I recently encountered a Jewish community with which I was so impressed, which is so mature and dynamic, that I wanted to share with you what it has to offer and the feelings of its members. The community is comparable to ours; similar in some ways, different in others.
There exists one Orthodox shul which has seen a steady increase in its membership since its inception. Currently there are 91 family members, about a third of whom moved in from other cities. The shul is a very busy one; nearly every week brings with it another bris, Bar Mitzvah or wedding. The atmosphere in shul on Shabbos is electric. The small building is packed with members, children sitting next to their parents learning the prayers and adding their voices to the singing. The youngsters, fresh from the Junior Congregation or child care, rejoin their parents for the kiddush. The eruv that was recently set up allows mothers with babies to come to shul, and the entrance way looks like a parking lot for strollers. The morning is a perfect blend of t'filla-based spirituality and warm community camaraderie.
There are a variety of classes available. Each night there are two or three classes being given concurrently. Subjects including Hebrew (three levels), Halacha, Life Cycles, History (given by a Jerusalem-born professor who teaches at the local university), and Philosophy attract over 20 participants each night. Mishna and Talmud shiurim are also given, mostly around the regular weekday morning (Shachris) and evening (Mincha/Maariv) services. There is a daily Beis Midrash from 10:00 a.m. till 1:00 pm, where a dozen retirees spend their mornings immersed in Talmud study.
A day school, now in its ninth year, operates from kindergarten through 8th grade, and offers day-care and preschool as well. The secular studies department ranks among the top ten in the state. The Torah Studies department is rigorous and effective; the community is overwhelmingly pleased with the children's superb level of knowledge and strong feelings of commitment. Students and parents both would like the students to continue on to a Jewish high school. The community is now working towards that goal, and expects to establish a 9th grade class next year.
In addition to these major institutions, there also exists a strong youth group which reaches out to Jewish teens from less committed backgrounds. There is a mikva that is open and attended nightly, and a Jewish book and gift shop which provides a wide variety of classic Jewish literature as well as mezuzos, matzos, lulav and esrog sets, and everything else that the active Jewish home requires. People enjoy eating out at two kosher eateries that also provide kosher catering. On a less formal basis, there are groups that have organized specifically to help members of the community. One is a free loan society, providing funds for those who are in temporary need. Another is a chesed committee, providing food, cleaning and babysitting services to women who may be expecting, postpartum, or not well. This is in addition to the formal groups that offer assistance to the elderly, infirm and indigent. A singles group provides a social educational setting for the young adults to meet.
There is a strong feeling of connectedness to the national and international Jewish community, due partially to the many visitors that pass through the town, coming to teach, for business reasons, or to visit family. Another reason for the feeling of connectedness was expressed by one individual who recently visited South America. "Even though I speak neither Spanish nor Portuguese, I felt completely at home when I walked into the shul on Shabbos morning. The service was very familiar, and everyone there seemed like extended family." The traditional Jewish lifestyle lived in this town made its members active participants in the worldwide Jewish community.
In short, they have grown to become a mature, "full service" Jewish community. It took a few years of hard work, sacrifice, dedication and love, but they are now a shining example of what Jewish life can and should be. The town is Eugene, Oregon. The year is 2005.
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