Years ago the Montclair Chamber Ensemble, a chamber orchestra I founded along with Oscar Ravina was going to perform a concert for the benefit of Shomrei and the Hebrew School. One Thursday evening before the concert I called a member of the synagogue and asked if he would like to be one of the sponsors. He said, “No”, stating that his children had grown and that he hardly used the synagogue anymore. I was more than amused to see him in synagogue that very next evening at Friday night services saying Kaddish for the yahrzeit for one of his parents.

Many of us think of supporting the synagogue in proportion to our attendance. We think of it as a temporary structure like a tent. We put it up when we need shelter and take it down when we don’t. We know it must stand 24/7, 365 days each year, but somehow the responsibility for those other 364 days rests upon someone else’s shoulders. Why should I do my part and shoulder the burden when others use it more than I do?

The trouble is that we never know when we will need it. (more…)