Specter and Spirituality
D'var
Torah: Acharey Mot-Kedoshim
May 1, 2009
I remember Arlen Specter when he was a Democrat before he was a Republican before he was a Democrat. While I have not agreed with every position or behavior, I have liked Senator Specter over the years. Senator Specter was our guest speaker when we dedicated our newly built Sanctuary and Social Hall in August 1983. I have kept a picture in my study of a considerably younger Senator Specter speaking from our Bimah and a considerably younger me listening to his address. I most recently saw the Senator when I officiated at the wedding of his long time accountant. On that December Sunday, a few years ago, I walked over to Mr. Specter and in addition to thanking him for his life time of public service, I thanked him for his weekly Monday morning calls to a sports talk radio station. While the Eagles were finding new ways to lose each week and many Philadelphians were in denial of what they felt was still a great team, the Senator, in plain language, called a spade a spade. I was impressed that a politician would, in effect, tell the home town fans to wake up and stop smelling roses.
Much discussion has followed the Senator’s exodus from the Republican party and his reunion with the Democrats he left more than forty years ago. I have been struck and interested in what has not been said as much as what has been said. I imagine there has been, but I have not heard or read much discussion excoriating the Senator for leaving one party for another. I have not heard him demeaned as a turn coat or condemned for his disloyalty. The discussion I heard focused more on the meaning of this move for the Republicans, Democrats and the senator’s future.
I think there is a reason for such limited pejorative terms directed at the good Senator. At one time, it may have been expected that a Democrat remain a Democrat and a Republican a Republican their whole lives but not any longer. President Reagan was once a Democrat before he became a Republican. Some Pennsylvania Democrats became Republicans to vote for Mr. Specter when he was challenged from the right in his last primary battle. Last year, many Republicans became Democrats in Pennsylvania to vote for either Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Obama in the primary. There is no stigma to changing parties today. People change political philosophies and so party affiliation. This is not only true in the world of politics, it has also become true in the world of religion.
People change religions today in a way that was previously unknown. If the free market is not flourishing in the banking and automotive industries, it is pretty healthy in the world of religion. There is less brand loyalty today than yesteryear. This is true more so in the Christian world but it affects us Jews as well. Amongst our Christian neighbors, Methodists might join the local Lutheran Church or vice a versa. Presbyterians might join a non denominational Church because the service is more uplifting, the pastor more inspiring or the community more inviting. For those of us in shul business, it is important for us to realize that there is indeed a free market functioning in the world of religion. People are exploring and connecting with what they find to be most spiritually fulfilling, life enhancing and meaningful. Religion is not your father’s Oldsmobile and the Oldsmobile isn't even around any more.
This all runs counter to my own view of Jewish commitment. I have long spoken about the three Bs of being Jewish, Belonging, Believing and Behaving. For me, Jewish commitment begins with belonging. It is because I belong to the Jewish people that I feel connected to the culture, religion, history, teachings, culture, art, music, past and future of Judaism. That is my Judaism and if it is yours, don't change. Perhaps because we find ourselves so rootless in the secular world one would seek strong and enduring roots in their religious life but studies show something else. Belonging is not the adhesion it once was. People change jobs regularly in building a resume and career. Corporations in turn show little loyalty to their employees. Many people don’t even live in the same city or state their whole lives. Philadelphians are somewhat an exception. People move. People change. A significant percentage of married people change spouses. Brand loyalty is not what it once was.
Within the Jewish world, there are different streams of Judaism and synagogue styles. Some of our people travel even farther. We learned from Roger Kaminetz in his book The Jew and the Lotus how many of our most spiritually sensitive young people found their way to ashrams and came to be known as JUBUs. They mix Mitzvah and Mantra. The bottom line is, we have to offer something that is spiritually valuable or, as time goes on, our people can find a new brand. And again, like the world of politics where more and more Americans register as Independents outside a particular party, one can be independent in religion as well and have no particular affiliation.
To survive and thrive in the present reality, we have to be thinking about what we have to offer that is spiritually meaningful. This leads me to my two fold question that I want to pose. I would greatly value your response. First, what do you find of personal spiritual value at Ohev Shalom. What does our synagogue provide for you that is personally meaningful? The other part of the question is what do you seek spiritually that you don’t find today in our synagogue? Perhaps we can be responsive to what we know is being sought. In plain terms, what could your synagogue being doing more for you spiritually?
This week we read the holiness code in chapter nineteen of Leviticus. This contains what Rabbi Akibah taught was the core concept of the Torah in Leviticus 19:18 "You shall love your neighbor is yourself." Spirituality and holiness, if not synonyms, share much in common. The chapter which opens with the words "You shall be holy because I, the Lord your G-d am holy," contains many components of holiness. These range from how we treat members of our family, how we reach out to the poor and needy, our honesty , how we treat workers and employees, how we treat the disabled, and how we love others as we love ourselves. There are many components of spirituality as well. Again, I would value hearing about what you seek spiritually and how we, at Ohev Shalom, can respond.
Shabbat Shalom,
