From the Ritual Chair

It’s Summertime—and the Judaism’s Grown Easy

Twenty-five years ago, when Nohra and I first joined the OJC—ohmigosh, did I really just write “25 years ago”?! Twenty-five years ago and for many years after that we were the youngest “regulars” attending services; now I imagine a lot of people look at us as part of the older generation who were here “BC” (Before Craig Scheff). At any rate, twenty-five years ago, when Nohra and I first joined the OJC, summer was vacation time from Judaism. Our services dwindled from a whopping 20-25 attendance during the other seasons down to numbers where we had to pray to even get a minyan on Shabbat. Religion just didn’t seem to fit into most people’s summer activities. I expressed the idea a few times that we should install a neon sign to advise people passing by the intersection of Independence Ave. and Lowe Lane or driving past the synagogue on the way to the tennis courts in the park next door (how many of you are even aware we have a park and tennis courts next door?) how many more we needed to make a minyan. But then, Jews aren’t supposed to actually count the minyan.

Today, “AD” (After Dominance of the Rockland–Bergen County Jewish scene), thank goodness, we have heretofore undreamed of attendance during summer Shabbat services. Judaism no longer goes on hiatus after Memorial Day. Of course, our Shavuot all-night study session has become an event to look forward to, and we can count on a nice attendance at both the sunrise service and the 9 a.m. service on June 9th, as well as at our Yizkor services on the evening of June 9th and the morning of June 10th.

Tisha B’Av, a day of public mourning for the loss of both the first and second Temples in Jerusalem and the beginning of a long exile for the Jewish people, occurs this year from sundown on August 9th through sundown on August 10th. Attendance at our candlelight service has become a regular summertime event for many congregants. At times we have traveled to Camp Ramah in Nyack to join their staff in the chanting of the Book of Lamentations; in recent years we have returned to the air-conditioned comfort of the OJC, with an open invitation from Camp Ramah remaining for anyone wanting to attend there. It is said that Tisha B’Av was pre-ordained in the Torah, the ninth of Av being the day on which the spies sent into the promised land gave their negative report of the land, resulting in the 40-year trek in the desert which our people took after leaving Egypt. The Mishnah tells us that on the day of accepting the spies’ false report and displaying a lack of faith in the might of God, God decreed the future destructions of Jerusalem and exile that took place years later on the ninth of Av. The ninth of Av has been a day of calamity for the Jews throughout the ages. In 1492 the expulsion from Spain began on Tisha B’Av. Today, Tisha B’Av is observed as a day of fasting and of Jewish congregations coming together to remember the sad events of this date in history.

So enjoy your summer, but remember that the OJC is open for business 365 days a year. Our daily minyans continue (hopefully with the strength in attendance promised by the new minyan system which will be starting shortly). Our morning minyans continue on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Shabbat services and Kiddush luncheons take place as always, and your Ritual Committee meets to plan the upcoming High Holiday Services.

Just about the only thing that stops for summer at the OJC is this column (as well as the other columns in the Shaliach), as our editor gives us two months off from our duties of creative writing—thank you, oh generous editor.

Enjoy your summer, and see you in shul!

Ken Leff

Ritual Chair