In an effort to bring disenfranchised Jews back to the faith, the rabbi and couple of machers at a Miami synagogue thought they’d impress them by putting some prime sanctuary seats on eBay. Ready, set, open your checkbook…the bidding starts at $1.8 million.
“Besides getting to schmooze up front with the rabbi, the lucky winner’s family name will be engraved on Seats 1 and 2 of Row 1, Section DD, at Temple Emanu-El. The winner also will receive free parking, two custom-made prayer shawls and yarmulkes, and a hefty tax write-off. Plus, the winning bidder can pass the seats down to his or her children.”
Okay, with all the perks, it’s probably worth it. But I’m going to venture and say that one of the biggest reasons some Jews start to feel rejected and reject modern Judaism and synagogue life is because money and status are valued and focused on more than true spiritual thought and infusing the ancient rituals with actual meaning. Just a guess.
At the same time, it would only take one very wealthy person to lift this shrinking temple from certain dissolution.
“It has very little to do with the money,” said the rabbi. “Hypothetically, if the money comes, it would be great, but the idea was really just to be edgy.”
This guy probably thinks a black fly in your chardonnay constitutes irony. “Edgy” would have been auctioning them off for $18,00o, then buying new textbooks for the religious school. But asking for millions is totally obnoxious. And embarrassing for Jewish people everywhere.
i heard via grapevine that the rabbi in question feels very mortified at all the bad PR that resulted from the idea he cooked up, and is taking some time out to figure where he went wrong and how mend the trouble he caused, as the news story went nationwide and worldwide via the AP news service after the Miami Herald first reported the story. He feels very mortified and embarassed and is in damage control mode now. Happy Rosh Hashanah, Dear Yenta!
This story was a bad day for Jews everywhere, and if you really wanna see something ugly, check out all the antisemitic blogs that have surfaced over this, saying you know what about them Jews…..oi! Rabbi Kliel, you done goofed big time. Mend you ways, sir. And apologize on your temple’s website. That would be a nice gesture….
Oh. My. God. I am mortified for the entire Jewish people. That is disgusting. Shanah Tovah to your whole family, btw!
Yo … this team every year, I start to fall back in love a little with my synagogue for its no tickets open door on the Days of Awe … does everyone know the story of Franz Rosenzweig; planning to convert to Christianity, he decided to go to YK services with the idea of learning the “Old Testament” first (he had a secular upbringing) … so he went to shul for just about the first time in his life, I mean really went with open ears, heart & mind … and fell in love with his people & his religion & became one of the most important Jewish scholars in the last century & an inspiration to many many others.
But what would have happened if Rosenzweig had been turned away for lack of a ticket???
in last post: “team” = “time” … me & my klutzy fingers strike again
Shades of Christiane Amanpour’s ‘diamonds and schmooze’ comment (I mean the rabbi gimmick) Oh well, the price is pricey, but unfortunately, many synagogues announce the list of contributors and the amounts of their financial givings as a regular part of the High Holiday service, and I mean they make a show of it. It’s just as obnoxious, I think, but fairly standard.
Shades of Christiane Amanpour’s ‘diamonds and schmooze’ comment (I mean the rabbi’s gimmick) Oh well, the price is pricey, but unfortunately, many synagogues announce the list of contributors and the amounts of their financial givings as a regular part of the High Holiday service, and I mean they make a show of it. It’s just as obnoxious, I think, but fairly standard.
Schvach- I understand what you are saying, but just because it is standard does not make it right. The highest form of charity is to give anonymously and I still see many places where the $10,000 or $25,000 level has the word Anonymous instead of the name of the givers.
I am glad to hear that the Rabbi realized his terrible mistake, but it sucks that it is too late for the anti-sematism that it has sparked. I agree with Danny Bee that an apology would be a good start to mend this. What kind of example are we setting for our children??
I forgot to say a big thank you to Yenta for her insights.
Your comment-“But Im going to venture and say that one of the biggest reasons some Jews start to feel rejected and reject modern Judaism and synagogue life is because money and status are valued and focused on more than true spiritual thought and infusing the ancient rituals with actual meaning.”
AMEN MY SISTA!!
“But asking for millions is totally obnoxious.”
Wrong. There are some people in south Florida with big bucks to donate to a good cause. (When they get a donor, let me know if he has a single daughter.) I’d rather have it go to a temple than some subversive group like moveon.
there is a cool Jewish website now that lists places where membership not reqired to entire RH services…..nomembershiprequired.com
At NoMembershipRequired.com you can choose from High Holiday services in over 50 cities across North America that are open to non-members. Although there is no About page on the site, Im guessing that the goal is to make the High Holidays accessible to one and all, regardless of what they have in their bank account.
There are better ways to fundraise than this one.