Much has been written and spoken, - about the special significance of the month of Elul, the month before Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, about the Ten Days of Repentance and the High Holydays themselves, during which time we need to look into ourselves, and prepare for Teshuvah, to return to a Torah observant lifestyle and to repent for our transgressions.
So here is an example of why I think that there is a great necessity for this.
It’s true that Synagogues are not only houses of worship, but also of learning and meeting; but surely there are separate times for each of these activities. Sadly, this distinction seems better respected in liberal and conservative circles than in the shuls of the ‘observant’ community.
A recent Shabbat visit to an Orthodox Synagogue was an unforgettable experience. Not due to the excellence of the Chasan (Cantor) whose voice is always inspiring, nor was it attributable to the learned and even entertaining sermon of the Rabbi, but because I sat in an area where meeting and not worship was the order of the day. Groups of men were engrossed in conversation and seemingly oblivious of the Cantor’s effort to uplift them.
I mistakenly assumed that they attended to take part in the Service. It was not until it ended that I discovered the real reason. They all waited to take part in the Kiddush, (the sanctification) followed by refreshments; well not really in the Kiddush because one could hardly hear the Rabbi reciting it above the noise in the hall, but rather to enjoy the extensive food offerings.
Before we adjourned to the hall, I made it known to some of my neighbours that I found it difficult to concentrate on the prayers amidst the chatter. One man explained that his purpose here is to bring his children to learn ‘Yiddishkeit’. What? By his example – I thought? I’d call that a queer method of teaching. Another, prominent and well respected in the local community suggested that I better go elsewhere if I don’t like it.
For G-d to restore us to the days of old as if we had never sinned, we have to do not only do Teshuvah (repentance and return), we also need humility.
What a strange attitude to take for a local politician, who is used to adhere to an agenda and the current item was prayer not prattle. He wouldn’t have got my vote.
The Torah Scrolls were being returned to the Ark and we were singing in Hebrew:
“Bring us back to you oh Lord and we shall return, restore our days as of old.”
But the talking continued. For us to return - and for G-d to restore us to the days of old as if we had never sinned, we have to do not only do Teshuvah (repentance and return), we also need humility which their conduct sadly lacked.
Teshuvah, returning to real Judaism has been misinterpreted by many. When after World War II we learned about the Holocaust, it rightly became a focal point. We needed to make the world aware. But for many Jews the Holocaust has remained the centre of their Judaism to which they have ‘returned’. That, - is the wrong address.
There are parallel tracks in Judaism, thoughts and actions. I have been engaged for years in visiting organisations and schools, talking about the Holocaust and its roots, because we must remember and never forget Amalek as the Torah tells us. We must remember to talk about and never forget the tragedy that befell us not so many years ago.
But there is also the other track, the action which those gentlemen in the Synagogue may have forgotten and hence were missing the point.
That includes the prayers and the other commandments to which many Jews today are trying to return without being disturbed. Please let them, so that the days of old will become reality.