By Rabbi Eli Friedman
A man once came by to chat, complaining about his depression and unhappiness. He said his work is fine but he finds no happiness in his life.
After some conversation, it turned out that more than unhappiness, his problem really was loneliness. He had very few friends, and almost no social life. We agreed that he should begin visiting his local Chabad for Shabbat services and join the community.
The meeting, combined with so many others like it, made me think. At some point during the 20th century, people purporting to be championing the righteous causes of scientific thought dismissed religion as backward and useless. They walked away from it, proud of themselves for removing dogma and superstition from their lives.
But they made a terrible mistake. Because along with the "dogma and superstition" they also discarded the community. This misguided movement deprived themselves of a community and brought upon themselves loneliness and proud, secular misery.
What a joy, what a blessing, what a gift - a community. When someone has a celebration, the community celebrates with them. When someone is unwell, the community is there for them. When someone grieves, the community shows up for them.
The bottom line: nothing replaces a community. Not office life, not commuter friends, and not co-workers.
Sure, you have the lucky ones who've been blessed with good, solid friends. But there are far too many doing without. The twists and turns of life have left them without this gift of good, local friends, and they suffer silently, alone.
Folks, go to Shul, and go often, more often than not. Even if you don't sing along or read along, just come sit alongside friends.
When people congregate in honor of G-d, something so much greater than themselves, it stirs the most beautiful elements within every person there. A community of good people assembled for a good purpose causes a magnetism storm, where every individual's Neshama is tugged to the surface by the presence and vibrancy of the others.
We are grateful to Moses for many things; the Torah, freedom, miracles, and much more. But maybe his biggest gift to us was when he turned us from ex-slaves into a strong, cohesive community - united by our bond with G-d. Our first "Shul" experience was when Moshe shlepped us to Mount Sinai and we stood in G-d's presence fiercely united.
Remember the "Stay at Home Orders" from COVID? Well, this is an equally urgent, "DO NOT STAY AT HOME ORDER". Come out, wherever you are. Come to Shul. The community awaits you.
Nobody cares if you know exactly when to stand and sit during the prayers. Just know when it's time to stand with your brothers and sisters, when to proclaim yourself a proud member of the Jewish community.
That time is now. Come to Shul.
