Temple Judea

When Rabbi Goor asked Alan and me, along with Kathy and Allen Horwitz, to attend the Adult Ed retreat on December 9 and 10, we all immediately said yes.  We didn’t know much about it, except that it was going to be up at Camp Hess-Kramer (or just “Camp,” as so many people seem to know), and that Rabbi Goor would be leading it.  We did not know who else would be attending, but why should that have mattered anyway?  The four of us had one another.  Worst case scenario:  we’d talk amongst ourselves.

Who knew that 24 hours could be so jam-packed with thought-provoking discussion, prayer, great food, and yes, a comfort level that I could not have predicted.  There were 20 of us, including Rabbi Goor and Matt Dreffin, one of our Rabbinic Interns.  I was at least acquainted with everyone there, but by the end of the retreat, I felt a closeness with each and every one of them that I fully hope to deepen in the future.  And, I learned something fascinating:  I am not the only person at Temple Judea, who feels deeply Jewish, but struggles daily with the question of God (as in, is there one?).  This realization was huge.

How appropriate that we should feel this kinship—and I know that I’m not the only one who did—considering that the theme of the retreat was “Peoplehood.”  Peoplehood, as in “The Jewish People.”  Who’s in?  Who’s out?  What defines us as Jews?  Are we, as American Jews, as much a part of the Jewish People as Israeli Jews?  What about the ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi Jews?  While we might consider ourselves part of the People, do they consider us to be a part?  And how about those Jews for Jesus—in or out?  What about the anti-Zionist Haredim?  Where does Israel fit into all of this?

Not surprisingly, there were not necessarily a lot of answers, but there were certainly plenty of questions.  After all, would we really be Jews if we didn’t answer questions with more questions?  I came away with a different way of looking at things; a different way of asking questions.  I learned that being born into a Jewish family is a “covenant of faith,” whereas what we choose to do as Jews is a “covenant of destiny.”  I’m going to think about that every time I put on my tallit, and when my family and I light our chanukiah next week, and when I fight for social justice, because I believe that as I Jew, I am compelled to do so. 

The retreat was way too short.  I was left wanting more.  So, I won’t even wait to be invited to the next one, whenever that may be.  Sign me up now!

 P.S.  It didn’t hurt that the food was phenomenal.