Dr. Robert Goldman, Excerpts from Rabbi Gedalya Shore” Or Gedalyahu”, Rabbi Yossi Bilus
When you see the destruction that the Nazis brought to jewish establishments throughout the areas they invaded it’s remarkable that this beautiful synagogue survived. – Stadt Tempel Synagogue Vienna, Australia
What do you like the most about going to Synagogue?
One of the things that I like is the Kiddush after services. Even though I come from a home with great cooks, my mother while I was growing up and my wife now, and they cook up a storm for the Shabbat meals, nevertheless, one still looks forward to eat at Shul and have a lechayim or two with the Chevreh (guys). Hey, that’s tradition!!
Earlier in my marriage, when we were living in Brooklyn, I used to pray during the weekdays at a wonderful place with a great bunch of guys. We would learn Torah together after services and attend each others’ smachot. The chevreh would make any excuse to throw a kiddush. Whether it was for birthdays, anniversaries or just for feeling good, a nice spread would be presented. The kiddushes would be so frequent that they would taste a cookie and figure out what bakery it was from. Experts, that’s what they are; I love those guys. I must say, it was a lot of fun with some great memories.
Synagogue hall in Samarkand
Were we focusing too much on the physical pleasures of life? Is that what Synagogue is all about? Was our social butterfly skills exercised a bit too extensively? After all, “They shall make me a MIKDASH sanctuary and I will dwell among them”(Shemt 25:8). Rashi, one of the mainstream commentaries interprets the word MIKDASH as a house of holiness-a structure from which holiness will emanate to the nation.
A tremendous question is asked: Didn’t we learn in grade school that G-d is everywhere? How many of you remember the song: HASHEM is here HASHEM is there HASHEM is truly everywhere UP, UP DOWN DOWN RIGHT LEFT AND ALL AROUND THAT’S WHERE HE CAN BE FOUND!!” If that’s the case, who needs a sanctuary!! I got my home; I’ll pray there.”
Eldridge Street Synagogue was the first great house of worship built in 1887 by East European Jews on New York’s Lower East Side
Secondly, why does the verse say ” I will dwell among them”? If the verse is speaking about a sanctuary, it should say ” among it”.
We can learn many of our answers from this true story about a courageous young woman who became a ba’alat teshuva because of an Orthodox Synagogue experience. Growing up in a Reform home she on rare occasions would attend her parents’ Temple. The congregants were quite passive. Everybody was quiet except for the Rabbi. He was the entertainer; he conducted the whole service from A-Z, with a little help from the organ player. One day, her friend invited her for Shabbat and asked her to attend a particular Shul that they prayed at. After the services, they would all go home to this friend who hosted the Shabbat meal.
She was quite astonished at the reaction of the congregants. Many would pray in their own way, their own style. Some would mumble: some would cry: some would shake their fist: some would just shake sideways or up and down. There were those who would pace up and down the aisle. However, incredibly, even though they seemed different in their prayer to G-d, they were in unison with each other as a congregation. When the Chazzan recited a kaddish or BARCHU, the whole congregation answered together. She noticed the tremendous freedom of expression and the ability from everyone there to find G- d in their own way. There was a genuine feeling of trying to get close to G-d. She also noticed after the services individual groups making kiddush on grape juice and then partaking of the food presented. No one would eat before they recited brachot. She was impressed with the individuality, at the same time floored at how everybody came together as a congregation by eating and drinking together. Similarly, we find the same at the Kotel which is our Temple in Yerushalayim. One can sense the KEDUSHA-holiness. Many people pour their heart out at the wall. There too, there is individuality; however, a feeling of togetherness is felt.
THE SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE SYNAGOGUE (NY
Let’s get back to the question of “Is G-d everywhere? If so why do we need a sanctuary?” Before the sin of the golden calf there was a bracha ” In every place where my name will be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you”. Here G-d’s Omni-presence was apparent in each individual. Everyone had the ability of reaching G-d in a way that was similar to a congregation (minyan of 10). However, after the sin the power to bring the brachot was summoned to the Temple. The Temple, though, only was able to function when the Jewish congregation was present. G-d didn’t come visit, perhaps on rare occasions. But for the most part we had to go to G-d. If one recalls in our Jewish history how three times a year all Jews would travel to the Temple, it was a time of honor; it was a time where collectively, Jews joined together in unity. It’s where all Jews called each other chaverim, friends.
Today, the Temple is replaced by the Bet Haknesset (shul). The Sages say when the MASHIAH will come all the shuls will travel to Israel. The reason is that the Shul and the study hall are the life and soul of the community. It’s a place where we come together as worshippers, friends; it is where friendship is solidified; it is where unity is encouraged. In the Temple individuals would bring their own sacrifice. However, all were in unison and answered to the high priest.
For this reason, there is a NER TAMID-ongoing light in each Bet Hakneset. We are reaffirming our loyalty to G-d and declaring that the Golden Calf will not recur. There will always be a light, an Omni presence, 24/7 in our Temple just like there was a ongoing light in our Temple way back then. This represented the ongoing presence that G-d is there and will never leave us.
What is pigul?
It’s very important that no conversations other than prayer should be conducted in the synagogue. One has to have concentration on what he is saying. In the times of the Temple, one would bring animals to sacrifice instead of the individual Jews bringing them. The owner of the animal would place his hand on the animal’s head and recite what the sacrifice is for. If there was any delay in the ritual, and he did not sacrifice on time, or he did not have the proper concentration when specifying the sin, the sacrifice is nullified. This is called Pigul. Therefore today since we emulate the actions of the Temple through prayer we must have the right intentions and concentration when praying.
Great Synagogue on Dohany Street, BudapestQuiet demeanor required
The Sages warn us that we must have a quite demeanor in Bet Hakneset. Raising one’s voice is forbidden, especially at a fellow Jew. If that occurs then G-d’s Omni-presence will depart. Whenever there is an embarrassment in shul, G-d’s presence will leave. The Sages learn out this lesson from this verse: “The Dove did not find a resting place for her feet only in KNESSET YISRAEL. The resting place will only take place if there is peace and tranquility.
Allen Dershowitz, the famous American lawyer, attends synagogue every Shabbat. Interestingly, he’s not observant. “So why does he go?” one may ask. Dershowitz’s family wasdestroyed and decimated by Nazi Germany. Hitler said I want no trace of Jews in this world. Dershowitz said with a snicker, ” 70 years later, generations later, if one goes to Synagogue one sees Jews still coming with their children thriving in their Judaism while Hitler and the Nazis are dead. Every time I go to synagogue I feel like I’m sending a personal message to Hitler saying with a smile, “See? You were wrong ;We are alive and well.”
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