The good and the bad...(writing backwards Part III)

To the clergy, and administration, they hopefully know this story...though they may not.

For the good...there would be no story, were it not for Temple Shalom. One would suppose, if we affiliated somewhere else, some other story would have emerged. But...we have our story. A decade at the synagogue. Which we selected after a good vetting of other alternatives. It was to us a place with a heart. Once. But...back to this thread...

While waiting for my children in the parent's lounge, I casually read about a book that was to be influential to me. It was about how the liturgy could be transformative. And...I because excited. Yes...I have a particular history...of having been interested in eastern traditions. So...for many this is true. But...what one would like to see is the Temple support...in active ways...individuals who would like to engage more deeply, and purposely, in our traditions of prayer.

But, first, I received little support from anyone I would approach. Someone who would read with me and confirm the applicability of this text I discovered (Rosenberg's Liturgy as a Spiritual System is the text).

Then...clergy offered a hope. Over the years, both our Rabbis (only one is left now), the past Director of Education...offered to host a "spiritual learning contract" for members...but this did not bear fruit. Later, Rabbi F offered at our High Holiday services to call each & every member to talk with them about spirituality. Did he begin? I got no call.

You could say these are good & bad. Good because the inspiration was there...the book could be found. But...made the worse for the lack of support and follow through.

And then, finally...when my older son enters 7th grade, where the liturgy is part of the curriculum...Evan would have a chance to learn the meaning behind the words.

But...my efforts to dialogue with the teacher of 7th grade were without any fruit. And...g-d's honest truth...I did identify one session only dedicated to this topic (mostly it was on the Holocaust...also important, of course) that Evan accidentally, but had to miss.

Any sense of possible partnering action that might have been...with respect to what had blossomed over the years into an appreciation for the value of the Jewish liturgy...seemed to go untended. Despite numerous efforts on my part for it to be otherwise.

Fortunately, discoveries happened over time. In addition to Rosenberg, it's become apparent that at the Reconstructionist community, their prayer book has extensive kavvanot built in. Likewise, in the new Shirat HaNafesh, arisen from the ashes of fired clergy of Temple shalom, their Eitz Ratzon prayerbook seems to do a marvelous job...even better than Mishkan T'fillah (which itself is pretty good) of discussing the meaning along with the words.



In the transition piece developed by the couple of women whose name escapes me right now...a year before this Temple decision process...they produced an extensive report on Temple decision making. Imbedded in it included text that said that for some...it may be that the style of practice in Reform is not on the money for them.

This may apply only more or less to me. Fact is...I'm probably a more than excellent candidate for contemporary Reform practice. But...there are aspects of application that have gone missing in the pattern of practice we at Temple Shalom have adopted over effectively many years that, to my evolving understanding, has been unfortunate and unnecessary.

I have told others that our decision about affiliation at the Temple, post Labor day, was not in place. And, this remains the case. But...I have been motivated to lay out the reasons I have for substantial prejudice concerning the Temple. In substance, this blog has been a testament to this.