We are Reform Jews, a denomination founded in Germany less than a hundred years after Napoleon first granted Jews citizenship in France. In the aftermath of Napoleon’s emancipation, Jews could suddenly attend university, take on civil positions and dress and behave like their non-Jewish neighbors.
The early German Reform Jews responded to this new reality. They felt that they no longer needed to separate themselves from the non-Jewish world. They reformed Judaism as a means of modernizing it, as a way of allowing Judaism to speak to the new liberated self.
As Reform Jews today, we carry on this mission of modernizing our tradition and making it ever more relevant to our contemporary experience.
But as Reform Jews, we also recognize where our ancestors were wrong.
Classic Reform Judaism argued that our tradition was a private affair, something that need not fully define us. Reform Jews could be Jewish in the synagogue and in the home while being French or German or yes, eventually American in the public square.
For classic Reform Jews, Judaism did not need a separate public expression.
Today, we recognize the flaw in this philosophy – Judaism cannot survive if it is relegated to the private sphere –as Judaism informs and inspires our public lives, it must have a public life of its own. Judaism cannot be confined to closed spaces—it must have a public face.
This is why Israel is so vital as a Jewish state. Israel is the only place in the world where Judaism breathes freely and openly, where Judaism is experienced in the realm of everyday life – this tiny nation the size of New Jersey is the only place in the world where Judaism is fully public – where Jews are not asked to make their Jewish identity secondary to any other.
But Israel is not enough.
Judaism needs a public expression here at home, where we live. In our own communities, we need Jewish institutions and organizations that broaden the Jewish experience, that bring Judaism into people’s everyday lives – we can no longer afford to have synagogues that are only about private lifecycle events and secluded rituals, synagogues that keep Judaism separate and apart from the rest of our lives.
If Judaism is to survive, our synagogues must help people live their Judaism as a part of their full being.
Last summer, we spoke about the move to the Rockland Jewish Community Campus as a means of accomplishing this goal.
Unlike an empty synagogue building, the RJCC is full of life – from the Koenig early childhood center, to day programs for seniors, from the active Russin fitness center to the
Rockland Jewish Federation and the Rockland Jewish Family Services, from summer camps to various author series and lectures, there is constant vibrant Jewish life taking place at the campus.
By moving our synagogue there, we have a unique opportunity to have a very public face and to fashion a Judaism that can readily be an active part of people’s lives. And as you’ve heard tonight, we are now permitted to worship at the RJCC meaning that TBS can be on the campus fully and completely.
To say that this process has taken time and effort is an understatement. And we are not there yet. But as was said a year ago, this move is the right move, and now, with our town’s acceptance of our ability to pray at the JCC, we can finally move forward.
On October 7th of this past year, Jewish life was changed—on that day, the world witnessed the worst atrocity against Jews since the Holocaust—1200 murdered, over 200 kidnapped. In the days after that event, so much of the world was silent.
October 7th reminded us how vulnerable we remain as Jews – it also reminded us how much we need that public face.
After October 7th, there were rallies and gatherings organized by our Federation. Our synagogues worked together to bring over 500 people to Washington D.C. Temple Beth Sholom led an effort to speak with our county’s superintendents about ways to support our students. Over the last seven months, we have brought in speakers and organized fundraising drives and comforted and been there for those who have faced antisemitism in their schools and in their offices and beyond. Each week, our Cantor has been leading a March for their Lives to remind the public about the hostages.
In the wake of October 7th, Judaism needed a public face—and it was our federation and JCC and yes, it was our synagogue that was there to act as one.
It is a deeply important time for synagogues to transform and to meet the needs of a 21st century Judaism. I am so excited about the year ahead and the future. There is more work to do—TBS will need to ally with other synagogues and organizations to continue the process of change that is beginning with this move.
We are so excited about the year ahead. We are launching a new author and speaker series in memory of Ken Bernstein. Our teens are planning a trip to Selma Alabama. We are looking to bring Israeli exchange students to join us. We are excited to launch a new tot shabbat program with the JCC. So many exciting developments as we launch this new chapter of Temple life.
Please stay engaged and please stay active. Judaism needs a public face and TBS can certainly play this role.
