A Personal View

This year's NAASE Week of Study featured in-depth study with two Scholars-in- Residence, Rabbi Joel Roth and Rabbi Mychal Springer. In addition, conferees studied with many other eminent scholars from the Jewish Theological Seminary and from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Study format included lectures, discussions, and hevruta, the traditional Jewish technique of studying with partners

Topics for study included:
Chaplaincy and Pastoral Issues: Traditional Jewish approaches
Medical issues in the Bible, and communal response
How Jewish tradition deals with suffering and the disadvantaged
      in the community
Healing and visioning life
Using prayer as a personal source of strength

"Pirke Avot (The Sayings of our Fathers) teaches us: "Don't say that you will study when you have leisure time, for that time may never come." Well, after four years of trying desperately to get to the NAASE Week of Study at the Jewish Theological Seminary, I finally made it this past June. It's not that I didn't want to go; it's more that other personal and business matters kept interfering. . . ."

The NAASE (North American Association of Synagogue Executives )Week of Study is designed for Executive Directors of Conservative Synagogues in coordination with the Seminary and is co-sponsored by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. It's an intense 5-plus days beginning with dinner on Sunday night and ending with a study session and tour of the Seminary's Rare Manuscript Room on Friday morning. Each year the theme changes. This year the theme was: THE JEWISH RESPONSE TO ILLNESS, PAIN AND DEATH.

Synagogue Executive Directors routinely handle the management of staff, building, facilities, budgets, and matters such as dues and fundraising. But there is another aspect to our work as we interface on a daily basis with congregants in all types of situations. Our business expertise often does not prepare us for handling the more personal matters that our memberships often face.

At the Week of Study, our sessions dealt with Halacha (law) and customs on various topics. Our week's host was Rabbi William Lebeau and our featured speaker was Rabbi Dr. Joel Roth, Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics. Every morning began with Shacharit (morning) service in the beautiful Sanctuary funded and dedicated by Women's League. They were led by some of our own members, as well as rabbinic and cantorial students.

Our teachers showed us in very direct and evident ways throughout the study sessions, how Torah and Talmud are used to explain why we do what we do.

One series of studies dealt with the concept very familiar to all of us, that of Bikkur Cholim - visiting the sick. Quite a few captivating and insightful views emerged in the insuing discussions. "Visiting the sick" is more than just stopping in at the hospital and saying hello for fifteen minutes. The concept of Bikkur Cholim has its origins in Genesis 17:7-14. A midrash states that after Abraham circumcised himself, God came to fulfill the mitzvah of bikkur cholim during Abraham's discomfort. The Talmud states that a person who visits the sick removes a sixtieth of his illness. Does this mean that we visit someone 60 times and they are miraculously better? No, I understand this to tell us that we each have our part in healing our friends, family, or fellow congregants.

It shouldn't be just the rabbi of the synagogue who visits the sick. A Bikkur Cholim committee, not only strengthens the community feeling of the synagogue, but also can play a tremendous part in helping those who are ill.

Further, the visiting of the sick should be more than just "stopping in" at the hospital or visiting at home. Bikkur Cholim should include listening to the patient and helping them deal with their illness. It may mean reading some psalms together. It may mean offering to get some groceries for the homebound, or bringing them a dinner or a book to read. Don't ask questions that are too personal, or complain about your own personal problems.