Sometimes I think I can hear my father laughing. It happened this past Tuesday. My husband, who is not religious, gets up early every Wednesday morning to attend our synagouge’s minyan. He does not pray. But he is there as a tenth male for those who need to say Kaddish, the prayer said by mourners. He calls it his community service time. And he finds it very peaceful and soothing.
Tuesday afternoon, he told me that he is going to go on Friday this week. I said, “Oh instead of Wednesday?” “No,” he responded, “they need someone on Friday as well, so I said I would go. But only this Friday.”
I swear, I heard my father laughing. My husband’s lack of interest in religion was never an issue with my Dad. But I know he would love the irony of my husband, of all people, helping to form a minyan of men.
At Temple Israel in 2006. My Dad is with a scribe as they work on repairing older Torah scrolls.
After my Dad retired he became extremely active in his synagogue. He started on the board, when he was still working, and then rose to the ranks of the officers. When he became president, it was unexpected and tragic. In a short period of time, first the president passed away unexpectedly. And Dad became president. Then within months, the young, in his 30s Rabbi, died in his sleep. Dad was stunned as was the congregation. And so Dad ended up doing so much more than anticipated and stayed as congregation president for 11 years. YES eleven years. I think he was on the board for over 25 years. He was still on the board when he passed away.
None of us, his children, ever expected to serve on a synagogue board. We saw the anguish and stress Dad had over his term. Finding a new rabbi, working on the finances, changing from traditional to conservative/egalitarian. Dad faced many hostile members as he charged forward in his role. But he held the congregation together, as dad was a schmoozer. He was large and loveable and could charm people. He was a born salesman, and he used these talents to get the board to work together. When that did not work, I think he pouted.
In any case, we knew that being on a synagogue board was not for the feeble hearted.
When I was first approached to be on my congregation’s board, I demurred politely. But they came back again and explained why it was important. Yes, I am on the synagogue’s board. I think I am in my eighth year. Recently I was appointed to the rabbi search committee. Daddy is having a really good laugh over that. But I am doing my job as best as I can. Often when I am at shul, especially those Shabbats when it is my turn to sit on the bima, I hear Dad’s laughter. His big belly laugh was especially contagious. And when I walk and greet the congregants, I feel my Dad’s schmooze rising in me as I chat with as many people as I can. It feels as if I am channeling my Dad.
But then I was the most faithful of my family in going to services and making sure my children had a strong Jewish upbringing, sending them for at time to the local Jewish day school. So in a way, if anyone would serve on the board of a synagogue it would be me.
I laughed out loud, along with the echo of Dad’s laughter in my mind, when my sister told me she was asked to serve on her congregation’s board. My sister joined a congregation nearer to her home after my parent’s passed away. She did not want to travel as far, since they were no longer there. In this congregation she had friends attending. So when one friend suggested that she join the board, my sister accepted. I gave her my sound advice. And then just chuckled…for days.
Last time I was in New Jersey, I went to services with my sister, as she was the official greeter that day. The Dad schmooze runs strongly in our family. Dad would have been proud, even as he laughed.
zicharonot 
Ellen, your dad sounds like my husband. He served as President of our congregation for three years and has been on the board for at least 25 years now. He is both a schmoozer AND a troublemaker. He takes strong positions and has definitely made some members angry, but most love and respect him. I have been on a few committees over the years but have found that both of us being active in synagogue affairs was a challenge so I am more than happy to let him be our representative in congregational politics. I am much better suited to be a member who likes learning than one engaged in politics!
That does sound like my Dad. I sometimes wish I was not on the board. Ignorance can be bliss. My mom was on the board as well. I think to keep my dad calm when needed.
I told Harvey that if I stayed involved in temple politics, I’d become too cynical to enjoy any aspect of Jewish life! Sometimes being ignorant really does have its advantages.
Exactly!