What’s happening
In a small town in Maine, over 250 members from various small-town Jewish communities gathered for a meaningful Shabbat service, showcasing a diverse cultural collaboration and shared commitment to Jewish life. Attendees included clergy from New York City, local Muslim scholars, Israeli-American artists, and students reflecting the vibrant multigenerational essence of these communities.
Why it matters
This initiative highlights the enduring strength of small-town Jewish communities. While many historic synagogues in post-industrial towns have since closed, others are not only surviving but thriving. The Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College has been instrumental in this renaissance. For a decade, they have fostered thriving Jewish communities, embodying diversity and unity across social, political, and religious lines.
Between the lines
The existence of these communities teaches broader lessons about resilience and embracing differences. A key to success for these small synagogues is building inclusivity, offering an insightful model for Jewish communities worldwide. Straddling the ideological divide, they create spaces for diverse engagement around Jewish texts and cultural pursuits.
What’s next
Jewish communities are called to acknowledge the unique blessings of small-town dynamics while continuing to adapt and innovate. In affirmatively recognizing their worth, there lies the potential to safeguard an impactful present and motivate formidable future development. Inspired by history but driven by contemporary relevance, small-town Jewish life continues to influence broader perspectives and practices.
Editor’s note
Rachel Isaacs, the rabbi and executive director of the Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College, emphasizes the critical teachings that small-town Jewish resilience offers for all communities, irrespective of size. These local ventures serve not only to preserve relationships but actively work to innovate participation, enriching wider Jewish cultural landscapes and American society alike.
This story was first published on jpost.com.