Thrive Jewishly

Thrive Jewishly
Rabbi Michael Ragozin, Congregation Sha'are Shalom, Leesburg, VA
Originally appeared: June 2009 synagogue bulletin
Current month's bulletin available at Current Bulletin

What is the Sha’are Shalom “elevator speech”? In other words, in thirty seconds how would you describe our community to someone who is inquiring about our shul?

The classic formulation of a synagogue’s mission is found in the words of Simon the Just (4th - 3rd century BCE). “He used to say, ‘On three things the world stands: on Torah, on Worship, and on Deeds of Kindness.’” (Avot 1:2) Thus, a synagogue becomes a place for: a) study and fulfillment of Torah, b) prayer and ceremonial practices, and c) a beacon of morality and ethics that inspire us to treat all people with dignity and create a more just world.

Sha’are Shalom’s core values resemble Simon the Just’s formulation. Though not expressed explicitly, the collage of topics on our website’s homepage subtly expresses our values: welcoming interfaith families (community for all), Shabbat services (Worship), and adult education (Torah). The challenge is to articulate this in a compelling way. Here’s my elevator speech.

Sha’are Shalom welcomes all Jews, particularly interfaith families and Jews by choice, who seek Jewish community, a connection with Judaism, or a place to raise a Jewish family. For some, simply finding a warm, accepting community in Loudoun County satisfies their Jewish yearnings. For those eager to embark on or continue their Jewish journey, Sha’are Shalom empowers its members to thrive Jewishly. We offer three paths so that each individual can find their portion in our tradition.

• The path of Torah: classes, discussions, a religious school, and a preschool. By understanding our sacred texts in their historical and social context, we seek not only learn from, but also to commence a dialogue with the teachings of our tradition that have been passed from generation to generation.

• The path of Worship: through ceremonial practices such as prayer, Shabbat, and Kashrut, we enter into relationship with the Holy and Blessed One.

• The path of Deeds of Kindness: Sha’are Shalom promotes treating all people and our environment with dignity and justice. We feed the hungry, visit the sick, provide a minyan for mourners to recite Kaddish, maintain a garden, and shun gossip.

Anchoring ourselves within Jewish tradition, we affirm that the Jewish way infuses our 21st century lives with meaning and joy, encourages strong families and community, and inspires us spiritually, intellectually, and to strive for a more just world. Come join us and let’s thrive Jewishly, together.