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NO COMPLAINTSBy Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon "If we are to become a truly great congregation, we need to continue - or even increase - our participation." There is a famous story of a boy who never speaks. For the first seven years of his life, his parents believe he is mute. In every other respect he is perfectly normal, except that he doesn't talk. One morning the family is sitting around the table eating breakfast when the mute boy suddenly says, "May I please have some more milk?" His mother and father are shocked! "You can speak! You can talk! How marvelous, how great," they say, and so on. Finally it occurs to the father to ask, "So, how come you didn't talk until now?" And the boy answers, "Until now, everything was OK." Aside from the fact that this could not possibly be a Jewish story - there are very few Jewish stories in which anyone fails to talk - I must tell you that I identify with the boy. Things here at Temple Emanu-El have gone wonderfully over the past summer and High Holy Days - or better. Our attendance and involvement have far exceeded our most optimistic projections, and the increase in membership has been nothing short of miraculous. I have personally experienced a strong sense of support from the lay leadership, the congregation, and that staff that makes my work, if not exactly easy, tremendously enjoyable and fulfilling. So, until now, everything has been OK... And, in an interesting way, now is the most important time. Our temple is well on the way to rebuilding its membership, its programs, and its finances. At my installation service and over the High Holy Days you have heard about the many positive changes that have been initiated over the last few months in our services, our Adult and Youth educational programs, and our volunteer involvement. Together, we have made a great start. Now comes the nimshal, the rabbinic sermon: the crucial element in long-term success is continued involvement and commitment. If we are to become a truly great congregation, we need to continue - or even increase - our participation. You can do this by attending services, by playing an active role on a committee, by working on a Social Action program, by signing up for our Adult Education Academy - use the brochure enclosed - even by contributing monetarily. The most successful organizations manage to incorporate positive, productive change as an ongoing part of their structure. I would love to see Temple Emanu-El make the same commitment to improving Jewish quality in everything we do. The only way we will continue to develop as a congregation is if you not only participate but also take a leadership role. There is a famous story of a man who comes to his rabbi and says, "I think I should become a rabbi. I keep having this dream where I am the leader of 3000 Jews." And his rabbi answers, "Come back when 3000 Jews have a dream that you are their leader." I am most appreciative of having the privilege of serving as your rabbi - and if we can continue to dream and work together, we will accomplish great things. And then no one will have much to complain about... From the October 1999 Temple Times |
