I find it very interesting when talking with rabbis. They are so comfortable
with their tradition. Most of them having been brought up in observant homes and in close Jewish communities. These rabbis really don’t get it.
They do not quite understand the lack of ‘rootedness’ most Jews feel today. Not withstanding “the Israel Connection”, many thousands of young and older Jewish men and women have turned to other faiths and have become the leaders in American Buddhism, Mooneys, EST, Scientology, American Hinduism, etc. etc.
They see modern synagogues as institutions lacking in any sort of Godly encounter (aside from the triology of daily rout davening). These Jewish souls have never been exposed to all the hidden jewels tucked away in the vaults of Jewish thought.
Jews hunger and are driven toward ideas and concepts which help to answer their call to relevancy. They need and want to know that the meanings they search for in their heritage can be found in and at the synagogue and are not for all intensive purposes clouded over with unending ritual practice tempered only periodically with pragmatic idealism.
The lack of Ruach, Kavanah, Hisbodedut and Mussar is so evident in even Orthodox shuls. The spiritual nature of Judaism is lost to those seeking a reason to re-discover what they in reality never had. At least S3 recognizes the problems and has looked inward for innovative solutions. I
honor and repect those brave souls who dared to think outside the box.
Allan Koven
Millions of Jews feel they are disenfranchised from synagogue life. They have voted with their feet and stayed away in droves. As stated eloquently by Ron Wolfson… (paraphrased) the Ruach felt at Jewish camps are not being translated to ha beit Knesset (synagogue). Yes, we can continue to do the same things, the same ways but remember, we will get the same results.
Synagogue 3000: A Concurring Dissent; Or, Of Babies and Bathwater
June 9th, 2009 at 7:02 pmI find it very interesting when talking with rabbis. They are so comfortable
with their tradition. Most of them having been brought up in observant homes and in close Jewish communities. These rabbis really don’t get it.
They do not quite understand the lack of ‘rootedness’ most Jews feel today. Not withstanding “the Israel Connection”, many thousands of young and older Jewish men and women have turned to other faiths and have become the leaders in American Buddhism, Mooneys, EST, Scientology, American Hinduism, etc. etc.
They see modern synagogues as institutions lacking in any sort of Godly encounter (aside from the triology of daily rout davening). These Jewish souls have never been exposed to all the hidden jewels tucked away in the vaults of Jewish thought.
Jews hunger and are driven toward ideas and concepts which help to answer their call to relevancy. They need and want to know that the meanings they search for in their heritage can be found in and at the synagogue and are not for all intensive purposes clouded over with unending ritual practice tempered only periodically with pragmatic idealism.
The lack of Ruach, Kavanah, Hisbodedut and Mussar is so evident in even Orthodox shuls. The spiritual nature of Judaism is lost to those seeking a reason to re-discover what they in reality never had. At least S3 recognizes the problems and has looked inward for innovative solutions. I
honor and repect those brave souls who dared to think outside the box.
Allan Koven
Synagogue 3000: A Concurring Dissent; Or, Of Babies and Bathwater
June 9th, 2009 at 2:54 pmMillions of Jews feel they are disenfranchised from synagogue life. They have voted with their feet and stayed away in droves. As stated eloquently by Ron Wolfson… (paraphrased) the Ruach felt at Jewish camps are not being translated to ha beit Knesset (synagogue). Yes, we can continue to do the same things, the same ways but remember, we will get the same results.