The Power of Shul

What's the most powerful memory you have of your hometown shul?

While the synagogue experience centers around davening and, of course, Kiddush, shuls have a way of powerfully instilling a sense of pride, history, and tradition. 

 

Like the Ballarat Synagogue in Australia, an hour’s drive from Melbourne.

The town rose to prominence during the mid-19th century after gold was found there in 1851, igniting a gold rush. The city attracted Jews from England and elsewhere in Europe who were seeking their fortunes or escaping antisemitism. In 1853, a minyan was established on the Ballarat goldfields for the High Holidays, and the synagogue was consecrated in 1861. The community has dwindled, but the shul's history is chock full of memories that formed the Jewish consciousness of all who passed through. And, after 162 years, the Ballarat Synagogue continues to host a monthly Orthodox Shabbat service and a Shabbaton for locals, natives, and the curious alike.

 

I have many memories of the Young Israel of New Haven, CT (pictured above), my hometown Shul. 

I led Anim Zemirot and Adon Olam on Shabbat morning, served as "Junior Gabbai," helped set up and clean up Kiddush, and even scraped tiles to help replace the basement floor. Some might say it was perfect training for my chosen vocation!

I learned from rabbis, Holocaust survivors, Siberian exiles, and third-generation Americans. They formed an interesting cast of characters I still remember fondly today. Like Harvey Schwartz, of blessed memory. Here are a few lines from his obituary written by his family:

"A Veteran of the US Navy, and a long-term employee of the US Postal Service until his retirement. He enjoyed travel...He was an avid professional sports fan with a special fondness for horse racing…However much he traveled and sought entertainment through sports, the priorities in his life were always fellowship with the members of his synagogue, and the fulfillment in his daily practice of Orthodox Judaism."

Harvey was a “Shul Jew." He did not have a Jewish education nor was he learned in Jewish texts. Instead, Harvey's Judaism was an extension of the Shul. He could always be counted on to be at minyan and, for as long as I can remember, it was Harvey who led Pesukei D’Zimra on Shabbat and Yom Tov mornings. His Judaism seemed to be wrapped up in shul.

We build Shuls, but Shuls also build us. 

"V’asu li mikdash v’shachanti b’tocham - They will make for Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell within you." (Shemot 25:8)

The commentators note the shift in pronouns from third person to second person. The verse should read "They will make for Me a Sanctuary, and I will dwell within it." Why does it say instead "I will dwell within you?"

The classic answer is that building the mishkan or synagogue is a way for us to bring God's presence into our worlds and into our hearts. As Rabbi Elazar Azikri beautifully put it, "Bi'levavi mishkan evneh - In my heart, I will build a sanctuary." The mishkan is a way for us to bring heaven down to earth. Similarly, a shul and all its religious activities make us more Godly. If we build a shul, God will dwell within us.

I'd like to suggest that the verse as written makes a lot of sense. If they build a synagogue and create a meaningful, inspiring, uplifting, traditional, kind, and caring environment, that purposeful, delightful Judaism will be felt within you. If we build a shul and and experience its Jewish dynamism to the fullest, that's how God will dwell within us. A powerful shul experience will help us feel God more in our lives.

Shul shapes us as Jews. It's more than the davening or the Kiddush. It's more than the Torah reading or fulfillment of rituals or the social connections. These are all great. At the same time, a shul radiating Torah, tradition, kindness, prayer, and connection will provide us with memories that will last a lifetime and make us better people and better Jews.

So come to shul! Experience shul. Help build that sanctuary that will remain with you and enhance your life, the lives of your children, and the whole Jewish people.