About a decade ago in Atlanta, I saw--on the back of a Honda--a bumper sticker which challenged any tailgater with the simple declaration: Shabbat Happens. Not a choice, not negotiated by when the family can gather for candlelighting and dinner or whether one is on vacation, simply: Shabbat Happens.
Rabbi Eric Yoffie's sermon at the URJ biennial was (as noted by Robin Leszner in her much appreciated comment) primarily addressed Shabbat observance amongst Reform Jews. He spoke baldly about two aspects that are deeply troubling: 1. for too many Reform Jews, Shabbat ends at the end of Friday night dinner, and 2. b'nei mitzvah have become private ceremonies occuring in what is supposed to be a public place (the sanctuary) at a time of communal prayer (Shabbat mornings).
What to say? 1. yes and 2. not as badly here as in many shuls south of the border, I think. More than just bemoaning an unfortunate reality, however, Rabbi Yoffie presented programs and resources and synagogue processes to assist congregations and families in deepening their Shabbat experience (and reassessing the bar/bat mitzvah service). We will begin exploring some of these here at Emanu-El, but you can start for yourself: Shabbat. It happens.
The older I get, and the more years I work, the more I realize just how brilliant an idea Shabbat really is. Shabbat can be embraced in many ways, but at its core it is a weekly opportunity to stop going so fast and appreciate our blessings: peace, good health, prosperity, and loving family. It seems to me that Shabbat offers lots of ways to do just this.
Posted by: Jay | December 27, 2007 at 08:45 PM