I’m so lucky. We Jewish educators trudge uphill a lot of the time, just to keep pace. Yet, every week I get inspired from the Jewish teens I work with. Last week I asked a group of 10th and 11th graders how they would reinvent the synagogue:
“Your goal is to insure that people will be active, engaged, and interested. There are no limits. What will you create? What type of organization will speak to you?”
They had a hard time with this initially, not being able to get past what they experience now. That surprised me. They first offered: more music, shorter services, more comfortable seats.
When I prodded further, they pushed the boundaries a little more.
Welcome to the synagogue as seen through the eyes of a group of Jewish teens: branding abounds, with lots and lots of food available (did I mention that there are mostly boys in this class?).
Someone piped in: “We could have a Manishewitz wing!” Another student shot right back: “Yeah,why not? Companies could be sponsors of the synagogue or even sponsor events.”
“Even Bar/t Mitzvahs I asked?” “Yea, why not,” they responded. That way, they wouldn’t cost so much.” Hmmmm. Interesting.
Unanimously, they all agreed that there needs to be more food. Then they began to dream big, envisioning a cafe-type set-up, with lots of informal places to sit–like a lobby in a hotel. Oh, they were also big on sports options. Basketball and racketball courts and pools. Places to sleep when family comes into town for b’nei mitzvahs. Why not a spa?
What they talked about resembled a newly configured JCC/Synagogue/Restaurant/Hotel.
I told them that they will be the ones to do this, and that we’re depending on them.
Though I don’t see a Rokeach-sponsored Bat Mitzvah anytime soon, I can see the ‘Awesome Osem Auction!’ with these teens in charge of things. Just maybe we need to take some cues from these young leaders and simply lighten things up a little. Oh yes, and have some food.
Image: Synagogue construction, Baron De Hirsch Trade School, South Jersey Colonies, Carmel, NJ (Photo credit: Center for Jewish History, NYC)
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