In one of the Torah portions that we will read this month, our ancestor Jacob puts his head on a stone and dreams about angels going up and down a ladder that stretched all the way to Heaven.
He also dreams that God promised the Land of Israel to Jacob and his descendents, and that we (Jacob’s descendents) would find blessing (Genesis 28:10-14).
When Jacob woke from his sleep, he said, “Truly, the Eternal is in this place, and I did not know it” (Genesis 28:16).
I wonder if Jacob put his head on a stone in Milwaukee tonight and awoke from a dream tomorrow, what would he say about our Jewish community and how we live as Jews today?
First, Jacob would probably be slightly confused about organized religion in general. In his time, Judaism was in its infancy.
Sure, Abraham helped push us to be a monotheistic people, but most of the laws that provide a framework for Jewish lives today weren’t issued until the time of Moses.
After shaking off the confusion, would Jacob appreciate the fact that there are numerous denominations in Judaism? Or would he be dismayed to realize that these denominations don’t always get along?
Would he have trouble trying to decide which synagogue to join, as we are blessed with multiple congregations here? How religious would Jacob be if he lived today?
Would he allow his children to play sports on Shabbat as many do, or would he insist on a Shabbat-observant lifestyle that doesn’t include outside influences? Would he be Reform, Orthodox or somewhere in between?
As he converses with Jews in Milwaukee and hears about our connection to Israel, would he beam with pride or shudder in fear after hearing about the latest struggle for Israel’s survival this summer?
At mealtimes, would Jacob feel compelled to eat kosher food? Would he take issue with the existence of only two restaurants in this city in which you can eat a heckshered lunch or dinner?
Would Jacob choose to live amongst the higher concentration of Jewish that live in the North Shore, or would he set up his tent in Waukesha, Brookfield or Bay View?
I say yes. I believe Jacob would look around and see that while there are areas in which we can improve, there is much of which we can be proud.
And while I can’t name all of the gifts by which the Milwaukee Jewish community is blessed, here are a few:
I think Jacob would visit the Harry & Rose Family Jewish Community Center and see that every day Jews from every walk of life are eating, swimming, playing, exercising and socializing together. I believe he would be pleased to see large numbers of us gather on Chanukah and the Yamim.
I believe Jacob would rejoice in the diversity that Milwaukee offers for Jews. From synagogues offering a Food Truck Shabbat to shuls that diligently preserve the ancient Jewish rituals, you don’t have to fit in one specific mold to be a Jew in Milwaukee.
On any Sunday, Jacob might see more than 30 families engaging in a PJ Library family program, dozens of teens active in North American Federation of Temple Youth, United Synagogue Youth and BBYO, and hundreds of students learning in fun, educational congregational schools.
The next day he might venture to the Milwaukee Jewish Day School, the Yeshiva Elementary School or Hillel Academy and rejoice that Jewish day schools exist for our children.
As father to 13 (12 boys and one girl), Jacob would delight in knowing that he can send his children and grandchildren to one of three Jewish preschools.
I would love for Jacob to meet Amit Yaniv-Zehavi, our emissary from Israel, and Itamar Shahar and Shani Ben Harosh, our Year of Service volunteers, who come to Milwaukee for one to three years to form connections and strengthen our bond with Israel.
He could spend time with the outstanding Jewish communal professionals that make Milwaukee home. Across the agencies, synagogues and other institutions there are some incredible minds and personalities that reside here and devote their entire selves to our Jewish community.
And can you imagine if Jacob saw Milwaukee next August when 1,000 Jewish teens will gather here to compete in the JCC Maccabi Games?
From Jewish summer camps that continue the learning and fun well into the summer to agencies like Jewish Family Services and the Jewish Community Pantry who help others with need, Milwaukee is a town that appreciates us rolling up our sleeves and doing our part.
I’m proud to have called the Milwaukee Jewish community my home for more than 14 years. And I have faith that if Jacob lived today and placed his head on a rock here in our town, he would once again awaken and say, “Truly, the Eternal is in this place, and I did not know it.”
Rabbi Shari Shamah is the Jewish Family Specialist at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center.
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