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September 15, 2000/15 Elul 5760, Vol. 52, No.53
Pay to pray?
We need to find ways to be welcoming and responsible
MARTY LATZ
Special to Jewish News
When I was attending the London School of Economics in the fall of 1985, I had nowhere to go for High Holiday services. Growing up, I attended services at Temple Israel in Minneapolis. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I attended Hillel.
But in London I had nowhere to go. So I called home and got the name of a London synagogue from our rabbi. When I called the number he gave me, I learned I'd have to pay to attend services. I had to pay to pray. It felt distasteful.
This was my first exposure to the financial side of congregational life. Sure, I knew my parents paid dues to Temple Israel, but the money side never appeared to affect me directly.
On Aug. 25, Jewish News ran a story entitled "Room for Every Jew: Congregations Aim to be Welcoming, Compassionate." As I read it, I recalled my London experience. The issue is not nearly as clear an issue as I had once believed.
Rabbi Barton Lee, director at Hillel at Arizona State University, which sells High Holiday tickets to community members but provides students free admission, articulated the competing concerns involved in this issue in the article.
"We have to be open and welcoming, and we need to be responsible," he said. How does that manifest itself as we approach the High Holiday season?
As a first step, no one would disagree that we must be open and welcoming to Valley newcomers and to those who have no synagogue to attend for High Holiday services. But we should take this past the rhetorical level.
When I moved here, some of my newly found Jewish friends who'd been here longer asked me what I planned to do for the holidays. I was fortunate to be invited to their homes for holiday meals and asked to join them for services. This made me feel welcome.
Second, we should recognize that every Jew, regardless of financial means, has a responsibility to help build and enrich our Jewish and our secular community. Individuals feel this in different ways and choose different ways to contribute. Some contribute financially. Others give time. Many do both. All of this is part of our communal responsibility.
Those of us who wish to attend services on the High Holidays also have an obligation to help our religious institutions continue to offer these services. And this involves - for the most part - making financial contributions. This may be in the form of dues or a one-time service contribution. Either way, it's our responsibility.
The nature of this contribution, however, is critical. Requiring individuals to pay to attend services, especially on the High Holidays, seems heavy-handed and obtrusive. Everyone should be welcome, as long as there is adequate space. No one turned away. However, we should not hesitate to ask those who wish to attend services to make a voluntary contribution for an amount that, at a minimum, covers the costs for the services. I suspect and would hope that the vast majority of those asked would agree to help, if they're in a position to do so.
This year, I'm visiting my parents in Minneapolis for Rosh Hashana and will attend services at Hillel at ASU for Yom Kippur. I know both places will be very welcoming. I also know that I have a responsibility to each which I will be glad to fulfill.
Marty Latz can be reached at Latz@NegotiationInstitute.com.
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