Boca Raton, FL – In response to a noticeable increase in terse and hostile commentary during discussions among members, which resulted in at least one congregant withdrawing her membership, a rabbi at a Boca Raton synagogue is asking all of its members to sign a pledge to use respectful and more tolerant discourse during events held at the Orthodox synagogue.
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THE SUN SENTINEL (http://bit.ly/1aViFC6) reports that Rabbi Efrem Goldberg formed a committee to draft the Civility Statement, which he is now asking all of the 710-family congregation to sign and abide by.
Goldberg said the pledge, which allows for suspension for repeat offenders, has received mixed reviews so far.
“Some of the people who are resistant are the people for whom it was written,” Goldberg said. “We are not taking away anyone’s free speech. We are simply promoting treating people with courtesy and kindness.”
Goldberg said he got the idea from a similar proclamation that was drafted and signed by Jewish leaders in Palm Beach County last year.
Goldberg said much of the hostility stemmed from tense discussions about last year’s presidential election, but it had gotten so bad that one woman withdrew from the congregation, saying she had been subjected to “animosity, hostility, loathing, criticism and even name-calling” for having differing political views.
You would have thought signing on to the Orthodox lifestyle would entail an implicit requirement to be civil but who are we kidding. Still, I would think a shul can kick out a member who is abusive whether or not he signed a pledge.
wrong attitude!
I’m from Brooklyn and had to be in South Florida about 6 times last summer due to my Mother’s a”h final illness. I stayed at a hotel close to this shul and davened there on a regular basis. I was super impressed with this shul. There were many morning minyanim, extremely friendly people, and good shiurim. (In addition, most of the doctors I needed to talk to could be found there.) If I was to ever relocate to South Florida, it would be near taht shul!
He has so many libs there that he has to this?
Tolerance is a dangerous secular value, it may lead to gay marriages and women being treated with equality and respect. Rabbi be careful what you wish for.
Its sad that Yiddishkeit has come to this – signing up to have some derech eretz.
Sadly, I wish all shuls & “frum” yidden in NY would do the same.
I think the problem is with this shul’s size; the article mentions “710-family congregation.” Any kehillah of that size would almost certainly be very mixed: will include bnei torah along with men who are very tenuously and casually Jewish. We have all seen shuls like this: on any weekday small fraction of men shows up for a minyan, on Shabbos perhaps 100-150 men doven there, and twice a year, on Yomim Norayim, all 700 show up and make shul look crowded.
Such mixtures inevitably lead to multiple conflicts. It would be much healthier, and more practical, for this shul to split into several divergent ones where men of more or less similar hashkafos, goals and modes of behavior would naturally gravitate. And they will find it much easier to get along with each other.
its always easier to split than work things out that why we have som many schools shteiblech and rebbes.
you statement of facts about a 700 plus family is also inccorect.
In toronto they have the BAYT. it has over 7 hundred families. Last shabbos we had a few families from New york , mishpacha to the baal simcha . they were blown away
B H In the morning there are 3 early minyanim starting as soon as halacha allows the 645 has over 150 men every day the other 2 about 50 to 100.
the next 3 minyanim total a couple of hundred more
On shabbos there are a dozen minyanim. The main shul about 700 to 900 men. and about another 400 in the other minyanim a few hundred women and about a t500 kids….every shabbos. BH
on yom tov standing room only in the main shul it only hold 1800.
yomim niroyim about 2 and a half to 3 thousand, adults, BH
u r a chochom from peltz put that in your pipe and smoke it.
a freilechin chanuka.
This is a beautiful idea, to get an entire kehilla committed Ben adam lchaveiro. I hope this becomes a trend across the world.
Don’t let the word tolerance throw you. This is about being respectful and speaking bnachas to ones neighbors. This is all the word means.
Jews are a wonderful people with many forceful opinions. And, occasionally, we have a “blind spot” when it comes to political ideas and even sometimes to religious factions. Kudos to Rabbi Goldberg for fostering a civil conversation. You don’t have to agree with everyone else, but you have to have respect for the person you are talking to.
In Pittsburgh we have over ten people for a minyan! Sometimes up to 12. Rabbi Swift talks about tolerance and sometimes about the Parshah as well.