How To Build Community
As I mentioned earlier, my new nephew was born last week. It was the first time I've gotten to really see the full scope of how the Orthodox Jewish community handles this lifecycle event, and I was utterly amazed at how they use it to bring the entire community together. For this little event of a baby's birth, Sarah's family had FOUR huge celebrations to which the entire Jewish community was invited:
Party #1: Hello, Boy!
On or around the first shabbat (Friday night) after the child is born, everyone gets together for a gathering called a Shalom Zachar, translated loosely into "Hello, Male." Of course, food and drink are served, and in some local communities, it has the loose baby theme of making you burp - beer, hummus (chickpeas), and other delectables of that ilk are consumed.
Party #2: The Circumcision/Bris
For this one, more than a hundred folks come together for food, drink, short speeches, and general mirth.
Party #3: Sing-a-Long
One night before the bris, all the children in the neighborhood go to the newborn's house, gather around the crib, and sing songs to him.
Party #4 The Buy-Back/Pidyon Ha Ben
In a tradition that dates back to biblical times, the parents of the firstborn male must buy the baby back from service to the priest class. It's another huge affair, with food, drink, and sometimes cute little chocolate coins.
For religious Jews, this level of celebration persists across all lifecycle events - Bar Mitzvah, Marriage, and even Death. For Marriage, there's the wedding, followed by seven smaller celebrations (Sheva Brachas). For Death, there's a week of mourning where the entire community comes by the home to console the relatives, recount fond tales of the deceased, and talk of trivialities.
In most Orthodox communities, there's an event like one of these every week, which means that the whole community comes together to socialize and celebrate life on a very regular basis. It binds everyone together in a way that I have not seen in any other culture (at least in America). What's more, you can go to any Orthodox community, anywhere in the world, and immediately become a part of it through these events. Not only are they great tools to build and bind local communities, but they're also very effective at linking individuals and families to a greater network of Jewish society.
As I mentioned earlier, my new nephew was born last week. It was the first time I've gotten to really see the full scope of how the Orthodox Jewish community handles this lifecycle event, and I was utterly amazed at how they use it to bring the entire community together. For this little event of a baby's birth, Sarah's family had FOUR huge celebrations to which the entire Jewish community was invited:
Party #1: Hello, Boy!
On or around the first shabbat (Friday night) after the child is born, everyone gets together for a gathering called a Shalom Zachar, translated loosely into "Hello, Male." Of course, food and drink are served, and in some local communities, it has the loose baby theme of making you burp - beer, hummus (chickpeas), and other delectables of that ilk are consumed.
Party #2: The Circumcision/Bris
For this one, more than a hundred folks come together for food, drink, short speeches, and general mirth.
Party #3: Sing-a-Long
One night before the bris, all the children in the neighborhood go to the newborn's house, gather around the crib, and sing songs to him.
Party #4 The Buy-Back/Pidyon Ha Ben
In a tradition that dates back to biblical times, the parents of the firstborn male must buy the baby back from service to the priest class. It's another huge affair, with food, drink, and sometimes cute little chocolate coins.
For religious Jews, this level of celebration persists across all lifecycle events - Bar Mitzvah, Marriage, and even Death. For Marriage, there's the wedding, followed by seven smaller celebrations (Sheva Brachas). For Death, there's a week of mourning where the entire community comes by the home to console the relatives, recount fond tales of the deceased, and talk of trivialities.
In most Orthodox communities, there's an event like one of these every week, which means that the whole community comes together to socialize and celebrate life on a very regular basis. It binds everyone together in a way that I have not seen in any other culture (at least in America). What's more, you can go to any Orthodox community, anywhere in the world, and immediately become a part of it through these events. Not only are they great tools to build and bind local communities, but they're also very effective at linking individuals and families to a greater network of Jewish society.
posted by isaacjosephson at 8:42 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home