A Return to Community

By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOC Editor
New York University

It's been a long time since I've been at NYU. I attended my last class in New York City in the second week of December, and though I've been back to the city on several occasions since then, it's just not quite the same. The last time I went to Shabbat services, or participated in any event for that matter, with KOACH at NYU, was way back in December and it's more than fair to say I've missed it.

While I was studying abroad this past spring, I attended services in Florence, Rome, Venice, Berlin and Jerusalem. All of those were Orthodox synagogues, and while I was away, I longed to go to Conservative services, where I'd feel truly comfortable and very much in my element. Additionally, European, and especially Italian, services have quite a different feel to them. Since I've been back in the United States, I've davvened at Congregation Habonim on the Upper West Side in the city, in Long Island at the Midway Jewish Center and at my home synagogue, Temple Israel, in Natick, Massachusetts. Those were all at Conservative shuls, which is great, but they're still not NYU.

Part of what I've been missing is the student experience. There's nothing quite like a group of college students gathering together for services on a Friday evening. In high school programs like USY, students attend events and conventions to socialize with their friends. The same is true for Jewish summer camps like Ramah. Going to services is often something students are compelled to do, and while there are those who truly enjoy and get something positive out of them, there is an equal, if not greater, number of kids who chat throughout services and pay no attention to the spirituality others around them are experiencing. In college, no one's forcing you to observe Shabbat, and coming to services becomes a positive elective activity. Those who attend want to be there, and more often than not the congregation is full of engaged participants who make for a very meaningful service.

I'm returning to NYU in just a couple of weeks as president of KOACH. This coming semester, I'll be a major part of shaping the community I've been devoted to since the first week of my first semester. I'm more than content with the way things are, but I'm also extremely eager to be an active force in helping others to discover the same passion I've developed for my community. As I go back for my senior year, I plan to take full advantage of the time I have left and ensure that I utilize the rest of my time left at school contributing as much as I can to the future of the Conservative movement at NYU.

[Posted 8/19/09]