Shul |
The Reason for Synagogues and Their Meaning When
we attend synagogue we have a feeling of belongingj. We are there to be
accepted, to understand what is difficult, to know that we are not alone, to
know that there is more and better than what we have on earth, that we are
assured the unknowable, that there is a parent figure who knows and sees all,
that he sees that which is un-seeable with our human vision, that we are
rewarded for the good that we do. By
attending and believing, we have many “friends” and cohorts who are in
agreement with our belief in rewards for who we are and what we believe and
carry out. We know that there is
someone above us who hears and see all, who hears our prayers and the actions
that we take in the part of the life that we do and do not see.
We cannot see the un-seeable, but we do the “right” thing, which
helps others as ourselves. We follow
the ten commandments and more, as the unseen God would have ordered us. When
we analyze today’s world, we find a different reality.
It unfortunately has folk who need to use their attendance to satisfy
their greed to be noticed, to be important, to be human deities, to be
narcissistic mothers and fathers, to be superior, to be presidents of their
world. What is right or wrong is
what they do regardless of reality, regardless of their station.
They want to be the human deity, who knows, sees, and is above the
ordinary mortal. They make all
possible decisions, what is to be said, what is to be paid, and what behavior
should exist. They decide when the building should be changed and where it
should stand, how much should be donated by the members, and who they really are
regardless of reality. These self
determined bosses are able to call
those individuals names who do not agree with them or who they determine are the
“lowbrows,” the unimportant folk in their holy opinions. These bosses can
call names and put their children into positions to earn money, and belittle the
folk who have much more education than the self made deity.
They insult those who they dislike, particularly an individual who is far
more educated or responsible than they. They belittle these folk and ultimately
damage them with their psychopathic behavior.
They lose those who are knowledgeable and truthful – the quiet ones.
Beware of the loud self made bosses, of the folks that we see too often
in our synagogues! When they feel
they're not being heard, they loudly attack the quiet ones with unmentionable
curse names. An excellent example
are folks who were large hats, run to the front to show themselves at the
smallest occasion, and gather votes to make themselves important and seen!
Employment of curse words is their
happiest achievement! What they say cannot be erased. Let
us remember that synagogues are to continue our religion, be friendly and kind
to our fellow people, celebrate the same holidays, and make life easier for one
another and do kindness where needed. Name
calling, mistreating the poor, and behaving like children does not belong in a
synagogue! Lehitraot. Dr. Ursula A. Falk is a psychotherapist in private practice and the author of several books and articles. |