Friday, November 1, 2013

One Hundred Years - Let Us Rejoice and Be Glad - November 2013

Zeh hayom asa Adonai, nagilah v’nism’cha bo
This is the day that Adonai has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24

One hundred years ago, the Jews gathered in Judge William Newcorn’s office, writing by hand their articles of incorporation might not have been able to imagine the Rabbi of their congregation punching plastic keys to make letters appear on a screen, sent through the air, printed from pictures, and then distributed in 250 exact duplicates to every member of the congregation that they were forming.

But they did imagine a congregation that was different from any other Jewish congregation in the area.

A congregation where they could feel comfortable as Americans, as community leaders, and as Jews; where they could invite their non-Jewish friends and proudly display their faith and commitment to the common goals of humanity.  They imagined a place where their children, and the children of other like-minded families, could learn about the values conveyed by Jewish text, the history of countless generations, and the ritual and worship that tied together Jews across time and space.  They imagined a warm community where they could meet socially, learn together, share joys and sorrows, and act together for the common good.  They imagined holidays spent together, celebrations of weddings, b’nei mitzvah, and confirmations - and even the occasional funeral.  They imagined - and built - a home for themselves and future generations.

They might not have imagined an open classroom Hebrew model or a service with the words in Hebrew and transliteration projected on a screen.  They might not have imagined a machine that called all the members of the congregation to share news of a family rejoicing at a birth, or mourning a loss.  They might not have imagined the congregation with the Torah scroll unrolled at Simchat Torah and seeing the whole of a years journey of study in their hands.  They may not have imagined women on the bimah reading Torah, leading prayer, or becoming Bat Mitzvah.  They may not have imagined Jews of all colors, backgrounds, sexual preferences, or family types all standing on our bimah for a group aliyah on the High HolyDays.  They may not have imagined the numbers of non-Jewish family members volunteering, attending services, learning with and without their children, serving on the Board of Trustees.  Many of the things that we do today, they may not have recognized.

But the spirit behind these activities, the mission that drives the congregation, the feeling of Temple Sholom, shined as brightly then as it does today.  We carry with us, in our temporary housing, the words that were written on the outside by the front entrance of our home in Plainfield and will be written on the front wall of our new home in Scotch Plains - “You know what is required of you, O human being: do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”  For one hundred years, we have strived to live up to those words.  We could do much worse then let them guide us into our next century.

We have not only survived one hundred years a Reform Jewish congregation - we have grown, and changed and thrived.  We take a moment now to celebrate, then we take up our responsibility again and carry Reform Judaism forward into the next generation.  Kein y’hi ratzon  - and so may it be.