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Where God LivesAugust 2003From the Desk of Rabbi Cohon"Build Me a sanctuary, and I will live among you." - Leviticus What is a place where God lives? A place where Jews pray together is a place where God lives. A place where Jews study together is a place where God lives. A place where Jewish children learn to love and understand their heritage is a place where God lives. A place where Jews mourn together is a place where God lives. A place where Jewish preschoolers are cared for and begin to know Jewish blessings and meanings is a place where God lives. A place where Jews sing together in Hebrew is a place where God lives. A place where Jews celebrate bar and bat mitzvahs is a place where God lives. A place where Jews help those who have no place to sleep or eat is a place where God lives. A place where Jews and their partners receive marriage counseling-and pre-marital counseling-is a place where God lives. A place where Jews name their children is a place where God lives. A place that invites everyone to enter and stay-no matter how much they have or don't have-is a place where God lives. A place that teaches those who know the least about the joys of Judaism is a place where God lives. A place that helps people choose to become Jewish is a place where God lives. A place where teens come to teach and to learn, to sing and play instruments and to help others, is a place where God lives. A place that connects Jews to Israel, and helps them understand what is good and precious and critical about it, is a place where God lives. A place where Jews play music together is a place where God lives. A place that inspires and challenges, that encourages each individual to speak his or her mind, to seek God and holiness and authenticity and integrity, is a place where God lives. A place that is constantly creative-even audacious-in pursuit of Jewish quality is a place where God lives. A place where the finest Jewish ideas, books, films, poems, and activities are always available with intelligent, educated guides is a place where God lives. A place that helps Jews connect to other Jews in meaningful, authentic ways is a place where God lives. We are blessed here at Temple Emanu-El: we have just such a place. We have much more, too: we have the true heart of our Jewish community in every meaningful way. For when we join together in these primary Jewish acts, we affirm God's presence in our sanctuary-and in our temple, and in our lives. All we need to do is take advantage of what we have. For when we do that, we come to realize that it is truly precious, and holy. May we all, in the coming school year and the Jewish year come to value God's presence among us, and help it increase. L'shalom v'reiut, in peace and friendship, Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon P.S. A question for next month: what does it mean to be part of a place where God lives? |
