By Jackie Kligerman
My love of Judaism has always been a strong part of my being, in every aspect of my life. The strong influences of my family, along with my experience and involvement growing up in a typical suburban Conservative synagogue with a Rabbi whom I greatly admired and respected, shaped my attitudes and choices in leading a Jewish life.
I have belonged to several synagogues through the years and became very involved in them all, taking a leadership role in addition to participating in services and programs. I had a strong background in Hebrew and Jewish history, and furthered it by studying and learning to conduct services, read Torah and chant Haftarah. I was proud and excited to be doing this as an adult. But the positives of all of this were countered by my experiences with the politics of typical synagogue life; membership and budget issues seemed to override the needs of the community, and it seemed that the personal agendas of people in leadership all too often failed to reflect the concerns and desires of the temple members at large. I needed a community - to be a part of a group of Jewish people who came together for worship and friendship.
I have belonged to several synagogues through the years and became very involved in them all, taking a leadership role in addition to participating in services and programs. I had a strong background in Hebrew and Jewish history, and furthered it by studying and learning to conduct services, read Torah and chant Haftarah. I was proud and excited to be doing this as an adult. But the positives of all of this were countered by my experiences with the politics of typical synagogue life; membership and budget issues seemed to override the needs of the community, and it seemed that the personal agendas of people in leadership all too often failed to reflect the concerns and desires of the temple members at large. I needed a community - to be a part of a group of Jewish people who came together for worship and friendship.
Eventually a group of disenfranchised synagogue members getting together informally as friends evolved into a kind of chavurah where we gathered on Friday nights for a community Shabbat dinner - we lit candles, recited the blessings over the challah and the wine, blessed the children, rejoiced in singing and just plain enjoyed being together. Yet what was missing from this wonderful group despite their friendship and support, and what we all felt that we needed, was the spiritual aspect in the form of worshipping together with a spiritual leader and without the oversight of a typical synagogue with a dues schedule, building fund, other membership fees or board politics. We wanted something more, different, new!
With the inception of Makom NY and under the leadership of Rabbi Bravo, I have found a new community that truly listens to the voices of its participants. I love the focus of developing a new community with people who want to continue to strengthen and further explore their own Jewish roots in a welcoming atmosphere where all participants are leaders in expressing and enacting their wants and needs. Makom is very new, but despite the fact that it is just beginning, the commitment and excitement of its founders and other participants depicts a promising future that will lead us wherever the journey takes us in our search for a meaningful connection to Judaism.
Dr. Jacqueline Kligerman is a retired special educator who served as a teacher, clinician, administrator and school principal in a variety of public and private educational settings throughout her career including schools, hospitals, clinics, government and private practice. She holds a doctoral degree from Columbia University Teachers College where she taught courses in psychology and education. She also served as an officer on the boards of several Conservative synagogues on Long island as well as a member of the education advisory board of the Solomon Schechter Day School.
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