Communal infrastructure comes at a cost
 
YOSSI ARON
WEDNESDAY. At the kosher butcher. Purchases include chicken, beef and meat for cholent. But do we appreciate while shopping that without the shochet who provides meat in accordance with kashrut principles, the mashgichim who may have been watching deliveries at 3am, as well as being present during the kashering process, and the kashrut authorities with all their efforts, personnel and expertise, the simple act of buying kosher meat for Shabbat could not happen? 
Friday morning. Challah buying time. Once again, at the local kosher bakeries, do we appreciate what happened behind the scenes to ensure that the bread and all its ingredients are totally kosher, that challah has been separated according to the law? Without the kashrut authorities and their personnel this too would not happen.
Friday night. Time for shul. As we walk to the shul of our choice, do we realise that shuls are not “just there”? Without the dedication of the founders and ongoing financial support by members, they could not have existed or continue to function. Similarly their rabbis, who we rely upon at service times or whenever else we need them for life cycle events, aren’t “just there”.¬†
They need to be properly employed with remuneration derived from members paying proper fees. As I have often reiterated, just paying for a cheap seat covering the immediate costs of the high holy days does not ensure the community has the services it needs year-round.¬†And after shul, it is time for families to be together. Fortunately in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, we now have eruvim that facilitate Jewish family life. A new eruv is about to become operative on Sydney’s North Shore.
Many of us may have forgotten what it was like before these eruvim were constructed. Certainly, when my family was young, it was impossible to get together with others on Shabbat -— you simply could not push a pram.¬†And that is aside from other issues, such as carrying one’s tallit and even keys, handkerchiefs, tissues and glasses cases.¬†However, my reason for writing at this time is that regarding Melbourne’s eruv and beth din, a serious crisis has developed¬†
Let me ask all eruv users -— have you paid for this service? Or do you just assume it is and always will be there?¬†Supervising, managing and maintaining a metropolitan eruv costs tens of thousands of dollars annually. Melbourne’s eruv is funded from a levy on congregational seats.¬†However, that burden is now not spread evenly or fairly. The catalyst for the current crisis is the fact that despite promoting itself as “family friendly”, a resurgent Caulfield Hebrew Congregation remains unwilling to pay according to the agreed formula.¬†
Other shuls willing to do more while that congregation suffered from its costly internal controversy, now say enough is enough.¬†Similar issues exist regarding certain other smaller shuls, particularly shtieblach and some Chabad houses, which compete with established shuls for members, yet for whatever reason do not participate in formal communal structures.¬†Ironically, it is those very congregations whose Orthodox membership seeks an eruv ride on the backs of paying congregations -— some of which are located outside the eruv, while others have a membership less concerned with such matters.¬†
The result, certainly not “family friendly”, may well be that the Melbourne communal eruv soon ceases to be operative, at least temporarily, until communal sanity sets in and all participate in fairly shouldering costs in the communal interest.¬†Eruv aside, also endangered by this attitude is the reconstituted Melbourne Beth Din, which similarly has its administrative costs funded by congregational members.¬†
Even if most of us hope not to have to use its services, a beth din too is essential to Jewish family life. At times, to enable family life to go forward, it is essential that a community have the structure to facilitate religious divorce.¬†And all know, that despite halachic hesitations in regard to conversions to facilitate Jewish marriages, many families do suddenly require a beth din to discuss and facilitate situations involving their children.¬†Yet here again, certain congregations do not wish to fully contribute -— if at all —- to maintenance of this vital communal institution.
It is incumbent on the rabbinic and lay leadership of our communities to ensure that essential community structures are maintained and properly funded.¬†No specific funding model is sacrosanct but the outcome must be guaranteed. Halachah enshrines a principle of “Al tifrosh min hatzibbur -— do not separate yourself from the community”. Regarding the funding of these services, that principle should be paramount in everyone’s mind.
comments