Re: A Tree Grows in Cleveland

[L_Cahan <L_Cahan...>]

Dear Elliot,

Thanks for your Cleveland promo.  We appreciate it here.  Cleveland is a town 
where many fine things are happening, culturally speaking, even though quite a 
few people still perceive us in terms of where we were 30 years ago, which 
really wasn't all that bad either, except for the burning river part.  I'm from 
Philadelphia, PA, originally, but feel quite at home here.

To answer your question:  yes, our building had moved from an inner area to one 
further out, only to find that the neighborhood continued to change over the 
decades and could not keep many of the younger members, who continued their 
eastward flight.  We finally sold the building to the city, where it is being 
used for a community center, and are looking for a new one for our once again 
growing congregation.  It is so exciting to see the children outnumbering the 
adults at times.  Now all we need is some sort
of program to bring the teens in.

Thanks for "listening",
Lorele


Eliott Kahn wrote:

> I wish to thank Lori Simon for her loving description of her Modern Orthodox 
> shul in Cleveland. It sounds like a healthy balance between the spirituality 
> and tradition of Orthodox Judaism and the modern, egalitarian values espoused 
> by the more liberal Jewish denominations. Not surprisingly, such a divine 
> experiment is happening in a town like Cleveland, whose citizens I have 
> usually found to be well-educated and appreciative of the finer things in 
> life--like good baseball and excellent symphony orchestras!
>
> But it saddens me to learn that such a groundbreaking congregation was having 
> trouble attracting congregants. (Lori, was the original building in an older 
> part of town, away from the suburbs?) I've seen any number of former vibrant 
> congregations--of all denominations--struggling in the New York metro area, 
> and this also saddens me.
>
> Which makes me curious: If many of the halachic restrictions in place against 
> women were rescinded, would many of the folks on this list (men and women) 
> who are opposed to them attend such a shul on a regular basis, let alone 
> adopt the rigors of an Orthodox Jewish lifestyle?
>
> I say this with all the respect due our observant Orthodox Jewish 
> friends--both men and women--who ultimately should be the ones to decide the 
> rules for worship and social interaction that define their branch of Judaism. 
> As I mentioned before, I attend an Orthodox shul, but do not maintain an 
> Orthodox lifestyle. Yet, I am grateful to the folks who make being Jewish 
> such an integral part of their lives, that every Saturday I can reap the 
> benefits of their daily hard work.
>
> The gist of what I am saying is that it is up to the citizens of each 
> individual country to make their own revolutions--not outsiders who know 
> little of the reasons why certain laws and customs exist. Simply to say "we 
> are all (born) Jews; can't you see the error of your ways?" is insufficient. 
> A perfect metaphor would be the folks from Jews for Jesus addressing more 
> liberal or assimilated Jews: "We are all (born) Jews; can't you see the error 
> of your ways?"
>
> Eliott Kahn
>

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