Religion is All About Community

One of the nicest parts of Shabbat is coming together with members of our congregation who choose to attend services. The idea of making contacts with people that one might not see during the week, but with whom there is a sense of connection, is indeed one big incentive to coming to shul.

Some of us who are out in the work world, might not lack human contact, but we might lack meaningful human connections while we’re at work. We might carry out our work tasks, fulfill our job descriptions, but still find ourselves lacking the kind of connections that add joy and a sense of purpose to life.

Some of us who are no longer involved in the work world, might find ourselves wishing for more contact with others. Seeing a friendly face, engaging in a meaningful conversation, and having someone show an interest in what you do might be all that is needed to make life more pleasurable.

I am reminded of the year that my two grandmothers suffered the loss of their husbands. In fact they became widows within the same 24 hour period. Neither drove a car and neither was working outside of the home. They were very lonely. But then my parents had a great idea. They suggested that my grandmother from West Virginia move in with my grandmother from Lincoln. It wasn’t just for the ease of their two children who were making sure that they were okay. It was a way to provide meaningful human connection in their lives. Suddenly, their loneliness abated…they formed a friendship that took them through another 10 years of their lives. They shared their day together and took care of their home together. In a sense they formed a new family unit. They did not just live at the same address, they were connected emotionally as well as physically.

Life in the 21st century is different than it used to be, partially because of technology. You can see people sitting driving together in cars with cell phones to their ears…talking to others rather than to each other. You can go to restaurants and notice people texting others rather than conversing with those at their table. It seems that even when they are with others, they exhibit behaviors that alienate them from others.

Rabbi Harold Kushner wrote in his book, Who Needs G-d, that religion offers lonely human souls community. In his words, “Our place of worship offers us a refuge, an island of caring in the midst of a hostile, competitive world. In a society that segregates the old from the young, the rich from the poor, the successful from the struggling, the house of worship represents one place where the barriers fall and we all stand equal before G-d. “

Religion might place us in a position of equality standing before G-d, but it also provides us with an opportunity to come together with people. We come together to welcome a baby into the world, to say goodbye to those who have died. We share our intense feelings of joy and sadness with one another within the context of the synagogue. Religion is all about community! That’s one of the things I love best about Shabbat!

Shabbat Shalom.