Orthodoxy on the Periphery –Where It Counts by Chaim E
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Orthodoxy on the Periphery –Where it Counts By Chaim E. Schertz or Orthodox Jews, the real dis- site dynamic. For tinction between a large city and a small Jewish Fa small one is the nature of its community to Jewish community. In a large city, the survive it must Jewish community is increasingly constantly expand defined in restrictive, exclusivist terms. its definition of Orthodox Jews in such cities usually Jewishness and be have little or no social interaction with as inclusive as pos- sible. Such Jewish those who are not Orthodox, and nei- Kesher Israel Synagogue in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which recently ther do their children. Jews even with- communities celebrated its one hundredth anniversary. Pictured here is the build- in the Orthodox community itself tend include within their ranks ing that housed the synagogue from 1918 to 1949. In 1949 the syna- to be connected almost exclusively to members of all the Jewish gogue moved “uptown” where most of its members live. Photos and their particular synagogue or shtiebel. congregations as well as the illustrations reprinted with permission from the 2002 edition of Kesher Israelite, the annual publication of Kesher Israel Synagogue. Their comfort zone is increasingly lim- intermarried, converts and ited to include only those people who even prospective converts cial for the maintenance of general are identical to themselves. Unfortu- and openly identified homosexuals. For Jewish life, serving as the anchor that nately, the definition of the “other” is the community at large, there are no holds everything together. What is constantly expanding. social barriers between these varied most revealing is that the majority of By necessity, the Jewish commu- groups, and all are treated with respect. non-Orthodox Jews in Harrisburg rec- nity in a small city has a totally oppo- Were this not the case, the local Jews ognize this fact and do their utmost to would quickly dissipate into the hun- maintain a viable Orthodox presence dreds of thousands of non-Jews who in the city. (While some 7,000 Jews Rabbi Dr. Schertz was ordained at live around them. This is true of live in the Harrisburg area, about fifty Yeshiva University. He received his PhD Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as well, families are actually shomer Shabbat.) in Western philosophy from New York where I have served as rabbi of the The primary contribution that University. Rabbi Schertz served as a local Orthodox shul—Kesher Israel Orthodox Jews make is the establish- chaplain with the US Army, was the Synagogue—for the past twenty-one ment of a geographically recognizable director of the Hillels at Brooklyn College years. Jewish neighborhood. Because and Penn State and taught at Penn State In small communities, the Orthodox Jews must reside within and Regis College, Colorado. Orthodox contingent is absolutely cru- walking distance of the synagogue, 22 JEWISH ACTION Summer 5765/2005 they tend to live in close proximity to further their Jewish education. Since that the vast majority of the residents one another. In Harrisburg, the Harrisburg does not have a Jewish high of the nursing home in town do not “Jewish area,” known as Uptown school, currently around fifteen chil- observe kashrut, the institution Harrisburg, consists of mostly dren from our community make employs a resident mashgiach, at a sig- large, beautiful homes situat- the hour-and-fifteen-minute nificant cost to the community. ed along the Susquehanna commute to Beth Tfiloh Similarly, programs at the Jewish River. The non- High School in Community Center do not violate Orthodox Jews who Baltimore. Upon their halachah. Thus, a program with music live in this area graduation from high would not be scheduled during sefirah. choose to do so, for school, some of the Another wonderful example of the most part, graduates attend cooperation involves the local funeral because they want yeshivot in Israel, or to give their chil- elsewhere in the dren the experience United States. For a small Jewish community of living in a Jewish What makes to survive it must constantly neighborhood. In Harrisburg most expand its definition of Uptown Harrisburg on unique, however, is the Jewishness and be as inclusive Shabbat and yom tov one level of communal coop- sees mostly Jews walking in eration. While most of the as possible. the streets. During students of the local Jewish December, seasonal dec- Rabbi Eliezer Silver, who became day school—the first day home. I have recently been involved in one of the most influential rabbis orations are few and far in the United States, served as school in the United States renovating a funeral home that will be between in the area. rabbi of Harrisburg from 1907 established outside of a dedicated exclusively to Jewish burial. And on Sukkot a until 