Why are some among us in our synagogues doing business to raise funds
on Shabbath? Because the synagogue has developed from a simple place of prayer
and worship, empowering its members to live their faith at home and work and
their communities with acts of love and mercy, to a complex institution. Very expensive buildings that demand so much investment and time. Perhaps, it
is time to return to a simpler way of worship, learning, and being
community: remembering and keeping Shabbat. Honoring this day the Holy One, with our words of praise and our acts of compassion.
Christian Churches have become the competition for local
grocery stores, the restaurant down the street, the social club for youth, to
the point that they stop being a religious institution to become a very complex
agency that release the civil government from their burden, from its responsibility. Taking that burden
in exchange for tax exempt status eventually they are fading away. Although
they as well as all non-profit religious and non-religious institutions should
be tax exempt at all levels of government.
The synagogue seems to follow the same pattern, the same
confusion. Like those churches they will eventually loose members, become
almost bankrupt, and will fade. It cannot be allowed to happen. The Jewish people, as community and as individuals, must be active in caring for humanity. However, we cannot compromise the foundation of our faith. It is this foundation that empowers us to care for humanity. We must honour the Holy One in humble obedience and acts of love and mercy toward all. It can starts with a very small step: remembering and keeping Shabbat.
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