Judaism Where?

Stephen S. Wise was the foremost rabbi in America during the War years.  I was reviewing a sermon he delivered in 1933.  Read what he said:

“Jewish Reformism…unconsciously or subconsciously followed the non-Jewish model.  At first purposing and later purporting to magnify the Synagogue, it began to move in the direction of holding the synagogue, its worship, its practices, and its mores, as distinct and distinguishable from the Jewish people.  Some unhappy results followed…”

What Wise was talking about was the move into the synagogue all things religious.  Kiddush moved out of the home, candle-lighting now happened in the synagogue, shuls bought token lulavim for Sukkot and held community Passover seders (away from homes).  All things Jewish were taken out of the house and transferred over the official religious home.  We are living with those results now.

On Yom Kippur I begged for a change.  I asked the congregation to consider doing one home observance: blessing your loved ones.  The truth is, this is a return of restoration of Judaism, and at least as critical, a return to God and back into the home.   Blessing one’s family is not only a means of expressing love in an authentic Jewish manner but also reminds that it is Shabbat.

Asher Ginsburg, known as Achad Ha’Am, made the observation, “More than the Jewish people have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.”  What Achad Ha’Am meant by that statement is that ‘we are what we do.’  Self-definition comes as a consequence of action.

Most times we believe that what we think defines our character.  There is some truth to this.  Truer still, is that our thinking is informed by what we do. 

Example: When we give tzedaka we teach ourselves the value of giving and train our mind to think in terms helping.  People who are used to doing tzedaka tend to repeat it.  Likewise, people who are used to holding back….

Example: Kissing the mezzuza when we walk through a door makes the mind constantly aware of the sanctity of the mundane.  That small act, redefines the way we think.

Example: Saying a blessing before eating brings a fresh appreciation to the table.

Example: Lighting two candles on Friday nights and holy days brings an awareness of the holiness of time that otherwise would pass unnoticed.

These and countless other Jewish actions are what creates self image.  They also have little to do with the synagogue, everything to do with the home, and nudge us closer to soul and the Almighty.