Synagogue
Thu., December 7, 10:55 AM
Thirty-five years ago, when we were shopping for a home, one vital factor was the proximity of a synagogue. It was important not only for me (Husband didn't care one way or the other), but for the children. I already had one child and would soon have another. It turned out to be a good fit; I could walk to the synagogue from home, and it was only a couple of blocks from the kids' elementary school.
We became family members when U.D. got old enough to go to Hebrew classes and were members for more than twenty-five years. In that time we attended services regularly -- none of this "drop the kids off and pick them up afterwards." Although I taught my children at home when no Hebrew school was available, I also volunteered for the Hebrew school and even served on the board.
The synagogue burned about fifteen years ago (unproven arson), and I bought an inscribed window to help pay for the rebuilding costs. I don't mean to boast about that. It was simply that (1) I knew the needs of the congregation and (2) I was fortunate to have funds available.
In more recent years, I gave up my membership. I had lost the sense of community I had previously. I was no longer able to get to shul as easily; certainly I could not drive to my favorite Friday night services. In addition, I had also lost that good job, and I wasn't sure I could afford the fees. I would simply donate something whenever I could. I knew that the new membership people were not very gentle with those who couldn't pay their dues.
About six weeks ago the top headline on the local paper was Synagogue Moves. The article said that the congregation had sold the building and would share it with the church that had bought it until their new quarters -- in the next town -- were available. They could not disclose the new location because details were not final.
The president explained that, as the congregation became older, there were fewer people physically able to volunteer the services the building needed. In addition, unlike in congregations of old, families tended to move away from their old neighborhoods. There are communities nearby that have bigger congregations and more expensive buildings.
Understandable though it is, this is very sad news. The building that was sold is about eighty years old, and the congregation is even older than that. I felt bad and even a little guilty when I read it. Maybe if I had... Hey, wait a darned minute! I was a member in good standing for a long time, and I wasn't the one who moved away. By the time my son was in sixth grade, he was the only Jewish child in his school. (May I add, he received no protection from harassment, not even from the Jewish teachers.)
Ya gotta love it. They'll guilt you to death. Meanwhile, although I don't yet know the new location, I have discovered that the post office box is still active. The synagogue office sent me notice of my mother's yahrzeit date which, as it happens, I can find online. The real reason for the notice is to remind me to donate in her memory. I still feel bad -- but I am vaguely annoyed as well. Yeah, I'll donate anyway, because that is the right thing to do. You can't blame the whole congregation for insensitive people on staff.
