Opinion: A Synagogue Closing Hurts Us All

Rabbi Evan Moffic, of Highland Park’s Solel congregation, wrote an op-ed this week about the closure of a once prominent synagogue. Patch readers responded to the post in droves.

Below is an excerpt. You can read his full post here.

“When we lose a house of worship, we lose much more than a building. We lose a place of joy, of civic engagement and character-building. We lose a generator of social capital and intangible spirit that makes a neighborhood and community more than a collection of private homes. …

The challenges to traditional synagogues are daunting. Parents can hire private tutors for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. They can find an online religious school for their kids. And if we are empty nesters, we might rather save a few thousand dollars and find a free place to attend high holy day services. Elected officials might even see income potential in the replacement of non tax-paying institutions with businesses or residences.

I hope the remaining houses of worship will meet the challenge. A synagogue is more than just a place of worship or life cycle events. It shapes the culture and feeling of a community. It reminds us that life is about more than how big our house is and how close to the lake we are. It transcends the boundaries of class and school district and brings people for a purpose larger than themselves. When one falls, we all experience the pain.”