Torah Teachings

Here, in parashat P’kudei, we have reached the conclusion of the beginning task that said … “And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them,” v’asu li mikdash v’sha’chan’ti b’to’cam.  A people who built structures in Egypt as slaves are now building a place where the presence of God would dwell in their midst as free people.

The record of (i.e., p’kudei) their efforts is finalized in this parasha. But why?  Why would they invest their possessions, time, talents, or simply willingness to engage in building a Tabernacle that would stand in their midst?  The parasha takes the time to recount the community's extensive giving to help create the Mishkan itself, yet at the same time, it also mentions Bezalel and Oholiab, the two skilled artists who made things like the menorah or the table for the showbread that not everyone could make (Ex. 35:30, 34).  Likewise, there were the "specially skilled" who were filled with the "spirit of wisdom" that made the priestly garments for Aaron and his sons (Ex. 39:21).  Each played their part because the Mishkan for them was worth it.  Of course, that must be the same for us.  Synagogues thrive because the community sees its value in terms of l’dor v’dor, building a home that is not only for synagogue members but also those in the surrounding community, now and for generations to come.  This is what Adat Chaverim must be. 

As Jewish communities today, our question of value is not just for our own synagogues but the value of Judaism for the rest of the community.  In research compiled by the Springtide Research Institute (Focus on 13-25-year-olds), they found that  40% of young American Jews do not need “a spiritual community,” the highest rate among major religions, something that should alarm the future of Judaism if we hope to increase young Jews’ engagement with synagogues and other Jewish institutions.  The research found that the disconnect for young Jewish persons is in the religious paradigm, whereas “If you ask young Jews about their relationship with the Jewish community, you’ll get a very different answer than if you asked about their relationship with their faith community because Jews typically don’t talk about Jewish life as being part of a faith community.”

The Times of Israel, citing Pew Report research, says that only 76% of the respondents who said that they were raised Jewish still identify as such, and even of the 76%, their Jewish life varies in terms of involvement and definition.  Regarding younger Jews, 35% of Millennials and Gen Z (13-44) are identified as “Nones” (atheist, agnostic, or unaffiliated), with 88% of 18 to 29-year-olds saying they seldom or never go to services. For many young Jewish people, Judaism is experienced through various avenues, including celebrating holidays like Passover, engaging in Jewish leadership programs, and exploring their Jewish identity in authentic ways.  Yet such differences are not about Judaism, per se, more so than what community looks like. 

As reported by HeyAlma (part of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency), Jews today are not interested in the Judaism of their parents and grandparents.  Yet these same people are finding ways to access that sense of community, even outside of synagogue membership. For many Jews and community goers, connection is found through online spaces, nature hikes, and Shabbat dinners, carving out spaces that fit their needs in unconventional and innovative ways.  Such ways may include peers hosting intimate get-togethers where it is safe to process emotions and fears about anti-Semitism, what it means to be intermarried or gay in a Jewish community, or having a place to discuss views about Israel while creating Jewish community that doesn’t need to happen in a synagogue.  But make no mistake, synagogue spaces are still indispensable for every part of Jewish life, from birth to death and everything in between.

Synagogues might be better off if they called themselves “Centers of Jewish Life” simply because Jewish “wants” and “needs” are not the same and differ in appearance. What might the p’kudei, the records of what we build, reveal?  

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Adam Ruditsky