Being a Jew is More Than Eating Chopped Liver

Summer is definitely here, all of the signs are alight…..heat, thunderstorms, barbeques, swimming. It is the season of long lazy nights after late light, no school and frenetic activity. It is the time to take family vacations. Kids are frantically energetic enjoying the freedom from the confines of school – parents are just, well, frantic. Desperately they plan every moment of every day to fend off the dreaded words, “I’m bored”.

Moms and Dads have scoured the papers and their friends’ minds to determine which activities will best keep their offspring amused for 24/7 all summer long. But wait! Have you considered the timing of many of these offerings? Friday night – Sunday morning. Of course. The activities are planned by and for the greater General Public, i.e. “Christian” Community. Can you imagine trying to schedule a regular weekly activity for a group of your friends or your children’s’ friends that took place every Sunday between 9:00 – 2:00? You would not have many takers – they would all be in church. There would be no “toss up” in which they would choose. Sure maybe, on one special Sunday morning once in awhile, they would make and exception and could participate – but it sure would not be the rule. 

But stop and think. Please consider. Is it necessary or in any way desirable to consistently put other activities above Shabbat? Shabbat is THE most important Jewish observance and holiday. What is your responsibility as a Jew? What are you teaching your children about being a Jew? That we are second rate? That our timetable is somehow “inferior” because it does not accommodate all of the amusements of the majority and therefore can be safely ignored? We all justify it with perfectly rationalized excuses that explain (at least in our own minds) our ignoring our duty to our own people and our own religion. 

Why not incorporate Shabbat into your social life, instead of building a wall between the two activities? Plan to make a special traditional Shabbat dinner for your Christian/other neighbors and friends. Invite different folks on different weeks. Encourage your children to bring a few of their friends each Friday night for a kids Shabbat dinner. After dinner, bring the friends to services at the Temple. If you don’t feel comfortable in explaining what they will be seeing, let me know. I can prepare a special little “tour” and explanation for them before services (either at adult or child level) so they can understand what is going on during the service. If you ask the lay leader of the evening, I’m sure they will be happy to incorporate a few helpful explanatory comments during the service. If you are not up to a full Shabbat meal preparation, go to a restaurant and explain a little bit about being Jewish to them - let everyone ask any questions they want. Any you do not feel comfortable/confident answering – just jot them down and ask a lay leader before services to help answer it. 

Your worship leaders work very hard to make services interesting and different.

Your presence is the only (earthly) reward they receive for spending hours on research and preparation. And at this point I want to thank our faithful regular Shabbat worshippers many of whom, over the years, have had or do have “legit” excuses they could have employed, (health issues, long distances to travel) but don’t. We all have emergencies or very super special occasions, but these should not be the majority of your weeks… remember Shabbat comes first. What’s your excuse? Is it valid? We miss you. Please, join us for Shabbat. Because you KNOW, it takes more then eating chopped liver to be a Jew.