For some reason for each of the past several months as I sit to write my Vine letter, I have found myself thinking about the task of the synagogue and its role in our lives. As I have written before, synagogues in America, especially 21st century America, are different and face new challenges. Much of what we do here is about what I will term "identity formation." People come here to explore their Jewish identities and to ask themselves, I think implicitly: "In what ways am I Jewish? What is it that makes me Jewish? What, if anything, in Judaism is important to me?" Thus, I tend to think that questions of Jewishness and Judaism become intermingled.

Jewishness is about foods, habits, expectations, and loyalties, among other things. Jewishness is ethnic cultural identity. Jewishness is concerned and sometimes even obsessed with continuity for reasons that are elusive and can seem unexplainable and mysterious even to ourselves.

Judaism is about God, Torah, mitzvah, prayer, faith, and holiness. Judaism, to be sure, is also about peoplehood, I think essentially because Judaism is about covenant and obligation and engaging the world as part of the community of Israel. Ultimately, Judaism is about transforming the world. I consider these things because I think it important to always evaluate whether what we do as a community in the synagogue is directed by the agenda of Judaism. I like to think that at Micah we are trying, but I know that we can always do better.

This is not to say that Jewishness, which is so important to Jewish identity, should be ignored, but it should not dictate the life of the synagogue. The questions that I would love all of us to ask ourselves are: "Does Temple Micah communicate a sacred message?" "Does Temple Micah help me grow as a person and as a Jew?" "Does Temple Micah instill in me a sense of mitzvah (religious obligation)?" These are the things that are critical. As the Congregation grows, it becomes ever more important for us to ask these questions in an honest way so that we can remain true to what we are about. Newcomers who join us bring with them their own gifts that help us ask the questions and reflect different answers. This is one of the ways that we build a sacred community.

I want to thank all of you who participated in "Share Your Hannukah--Spread the Light." I would like to see us as a community work toward a vision wherein every Jewish holiday season that we celebrate and observe can bring with it a communal mitzvah opportunity that is in some way linked to the holiday. "Underwear Month" has become institutionalized. I hope that we can do the same with this Hannukah endeavor. We are planning a new mitzvah opportunity for Passover and as always we will need you to make it happen. If you are interested in this new Passover Project please call or e-mail me for more information. There is no better way to become involved in Micah and make your Judaism live.

Aharon, aharon--Sid Booth is relinquishing the reins as editor of the Vine. I know that we all want to thank him for his years of dedicated service and commitment and for such excellent work.