Milestones come in a variety of shapes and sizes. This one would be rated on the small side. But to my mind, it signaled a change at Adat Shalom that speaks volumes about our growth. It took place in October on a Shabbat morning that featured our first double Bat-Mitzvah (a lovely event in its own right). Concern over a potential lack of sufficient seating led a handful of Adat Shalom regulars to get permission to have a minyan in our library, concurrent with the main service.
Not wanting to miss any Adat Shalom milestones, large or small, I had the pleasure of sitting in the library service for about 20 minutes. It was a delight. A provocative D'var Torah, lively intellectual exchange, spirited singing, all in the intimate environment of our beautiful library with a full glass wall looking out onto our back lawn under autumnal leaves. Of course the entire service was organized and led by members, a large part of the charm.
I know for a fact that in the coming months, several bodies in the congregation will be discussing the alternative services to determine whether they should continue and, if so, with what frequency. I can even predict the outlines of the conversation on both sides. Some will express concern that another service will pull regulars away from our main service. Others will feel that, with the increasing frequency B'nai Mitzvah on Shabbat mornings, there needs to be an outlet for a service that is less formal than what has become typical at our main service.
Truth be told, the percentage of our regular membership showing up on Shabbat mornings has declined in recent years. It could be simply a manifestation of a principle of organizational growth—the larger the institution, the lower the percentage of those who are intimately engaged. Nor are we immune from the phenomenom in many synagogues where the occasion of a Bat/Bar Mitzvah is not appealing for members who do not have a relationship to the family.
All of the above invites longer term members to make comparisons with yesteryear, a natural but not a totally fair practice. I would prefer to assess our communal strengths as we consider this challenge. First, Adat Shalom created a communal culture of high attendance at Shabbat morning worship. That interest and desire is still there. Second, we have not allowed the Bar/Bat Mitzvah to "take over" our Shabbat morning to create, what in many synagogues is effectively, a private service. The service is still, very much, the community’s at which time we celebrate with one of our families a great simcha in their lives. Third, and finally, we are now at a size where the emergence of a second service on Shabbat morning (at an interval to be determined), is a development to be celebrated in our communal life.
It will encourage more people to take leadership roles in a service in a less intimidating environment. It will draw on the pool of members whose attendance on Shabbat morning may have flagged because the changing nature of our main service. It is a phenomenon that can be energetically promoted to parents of Torah School children as a way to discourage the "drop off" phenomenon which we know to be undermining both of the Jewish commitment of the children as well as to the communal fabric of Adat Shalom. In my study of American synagogues, those congregations which featured alternative minyanim (sometimes more than one!), were always the more vibrant communities. As congregations grow, one size no longer fits all. I never cease to be amazed at how much talent can be tapped from our membership. The more we use that talent, the more will come forth.
Back in the mid-1990's Adat Shalom was deep into a communal discussion about the wisdom to launch an effort to find land and build a building. Not everyone was convinced that it was the right decision. At the time, I wrote an article for the newsletter called "Slaying the Growth Dragon," in which I tried to address some of the spoken and unspoken concerns about growth that were making it hard to move forward. Well, the opening of our beautiful facility has sparked an upsurge of membership with all the challenges attendant to it. The growth dragon is rearing its ugly head again.
There is no one right way but if we are to be true to our own institutional history, it is imperative that we have a full and forthright exchange on the options before us and then be committed to work together, however it comes out.
Rabbi Sid Schwarz