Another Year

Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D.

It seems that time escapes us no matter how we try to hold on to it. It is as though we blink and in that instant we travel to another time and place. Was it yesterday when we were young and full of life? Perhaps it was a moment ago when we were accomplishing things unreachable today. Regardless, here we are entering a New Year. Hopefully it will be a year filled with many achievements and fulfillments.
There are several New Years in the Jewish calendar because there are times and events that shape our lives that require celebration. In fact, each time we enter into a new period of joy we utter the words of the “Shehechaynu” prayer which reminds us of our good fortune in attaining another milestone in our c
Of course, we are all aware of Rosh Hashanah – the New Year that enhances our ability at reconciliation. And there is Passover – the New Year identifying our religious maturity. Perhaps there are those who remember Tu B’Shevat – the New Year dedicated to nature and ecology symbolized by our appreciation of trees. In modern times this is commemorated by planting trees in Israel through the efforts of the Jewish National Fund.
A New Year gives us the opportunity to not only cast off the past but look forward to the future as well. Our responsibility to the betterment of society can and should be part of that awareness. Volunteerism is a part of that determination essential to make a better place for all of us as we develop relationships and forge alliances in human relationships.
Some of us get involved in charitable efforts that enhance our ability to repair the tear in a world that is so fragile that one turn in any direction can lead to disastrous consequences. And there are some who combine their talents to forge a new link in the chain of Jewish survival by walking into the Synagogue and roll up their sleeves and dig right into Jewish life with a commitment of time and resources.
The people who devote their energies in Synagogue endeavors are, to me, the unsung heroes of Judaism’s connection to the past and the sanctity of moral living through the continuing link in the chain of Divine aspirations. To say that this task is awesome would be to understate the nature of leading a congregation in achieving its durability.
I am reminded about a quote attributed to the 11th century poet, Moses Ibn Ezra, who is credited with writing a great many of the Selichot prayers we utter each High Holiday season. The quote I am referring to, which aptly describes the frustrations of congregation leaders: “Pleasing everyone is an impossible aim, and escaping all criticism is an unattainable goal.” I am sure those who have chosen to serve know full well the truth of his wisdom.
There are those who will argue that the panacea for the continuation of Jewish thought and pronouncements is not the synagogue but rather adherence to traditions and laws and customs that have become so interwoven that we really can’t discern one from the other. I reject this notion because, to me, the synagogue represents all these things and more.
The synagogue was designed to bring together all forms of religious observance. It was created to deliver a place and time for study and worship that otherwise would not be part of our daily expressions. How many set aside a certain time for prayer or a certain time for learning? Not too many. We are busy with all sorts of issues that require time and money for everyday living. Perhaps there are occasions that draw our attention heavenward, but they are nowhere near the time needed for gratitude and sorrow.
Each denomination in Judaism claims adherents but in reality the actual involvement in a particular synagogue, in most cases, is not related to our religious fervor. We attend a particular synagogue because of past connections or familiarity or location. There are those who profess to follow a certain religious doctrine and are motivated to do so because of strong conviction but they are not the majority but rather a minority.
Judaism without the centrality of the synagogue will not survive. Say what you will about organized religion, its purpose is undeniable and its function undisputed: To maintain that tie that will ensure religious survival. Supporting the synagogue is tantamount to observing all the laws because it leads you to them. The Temple in Jerusalem was ordained because it was the focal point of all things Holy and all things necessary for life. To hold the value of our synagogues in any less stature is to demean the essence of our heritage and the fountain of commitment in disrepute.
So here we are – a New Year not only representing the march of time but also marking the belief in creation through the care and concern of nature. And here we are welcoming and encouraging involvement in our religious institutions so that the task necessary for Jewish association will be solidified for the next generation and beyond.
Let us remember that each of us brings to the table of Jewish delights different backgrounds and thoughts and ideals. Some come from traditional backgrounds, some from liberal leanings and some from no involvement at all. However, we all join together to create an atmosphere of caring and commitment to Jewish living. And just as we are different so are our understandings of faith. This is the strength of which we are – not the weakness.
Perhaps Erich Fromm said it best: “The danger in the past was that men became slaves. The danger of the future is that men may become robots.” Diversity allows us the opportunity to develop and grow, and what better place than in the synagogue in the New Year. This certainly is cause to repeat the words of the “Shehechayanu” prayer and understand it.