We have been quarantined for some time now. Isolating ourselves is challenging on a good day, but in may ways it also feels counterintuitive for us Jews. We were born to be in community and we are doing our best to maintain connectivity. We have found new ways of reaching out –And those connections matter: the phone, email, texts or facebook – they are ways to stay connected. But our bodies were not designed for the abstractions of long distance love; the xox’s and LOLs are great - but our bodies, our hearts and our souls hunger for much more. We hunger for moments of oneness.
Our tradition has much to say on the meaning of community and today we will look for ways to honor those teachings even from a distance!
If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?
הִלֵּל אוֹמֵר: אַל תִּפְרֹשׁ מִן הַצִּבּוּר.
Hillel says: Do not separate yourself from the community.
- Are these two sources in conversation with each other or do they contradict one another?
- What is behind Hillel's warning? What might be the danger in separating?
- Is Hillel only speaking about physical distance?
- How can you better understand the first text in light of Hillel's warning? Can we "be for ourselves" while staying engaged in the community?
(ד) אל תפרוש מן הציבור אלא השתתף בצרתם. שכל הפורש מן הציבור אינו רואה בנחמת הציבור [תענית י''א ע''א]:
(4) "Do not separate yourself from the congregation": but rather share in their troubles. As anyone who separates from the congregation will not see the congregation consoled (Taanit 11a).
- How does this commentary understand the danger of separating?
- What positive spin does this commentary put on sharing in the congregation's troubles?
ריטב"א ראש השנה כט עמוד א
שאע"פ שהמצות מוטלות על כל אחד הרי כל ישראל ערבין זה לזה וכולם כגוף אחד וכערב הפורע חוב חבירו.
Ritva Rosh Hashanah 29a
Because even though the commandments are placed upon each individual, all Jews are guarantors of one another, and they are all a single body, and it is like a guarantor who repays the debt of his friend.
- In light of the texts above - how does this text help us understand our obligation to community?
- What is the danger of separating?
Finding Oneself by Caring for Others
One must try to transcend one's individual world. Sometimes self-centeredness fills one's whole being, until all of one's thoghts are focused only one's own individual concerns. This way of thinking undermines a person's greatness and will eventually lead to both physical and spiritual suffering.
Instead, one must dedicate one's thoughts and desires to the greater good: others, the people, and the entire world. And (paradoxically) through doing this, one will come to know one's own essence.
--Rav Kook, OK 3, p.147
How does Rav Kook understand communicate obligation as an opportunity for self-discovery?
Do we get credit for Virtual Gatherings?
Can I be Separate but a Part of the Community?
One who stands behind the synagogue and in-between them is a window - even if it is several stories high [and] even if it's not 4 wide - and his face is seen by them from there, he joins with them for the 10. Gloss: [those in] roofs and upper stories are not included in the synagogue and the one who stands on them is not joined [to the 10]. [Ri ??]
The Rabbis could have never foreseen "zoom" or FaceTime or even google "meet ups" but perhaps they knew life would present obstacles to our obligation to be one with the community.
- Do these texts make it "kosher" to gather in prayer over zoom? Is anything missing?
- If being one with the community is so important what more can we do in this moment of "social distancing" to be more connected?