Rabbi's Message

Rabbi Elyse Wechterman
Read about the Rabbi
September 2003

Thoughts on Community as we welcome the new year

A member recently pointed out to me that leaders of the congregation, myself included, often use the word "community" to describe what we believe Agudas Achim is now and is struggling to become more of - but not all of us necessarily understand that word in the same way.

The dictionary gives no less than eight definitions of the word community, some of them more satisfactory than others. The first is: "a) all the people living in a district, city or region, etc. b) the district, city or region in which they live." As geographically diffuse as we are at Agudas Achim, this definition certainly doesn't apply. Although we are each members of these kinds of communities as well - Attleboro, North Attleboro, Lindsey Acres, the East Side - these are our neighborhood and municipal communities where our kids go to school, where the mail carrier knows us, etc. But that isn't Agudas Achim.

Jewish community, Kehila, means, for me, an awareness of ties and connections that transcend fads and friendships, likes and dislikes, convenience and comfort.

The definition I like the most is the last one, number eight, which uses the term Ecology as a synonym. "a group of animal or plant species living together and having close interactions." OK - no we aren't varieties of animal or plant species. However, it's the sense of interactions, of mutually dependant networks that I like about this definition. But since the notion of synagogue members lining up in some sort of food chain metaphor isn't particularly appealing, its usefulness for us is limited.

So what is a community? The Hebrew language has many words that can be translated as community: aydah, kahal, tzibor are just a few of them, each with its own connotation and nuance. The very name of our synagogue, Agudas Achim, is made up of two words implying communal connections and feelings: Agudah, the modern Hebrew term for a political party, literally means gathering or cluster and Achim means brothers. We are in fact "Congregation Brotherhood." (Siblinghood in a more gender-neutral vein?)

The most common Hebrew word for community is kehilah from the root KHL or "to gather." A community in Hebrew/Jewish terms is a gathering, a bringing together, most often for a common purpose or function. The grandest image we have of Kehila in the Jewish tradition is that of the entire people gathered at Mount Sinai, experiencing a revelation of God's truth, each person unique in their own experience of that revelation, but united with all others, including those who came before and will after, in a shared commitment arising from the experience.

Our experiences at Agudas Achim, alas, are not often quite so transcendent. As a Jewish congregation, we are but a refraction of that larger kehila experience and it too shapes our identity as a community.

For Jews, community is shaped in response to the call at Sinai, to the revelation that we are partners in God's world. Community and shared purpose generate for us not only a sense of connection and fellowship, but also of responsibility and obligation.

Jewish community, Kehila, means, for me, an awareness of ties and connections that transcend fads and friendships, likes and dislikes, convenience and comfort. It means stepping outside myself to help all of us live richer, fuller more meaningful lives. It means, as I've said before, cooking a meal for a homebound congregant, attending a shiva minyan, visiting someone who is ill, teaching a class, leading a service, offering a ride, doing some shopping, NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE FRIENDS WITH SOMEONE BUT SIMPLY BECAUSE IT NEEDS DOING AND YOU CAN DO IT.

In recent weeks, I have come to truly understand and experience this meaning of community more profoundly than ever before. The outpouring of care and support, the cards, meals and play dates for Avi, the offers of shopping trips and all the rest that my family has received following my recent surgery has been tremendous. In our previous community, I was sure of that level of support and knew my family would be taken care of if necessary. But until this past month, I was not sure that such a community could really exist here in this geographically diffuse, crazy busy life of Greater Attleboro. Now, after this month, I am sure of it. The response we have received, the response I know others are receiving after deaths, illnesses, births, etc. has become quite profound for some of our members. Yet we still have a long way to go to guarantee that every one of us will feel the response I have felt and everyone of will give a little more to each other.

When we stand together this year at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we will again hear in the call the Shofar the echo of Sinai. Will we stand as individuals, alone in our silent pain? Or will we build on our individual experiences to create a unity of purpose and sense of responsibility toward one another and guarantee that we truly become a Kehila Kedosha, Holy Community.

L'Shana Tova (Happy New Year)

-- Rabbi Elyse

On a personal note:
I am delighted to announce that David, Avi and I will be adopting a daughter this fall. Her name is Sharon Anne, she is 3 1/2 and will be joining our family in mid-September. This is the culmination of a multi-year process for us and we are pleased and excited to share this simcha (joy) with you, our community. We understand that you will have many questions about Sharon and her background. This information is personal; it belongs to her and her alone. Please do not take offense when we decline to answer personal questions, but rest assured we will have both our children's best interests at heart at all times. We look forward to introducing Sharon to you at an appropriate time.

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