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June 9, 2000/6 Sivan I 5760, Vol. 52, No.40
Sinai reduxEditorialWe will do - and we will hear.On Shavuot, celebrated today, June 9, Jews reaffirm their commitment to follow the Torah and heed its teachings. It is, say the rabbis, as if each of us is again standing at Sinai. So the commemoration of the holiday includes the reading of the book of Ruth, the story of the quintessential Jewish convert who takes her place at Sinai, following her Jewish mother-in-law Naomi to the Promised Land. Ruth became great-great-grandmother to King David, forever securing the convert's esteemed place in Jewish history. In many contemporary congregations, conversion studies culminate fittingly during this holiday season. Yet our responsibility as a community does not end with a simple "mazel tov." Rather, it begins as we welcome each new Jew into the covenant. Those new to Judaism bring a dazzling spirit of discovery and refreshing perspectives. Yet, most come without extended Jewish family, without a memory bank of holiday observances and life-cycle events, without a vocabulary that extends from the Yiddish schlep (carry) to the Hebrew mazel (luck), without a taste for hummus or a recipe for noodle kugel. It is up to the community to provide the tools and support necessary for new Jews to learn to navigate the Jewish terrain, to embrace them and integrate them into Jewish life. As a start, we can ease the passage to Judaism by providing more opportunities to access information about Jewish life. Classes and programs of general Jewish interest can be promoted in the secular press and offered at locations that are comfortable for Jews as well as non-Jews. Conversion for many is a long, arduous process, much like Ruth's journey through the desert. Without accessible starting points, many who sincerely aspire to become Jewish may be discouraged before even beginning the journey. We are taught that it is not enough to remember, even as we recall the giving of the Torah more than 4,000 years ago. We must reenact and relive the signal event, etching it into our consciousness. So too at this time of year, we must reenact - and act, resolving to reach out to those new among us. |