1925. At the time, he was major Although the Reform congrega- sukkah is visible in paid six dollars a week. metro- tion does not almost every other politan use the serv- house, Orthodox or not. As part of a area—come from ices of our community tradition known as non-Orthodox chevrah “sukkah hopping,” Jewish children of homes, the school kadishah, its all backgrounds visit sukkot for sweets operates under the rabbi has and Torah learning. Additionally, auspices of Torah decided that he because Jews of all stripes live in the Umesorah (the will patronize same neighborhood, many non- National Society this facility. The Orthodox parents prefer that their chil- for Hebrew Day additional busi- dren play with their Orthodox friends Schools). The ness will enable on Shabbat and yom tov rather than go non-Orthodox the home to to the mall or the movies. rabbis of the service the tradi- The interaction between the community sup- tional communi- Orthodox and non-Orthodox has had port the day ty. significant consequences. On occasion, school despite My relation- a family that attends a non-Orthodox the fact that its ship with the other synagogue ends up joining the philosophy is rabbis is open and Orthodox shul. (In all such cases, I not consistent respectful. On a advise those contemplating leaving to with their regular basis I first discuss the matter with their cur- own. receive halachic rent rabbi.) Additionally, many non- Throughout the The constitution of Kesher Israel Synagogue. inquiries from my Orthodox children, influenced by their school’s sixty-year- non-Orthodox col- Orthodox peers, pursue Jewish educa- long history, there has never been an leagues on issues such as marriage, tion beyond the elementary school attempt by the community to change divorce, conversions and funerals. level. The local NCSY (National its affiliation. Additionally, all questions of commu- Conference of Synagogue Youth) chap- All communal institutions and nal kashrut and Shabbat observance are ter, which attracts a significant number events are kosher, and no rabbi in our referred to me. The rabbis meet at reg- of children from non-Orthodox community would attend a communal ular intervals to ensure that halachah is homes, encourages many of them to event if it were not. Despite the fact observed at all communal events and Summer 5765/2005 JEWISH ACTION 23 that when communal speakers are invited they do not attack any Jewish denomination. While maintaining good relationships with the other movements is absolutely necessary for Jewish life to flourish in Harrisburg, it is not always simple. As the Orthodox rabbi, I must make it absolutely clear that halachah cannot be violated or compromised. Thus, for example, while I consider myself a friend of the local In a small community an Orthodox Jew cannot remain anonymous. His presence will always be appreciated, his absence always noted. Reform rabbi, an intelligent, caring individual who is a staunch supporter of upholding communal halachic standards, I cannot accept or condone his lifestyle, as he is an open homosexual. Why is it that all the Jewish streams get along so well in Harrisburg? It is partly because of the great Free Student respect that the community has always had for its Orthodox rabbis. For most of its history, Kesher Israel was led by the larger-than-life figures of Rabbi Eliezer Subscriptions: Silver and his son, Rabbi David L. Silver, These tremendous personalities had a great impact not only upon the Orthodox and the broader Jewish community of Harrisburg, but indeed, upon American Jewish life Is your son or daughter as a whole. Moreover, the Harrisburg community wit- nessed the same phenomenon occur over and over in going away to college? the surrounding towns and cities such as Middletown and York. When the Orthodox congregation ceased to exist, within a few years Jewish life in the town came to The Orthodox Union cares a standstill. Determined to prevent that from happen- ing in our town, the Harrisburg community is very about Jewish students! supportive of Orthodox life. We have been especially fortunate in our ability We will provide a subscription to retain young Orthodox families. Several of those to Jewish Action who have grown up here and found it to be a beautiful and meaningful community did their utmost to locate FREE OF CHARGE employment nearby. From our congregation, the vast majority of those who left Harrisburg did so to make to college students living aliyah. away from home (in the US). A final thought: Orthodox Jews who contemplate moving to a small community must understand that they will become vital members of their communities. They will be expected to participate, support and work To send a subscription for the various institutions necessary for Jewish life—the E-mail: [email protected] synagogue, the yeshivah, the mikvah and the chevrah kadishah. In a small community an Orthodox Jew can- or call not remain anonymous.