Membership
Application for Membership 5770
B”H
August 5th, 2009
12 Av 6769
Each decade has its particular character. The 1970’s were marked by the fading of hippie-dom, the rise of disco, the middle and end of Vietnam, and the oil embargo. Israel was at war on Yom Kippur and signed a peace treaty with Egypt. Israeli athletes were attacked at the Olympics in Munich in 1972. Idi Amin ruled Uganda. Star Wars and the first Godfather movie came out.
What will the 5770’s look like? Will the Jewish trends that took root in the last 10 years grow up? Will the gap between religious and secular Jews in Israel expand? Will the Modern Orthodox movement continue to tend toward the right? Will more American Jews become more assimilated?
Will world Antisemitism continue to increase as it has in recent years?
What will happen to Boulder Judaism in the next 10 years? Will the communities continue to cooperate in a positive way? Will that cooperation be beneficial to members of the community? Will the Jewish Community campus be built? Will we have appropriate educational facilities for our kids? Will the 90+% of Boulder Jews who are unaffiliated move toward identification?
The 5760’s were a time of exponential growth for Aish – Yehudis, Rabbi, eiruv, building, Sefer Torah, Hebrew’s Cool, Zero Waste. But what will the 5770’s look like? But what will happen to Aish Kodesh in this new decade? Will we have a new building? A daily minyan? An assistant rabbi? Will we struggle to raise money? Will we be attracting people from NY and LA? Will we reach ‘critical mass’?
What will your Judaism look like through the next decade? Will you feel more connected? Will you take fuller responsibility for that connection? Will you finally learn Hebrew, or go to Israel, or start eating out kosher-only? Will you invest in your Yiddishkeit?
At the beginning of a new decade, there is a sense of openness. Of course, no one stood on the brink of the 80’s and decided that neon-colored leg-warmers were the perfect counterpoint to Ronald Reagan’s economic policies. But just the same, it does not hurt to set goals. And one such goal should be to strengthen your connection to an organization and a community that you feel can help you make those decisions.
We feel that Aish can help in that way. Our warm, honest community and leadership continue to provide an environment of learning and growth – a place where your family can forge a strong Jewish identity, rooted deeply in tradition and looking courageously toward the future. This is a place that accepts you as you are, and pushes you to be all that you can. This is a place where you hope to unify all the pieces of your life – body, mind, heart and soul, personal devotion and family, community and worship. This is a place where you can be curious.
In Hebrew, the word for ‘to join’, le’hitz’ta’ref, implies a literal, almost visceral connection. Interestingly, it also means ‘to purify’ or ‘to remove dross’. We need people to ‘join’ Aish – yes, we need money in order to continue to offer the access and resources that people expect from us. But we need people to join in our destiny – to take ownership and responsibility for Aish’s future – by coming, by joining committees, by volunteering, by bringing friends, by giving real feedback.
Join us this year for the beginning of a new ride – through the 5770’s. Together we can make amazing things happen.
Please note that, in order to attend High Holiday services, we ask people to join as a member, pay for tickets, or contact the office to make arrangements.
Please contact to Mitten, the Executive Director for more details.
