major major problem. There is also lots of experimentation going on. However, in reading Bronfman’s article, he seems to focus on the alienated. They want shorter services, so he recommends shorter services, etc. I think he should begin with the committed and try to determine what brought us back to Judaism. Also what will drive us away if too much innovation occurs, given that one shouldn’t through the baby out ….. etc. I may be too defensive, but I want to defend the things that I have found rewarding and not see them watered down in the name of outreach to folks who probably won’t care anyway. I believe in welcoming and the need to upgrade synagogue efforts to be welcoming but not, in my opinion, at the costs of the many many existing strengths. Anyway, no one has to come for the full service. Doesn’t Mr. Bronfman know some come early, others leave early, some come for the sermon, others for Musaf, still others for the kiddush. We need services with quality in professional and lay leadership, not shorter services in my opinion.
June 21st, 2007 at 8:44 pm
In my opinion, Mr Bronfman makes a valid point about the need for experimentation. Experimentation tho, is not just about experimenting with the “religious service” in the traditional.normative synagogue, but is about experimenting with the essence and nature of the synagogue itself.
The important point of the article was in reference to the idea that when we get together for collective prayer, collective study, collective eating, collective simcha, collective ritual observance, etc., that the individuals who are participating derive meaning from the practice.
small groups may work better for some than large collective organizatons with staff and buildings….. but the organizations with staff and buildings also need to experiment to make what they do meaningful…… and ues, tradition may be meaningful for some, but if it is tradition without depth, is it meaning or just a warm feel good moment?