Our Shuls used to make demands on us. They expected you to come whether or not the davening suited your taste. They expected you to daven with whoever showed up, not with the people you would have chosen. That kind of Shul has been disappearing for 40 years, in three stages. The Shuls that still work this way are worth supporting and building on.

The first wave was big full service Shuls. They were the center of Jewish life. Young Israels dominated the scene, and the OU’s original name said it all: the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America. The Shul was where you davened, socialized, and learned Torah.

The second wave moved away from the big Shul as central. As Torah learning increased, the yeshivos took a big bite out of the Torah centrality of the Big Shuls. Alongside that came a desire for a more customized experience. Some wanted a more serious davening. Some wanted a Rabbi who fit the needs of a subset of the Big Shul. These second wave Shuls were significantly smaller than the first wavers, but they were still communities. The group came first, and the Shul took its shape from the group.

The third wave changes who comes first. The individual replaces the community as the center of gravity, and the Shul becomes a place that serves him. A more streamlined davening. A better kiddush. Learning offerings tuned to what members actually want to learn, such as Daf Yomi. The Shul is no longer the thing the member belongs to. It is the thing the member chooses, week by week, against a menu of alternatives.

The relationship has flipped. The Shul used........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)