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September 22, 2000/22 Elul 5760, Vol. 52, No.55
Letters to the EditorSeptember 22, 2000
Dare to open the doorsEditor:Marty Latz's column on paying to pray (Jewish News, Sept. 15) hit a nerve with me. I'm a synagogue member and I understand very well the arguments that those who have paid to support the synagogue all during the year are the people entitled to seats and that those people who decide to be Jewish twice a year shouldn't be entitled to just walk in as they wish. But considering the unaffiliated and intermarriage rates, both of which are not getting any smaller, I'd be thrilled if all the synagogues did something really radical, really outrageous, really groundbreaking: Let everyone and anyone enter any shul at any time for High Holidays. What a concept. Imagine the tens of thousands in attendance; imagine the opportunity to show off the day schools, the adult education classes, the family activities. Imagine how many unaffiliated people the rabbis could reach. Imagine how many single adults could be reached. Imagine the unaffiliated thinking that someone is really reaching out to them. Imagine a citywide coordinated effort among synagogues. Imagine the ads in The Arizona Republic. I would gladly donate to accommodate such a huge event. I'm 51 years old and have always been disgusted and embarrassed at the money issues with the pay-to-pray institutions. Whether it's "show us your income tax statement if you want to plead poverty to join" or "holiday tickets are $200 each," I sometimes wonder if Jewish community leaders have meetings to learn how to go out of their way to turn people off and away. I sit and wonder what in the world it would hurt to try for just one year to do things differently. We raise funds for everything from local to international. But where's the fund raising to bring the Jews all in on the holiest of holidays? Why do only the Orthodox open the door to everyone on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur? I've had wonderfully positive experiences at Beth Joseph and Chabad and I admire their rabbis, although I'm not Orthodox. And Marty Latz is right: The synagogues would get contributions from nonmembers. They'd get names and addresses and phone numbers and a chance to bring people back to synagogue life. The column was too kind toward those who can't see past the tip of their noses. Ellen Rosen Via the Internet |
