Now that the elections are over, more or less, let’s get back to today’s needs.
The title of this column today was the title of one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes. I don’t think I saw them all, but pretty close. Aliens came to earth, and with the abilities – far greater than ours – that only television/movie aliens have* they were able to solve so many of our problems in all areas. Then we were offered the chance to learn more on their planet. Many earthlings took them up on their kindness. That is as far as I’ll go in discussing the episode.
We cannot wait for aliens to miraculously have the answers to environmental issues, medical challenges, and the like. As Pirkei Avot (2:20) tells us with the words of Rabbi Tarfon, “The day is short, the labor vast, the toilers idle, the reward great, and the Master of the house is insistent.”
It’s up to us and, as another verse reminds us - actually the very next verse - “It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it.” We serve each other best by not waiting for the “next guy,” assuming others will take care of our needs.
How true this is in a congregation where we don’t need physicists, prize-winning researchers, where we don’t even need aliens. Whether a synagogue, church, mosque or wherever people of faith get together, there are the workers who usually do everything, as well as those who believe that when they need something it will be there. It seems to be human nature.
It’s not that others aren’t involved in many significant causes because we know that Beth El congregants are very community-minded. But those causes have people of many faiths on their rolls. Not too many Episcopalians, Presbyterians or Hindus care to join our efforts to continue the Jewish presence in the central Shenandoah Valley. That’s why we need every member of the congregation to do his/her share.
As is the case with scores of Jewish volunteer organizations, there’s a priority list and Jewish causes aren’t on top as once they might have been. Furthermore, with respect to those whose priority remains in the Jewish world, there is “burn out.” The workers get older, more tired, believe they’ve done their share…and they HAVE done their share. Where are the new “toilers” who will push up their proverbial sleeves and be the next generation? And where are their successors-in-waiting as well?
The “reward” is great, a continuation of the sacred tasks of the synagogue as they’ve been for centuries. It’s not easy in the best of times. In these times – not necessarily the worst by any means – it’s even more difficult. You, the young and marginal, roll up your sleeves. You’ll stay relatively “young,” God willing, for quite some time, but for everyone’s sake, take yourself out of the marginal category. After all, “the Master of the house is insistent.”
*But nothing compares with Close Encounters of the Third Kind as far as alien portrayals are concerned!