Recently, someone in the congregation asked me if I could put my articles for our synagogue newsletter, L'Chaim, on the blog. It had never really occurred to me, but I am certainly happy to make them available here online! Therefore, moving forward, I will put my L'Chaim articles here as well, while not interrupting any of the weekly Torah (or Haftarah) commentaries in the process. Any and all feedback (including whether the articles should be on this platform or not...) is welcome! Thanks!!
Rabbi's Message - April 2018: No mo' FOMO
Are you familiar with the expression, “FOMO”? It stands for “Fear of Missing Out,” and is a popular expression these days. It’s not just an acronym, but can absolutely be used in a sentence, like “Man, I just found out that a bunch of people from Ohev are going on a weekend-long retreat, and I’m feeling major FOMO…”
Since you mentioned the weekend retreat, I thought I would take a moment to talk about it. I’ll begin by highlighting a grant we received from Jewish Federation, divided up among the four congregations in Delaware County. Thanks to their “Kehillah Grant” (unrelated to the daycare center operating out of our building…), we are able to partner with Congregation Beth Israel to take a group of 50 people off-site to a Jewish retreat center outside Baltimore, called Pearlstone. I also want to give a really big shout-out to Rabbi Miller here at Ohev and Rabbi Nathan Martin at Beth Israel, who did a TON of work planning for our little getaway.
An experience like this is called a “Shabbaton,” an extended Shabbat. But it’s not about making Shabbat longer, but rather about expanding the concepts of rest, relaxation, time in nature, fun, games, singing, good food, and community, and putting a Jewish spin on it. Feeling the FOMO yet??? I was surprised to learn that no one can remember Ohev EVER doing a Shabbaton before! I certainly hope it won’t be our last. This is our chance to “do Shabbat,” to feel connected to our traditions, our community, our world, and ourselves. Sadly (but not really), we’re already fully booked. I know, the FOMO is truly setting in now.
But I hope you’ll start to think about the Shabbaton idea. Even if you aren’t joining us at Pearlstone, just imagine what a weekend of relaxation WITH a Jewish angle might feel like. And hopefully the next time we run a Shabbaton (very soon, I hope…), you’ll be right there with us.
Rabbi Miller and I talk about this a lot. A religious community isn’t meant to be something you dip in and out of. For some people, that is what it’s become; like an alternative to the Healthplex, a country club, or a theater subscription. I want to challenge you – everyone reading this – to think of our Jewish community differently. As something you do, that you live; something you incorporate into other aspects of your life, and that enriches your day-to-day. The Shabbaton is one example, but I believe it’s a powerful one. Shabbat is a central pillar of our religion; how can we make it more of a focal point at Ohev?
I invite you to think about this for yourself. Why are you a member of a synagogue, and why this place in particular? What are you hoping to get out of your affiliation, and – equally importantly – what are you willing to bring to the table, to contribute to help enrich others in this congregation? Whether you’re a new member or have been an Ohevite for close to a century, I assure you this question is relevant to YOU.
There’s a lot going on at Ohev Shalom. You can read about it all in this newsletter, on the website, the Facebook page, or just by strolling through the building. But the real question isn’t what we’re doing, it’s what YOU are doing to be a part of this. Because if you don’t get involved, you’re gonna be feeling that FOMO an awful lot. Just sayin’…
Sincerely,
Rabbi Gerber
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