Tribute to #1 Partner in Creation

Rosh Hashana and a Plea for Daily Minyan

by Rabbi Avi Billet

            

The Talmud in Niddah (31a) records that there are three partners in the creation of every human being: the Holy One, a father and a mother. It is to these three partners that each of us owes our very existence. [Though here is quite an interesting twist on the "3 partners idea"]

Scientific advancement has allowed the process to include what some might call an "assist" to go to medical professionals. But the genetic makeup of every human being comes from one male and one female, while the process that makes it all come together and form a human being is God's contribution to the effort.

On Rosh Hashana, we utilize a term that is reminiscent of this process when we declare "Hayom Harat Olam," that today is the day of the world's birth (or, more accurately, its conception). Particularly on this day, we are very cognizant of God's role in the existence of every life form on our planet. We appreciate that the day of Rosh Hashana is the Day of Judgment for the entire world. And, perhaps on account of this, so many Jews make a concerted effort to be in the synagogue to note our collective recognition of God's role in our existence and in the continued existence of the world.

Many synagogues like to tout their membership numbers. Depending on a particular community's unique makeup, the "active membership" number is not always in sync with the "complete membership" figures. "Inactive members" are generally people who feel a kinship of some kind to the synagogue, most likely show up on the high holidays, but otherwise are less involved in the weekly shul activities.

"Active membership" is usually defined as those who show up on a weekly basis, on Shabbat. But even the "active membership" numbers do not translate even closely to the much fewer numbers that show up on a daily basis.

It is understood that Shabbat is a day when entire families come to the synagogue. We aren't working, school is off, and where else does one need to be?

But even if the weekday is not a family day in the synagogue, where are all the people – the active members?

Every shul has its dedicated members who do show up on a daily basis. Year in and year out, their shul attendance, with the exception of vacations and sick days, is in the 90 percent range.

But many "active members" do not show up during the week. Many active members only become daily active members, ironically, when they are in mourning for the loss of two of the three partners in their own creation.

How many people are very dedicated and "never miss" a day during the year of mourning, but as soon as the year of mourning ends, they are never seen in the synagogue during the week? We give homage to the invisible partner in our creation during the year we remember our no longer visible creation-partners.

And yet, we can't give that same homage on a regular basis when our parents are alive, or even worse, after we have demonstrated for a year that "this is important to us" and "we can make the time to be in the synagogue out of a sense of responsibility"? How can this be?

As we come to the synagogue on Rosh Hashana, let us take into account that the synagogue is open 365 days a year. Let us commit to being active members not just on the High Holidays, not just on Shabbat, but also during the week.

While some get the drive to come back to the synagogue when they are in mourning, let us merit to come to the synagogue without the mourning incentive, as a tribute to our third partner in creation (who is listed as #1 in the Talmud!), because it is on His account that we live and breathe every day.