Identity, Justice, Religion

“Post-denominational” High Holy Day Observance

“Independent minyan” Upper East Side style:

“I’m still kvelling,” Bronfman gushed in an interview, referring to what he described as his “post-denominational” High Holy Day observance. “Now I want to get it out to the whole world, because it’s an alternative to what we’ve been doing.”
Bronfman, who funnels millions of his estimated $3 billion fortune to Jewish causes through The Samuel Bronfman Foundation (named for his late father), explained what prompted him five years ago to inaugurate the tradition of holding his own service. “I can’t stand most services,” he opined. “They’re just so boring.”

“It was less important for us to make sure every single prayer was said and more important to make sure that when people left, they understood the themes of the high holidays, how the machzor was designed, and to walk out feeling like they can’t wait for next year’s holidays.”

According to the article, the band that was hired composed “a new set of tunes for his services after listening to everything from High German to folk music.”
Is it still independent when you are one of the world’s largest Jewish philanthropists and you hire a rabbi to lead the service? Hey Sammy, wanna come to Kol Zimrah on Oct. 20? It’ll be on the east side of the west side…

3 thoughts on ““Post-denominational” High Holy Day Observance

  1. I have noticed that Jews are quite the whiners when it comes to synagogue service. In mosques one has to sit on the floor sometimes for hours on end in a badly airconditioned space waiting for the imam to finish his sermon so you can go on to prayers. And they persevere because they actually believe in something higher than themselves. If Jews can’t bring the same motivation to their worship, and they obviously can’t considering the amount of similar posts on this website, it’s no wonder they get leadership without spine or perseverance. Leaders are formed by the community after all.
    P.S. If you’re bored during services you should read up on the meaning of what you’re doing. Works for my college lectures.

  2. Some current and former musical contributors at our synagogue went up (all the way from TN) & did some of the music for this one. One was just telling me about it last night. Very cool. Synchronicity’s always a gas.

  3. I’m with formermuslim. SHul is not boring, and there’s nothing wrong with making sure “everything is said”, becuase the “everything” has meaning. Its being whiny and glorifying amaratzus.

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