See this (long but) interesting post from RenReb. The topic is how synagogue rabbis (and teachers, educators, etc) should not be treated like plain employees who need to bend their collective wills to those of the people who pay the bills (board of directors, congregants, parents…btw, that rhyme was totally unintentional). Rather, once hired, the rabbi should have the final word in all halachic and hashkafic aspects of the shul (ayen sham for more details).
I definitely agree with everything that was written by the rebbetzin. But a little more germane to the alleged topic of this blog, how relevant is the discussion here to standard (if there is such a thing) religious community in Israel? (I am talking to all three or so of my loyal readers). Regardless of hashkafah, it is my impression that most communities in the Holy Land do not have their communal/spiritual focus as the local synagogue; like is found very often in America. Rather, it seems like the shul is the place where people go to pray and learn. Social networks with religious friends are formed with neighbors, not necessarily having anything to do with the shul). Because shuls and communities tend to be more disconnected (ie: the shul is not the only religious thing going on) the rabbi (if there is one) serves a different role than the average Young Israel rabbi in the US. Or does he? Is this a good thing?
April 12th, 2005 at 14:39
Hi, Yaakov.
My understanding is that precisely for this reason, Israeli rabbis are often associated with neighborhoods, rather than with shuls.
October 20th, 2005 at 14:44
[...] Religious communities have a different role in Israel than they do in the Disapora. In Israel there is not so much of a need for the shul to be the center of the community, the religious beacon in people’s lives. Instead it is just one other place where people go throughout their day-to-day lives in order to fulfill some of their religious obligations. (This can and is done in the US as well – it is just much harder for people to do – and much harder to find shuls where it is possible to do this). It will definitely be something to get used to (for some more than others). However, going up in holiness (ma’alin bakodesh) is in general a good thing. [...]