I have been affiliated with seven synagogues both Conservative and Reform and, with one exception, all were rife with conflict. Rabbis fought with cantors, boards fought with clergy, and congregants left to form new congregations. As a child I found nothing holy about the behavior of the adults of the congregations and that perception was amplified by my experiences as a teen and then as an adult. As much as I loved Judaism, I gave up on synagogues.
Then came the exception. When we moved to Richmond I reluctantly agreed, at Mercedes’ insistence, to visit Temple Beth Hillel and now I am serving my second term as president. We at TBH have our disagreements, but so far nothing on the scale of the conflicts I have witnessed in other congregations.
The challenge is to keep it that way. As we slowly and cautiously emerge from the pandemic and continue to face our challenges and stresses we must remember to heed Rabbi Dean’s often repeated plea to be kind to each other. We will make mistakes and some conflict is inevitable, but we must remember that we are all doing our best and that we are all acting out of love for our TBH community.
“May we all learn to be like Isaac. To grow our resources, be generous, find ways for all to share in the bounty of God’s earth, and reject the view that there can only be winners and losers. Perhaps then we find a way out of conflict.” (Rabbi Dean)
From the President – Nov.5, 2021
November 5, 2021 by tbhrich • president
I have been affiliated with seven synagogues both Conservative and Reform and, with one exception, all were rife with conflict. Rabbis fought with cantors, boards fought with clergy, and congregants left to form new congregations. As a child I found nothing holy about the behavior of the adults of the congregations and that perception was amplified by my experiences as a teen and then as an adult. As much as I loved Judaism, I gave up on synagogues.
Then came the exception. When we moved to Richmond I reluctantly agreed, at Mercedes’ insistence, to visit Temple Beth Hillel and now I am serving my second term as president. We at TBH have our disagreements, but so far nothing on the scale of the conflicts I have witnessed in other congregations.
The challenge is to keep it that way. As we slowly and cautiously emerge from the pandemic and continue to face our challenges and stresses we must remember to heed Rabbi Dean’s often repeated plea to be kind to each other. We will make mistakes and some conflict is inevitable, but we must remember that we are all doing our best and that we are all acting out of love for our TBH community.
“May we all learn to be like Isaac. To grow our resources, be generous, find ways for all to share in the bounty of God’s earth, and reject the view that there can only be winners and losers. Perhaps then we find a way out of conflict.” (Rabbi Dean)
We are Temple Beth Hillel.
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am not for others, what am I?
And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel
~ Michael R Cohen, President, Temple Beth Hillel