Tuesday, December 14, 2010

It takes a congregation

In Judaism, the responsibility to perform most mitzvot falls upon the individual.  Whether it is observing Shabbat, bringing the first fruits of one’s harvest to the Temple in Jerusalem, or regular prayer, it is up to the given Jew to perform or not perform the commandment - and live with the consequences.  There are, however, a few exceptions when the onus of responsibility, if the mitzvah is not fulfilled, passes on to another.  In the case of a child, the Talmud says the responsibility of educating that child falls upon the father. If the father is unable, it is the mother’s responsibility. If the mother is unable, it becomes the community’s job to educate the child.  There are also certain mitzvot that are the responsibility of the community as a whole - such as the provision of schools, medical personnel, and tzedakah funds for the needy.  I recently analyzed a text from Baba Metzia cited by the American Jewish World Service that ascribes communal ownership for certain utilities, such as wells.  But, does this go one step further?    Beyond the fact that the community may have responsibilities to the individual, it is quite obvious that the community cannot exist without the individual. But is the opposite true?  Can the individual exist without the community?

Much is seen today about people who try to live off the grid, or to pursue self-sufficiency.   While growing one’s own food and not contributing to pollution and destruction of non-renewable resources may be laudable, the fact remains that it would be difficult to maintain what we consider a  modern or civilized lifestyle without others.  Setting aside computer networks, television, and roads - the production and distribution of modern medicines require a near-global effort.  Even the use of money necessitates a banking system and the reliance and trust of others in the worth of that money.

So, if one cannot live a modern life without a community,  can one live a Jewish life without a community?

The answer for the Orthodox would be simple. Even if one had the skills to slaughter kosher meat, or decided to live as a vegetarian, there are still certain prayers that need a minyan in order to say.  For the Orthodox, that is ten Jewish adult males.   Although we do not require a specific number for a minyan in Reform Judaism, we still honor this concept that there is personal prayer and there is communal prayer and, for communal prayer, one needs to be with others.

After difficult reflection, I, too, have come to the conclusion that one cannot live a Jewish life on one’s own.  Even having all the skills to be able to perform the expected tasks of Jewish practice - being able to read Torah, blow a shofar, and conduct a seder - these are rituals that are meant to be preformed together.  It is not facetious to look at the metaphor of the sound of a tree falling in the forest with no one to hear.   Judaism is meant to be lived in the world - and with other Jews (and, perhaps, non-Jews, too)  We dance together at Simchat Torah.  We fast together at Yom Kippur.  We drown out the name of Haman at Purim.  We celebrate joys together, and we lighten the burden of sad events with our shared presence.

I was very disturbed to read the recent article in the New York Times about students training on-line to become Bar or Bat Mitzvah.  While I am sure that when the time comes for a celebration, that child will have invited family and friends, he or she will not have built the chevrah (community of friends) that our children do as they prepare (and celebrate) together.  Each year, I tell the new Bar/Bat Mitzvah class that a child becomes Bar or Bat Mitzvah at age 13 no matter whether that moment is marked or not.  However, they have chosen for their child to mark that moment with our community at Temple Sholom.  That choice not only allows for the family to take advantage of our clergy, our worship space, and our educational program, it is a choice to be a part of a Jewish community that will celebrate one of its members reaching Jewish adulthood.

Al tifros min ha-tzibur - the ancient sage, Hillel, admonished us not to remove ourselves from the community.  To really live our Judaism, we need others with whom to celebrate and mourn, to learn and to argue, to pray and sing, to eat and fast.  That is why we come together in Jewish communities; that is why we build synagogues and Temples; that is why it takes a community.