How Do We Measure Success? Not By Numbers Alone

There were more than a hundred people at Shabbat services last Friday night, and by numbers alone, the evening was a success. It is summer, and with people away, anything more than a minyan of 10, as has been argued, is a "crowd." Truth is, it takes more than a headcount to make for a successful evening, and, by any other measure, this past Friday night stands out and will set a high standard for us as we prepare to enter the New Year.

 

The evening began with the second step of our summer project as our members, families, children sat down outside to decorate kalaniyot that will adorn the Temple grounds as we approach the anniversary of the October 7 attacks. Kalaniyout, bright red flowers, or anemones, blanket the Israeli landscape, including areas that suffered greatly on October 7. You can learn more about kalaniyot here. The Temple kalaniyot project, hand painted cast decorative flowers, will adorn the Temple's landscape. It was wonderful to see so many of our members involved in this meaningful, "hands on" project. 

 

A festive Shabbat dinner BBQ preceded the Shabbat service that opened with words from Rabbi Greenberg and included music by the Cantor, who arranged a special ensemble for the evening. I appreciated and was touched by their words and labors. I was equally touched by an Israeli Shabbat visitor, Ronit Boytner. Ronit belongs to the Reform congregation Kehillat Yozma in Modi'in, Israel. She also serves as a board member of the Israel Movement for Progressive and Reform Judaism, and as a representative to the Keren Kayemet :L'Yisrael-Jewish National Fund. Ronit spoke about kolaniyot and brought greetings from her congregation. Her presence on our bima testified to our bonds with Israel, and especially with Israel's Reform movement, whose members and rabbis are important to me and many at Temple Shaaray Tefila. 

 

As a participant on an Israel solidarity mission to Israel last winter, I visited Modi'in and Kehillat Yozma and met with their rabbis. Modi'in has lost a disproportionately large number of its young citizens as fallen soldiers in this awful war. We visited the cemetery and paid our respects by reciting an El Maleh prayer, and took an extended pause at the grave of IDF Staff Sergeant Yam Glass, an observation soldier, who died when Hamas stormed her IDF base on October 7. Her death could not be confirmed until November 7 and she was buried in the military section of the Modi'in cemetery on November 8. It is hard to absorb the magnitude of such a loss for a family, compounded by a month of not knowing. 

 

So what started out as a Shabbat service and BBQ, blossomed into a moving and meaningful Shabbat for me and for many members and families in the Temple Shaaray Tefila community. We celebrated our community, acknowledged a commitment to Israel, uplifted the spirit of Reform Judaism as an international movement, and set a high standard for our time together. I look forward to many more such occasions in the year ahead.