A Synagogue Closing Hurts Us All

Congregation Bnai Torah of Highland Park, an institution more than 60 years old, will close its doors on June 30th. It is one of several once prominent synagogues across the county facing declining memberships, overwhelming financial burdens and competition from secular institutions.

Unless we happen to be members or employees of such synagogues, we might be tempted to think such changes irrelevant. We have enough synagogues to go around.

If we came to this conclusion, we would be sorely mistaken. When we lose a house of worship, we lose much more than a building. We lose a place of joy, of civic engagement and character-building. We lose a generator of social capital and intangible spirit that makes a neighborhood and community more than a collection of private homes.

Losing a Spiritual Home

To see this truth, consider the way we people commonly describe churches and synagogue. They are called "houses of worship." The word house does not mean people reside and sleep there. Rather, it conveys the feelings of warmth, belonging and love that are fostered there. It reminds us that life is best lived with other people. It reminds us that we are part of something larger than a ourselves.

When we are honest with ourselves, we know that a Bar Mitzvah service at a country club simply feels different than one at a synagogue. The presence of the Torah, the ark, the symbols of God and sacred community connect this moment to a community and a tradition larger than ourselves.

Can Synagogues Survive?

The challenges to traditional synagogues are daunting. Parents can hire private tutors for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. They can find an online religious school for their kids. And if we are empty nesters, we might rather save a few thousand dollars and find a free place to attend high holy day services. Elected officials might even see income potential in the replacement of non tax-paying institutions with businesses or residences.

I hope the remaining houses of worship will meet the challenge. A synagogue is more than just a place of worship or life cycle events. It shapes the culture and feeling of a community. It reminds us that life is about more than how big our house is and how close to the lake we are. It transcends the boundaries of class and school district and brings people for a purpose larger than themselves. When one falls, we all experience the pain.