By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
SAN DIEGO — Which is the better motivator of performing a mitzvah: desire, obligation, or guilt?
The answer to this question formed the subtext of a discussion we had on Wednesday during Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s Ritual Committee meeting. Some members said they came to morning minyan because they wanted to. Others said they attended out of religious obligation. Still others attended out of guilt: since there was a minyan present on the days they needed to say kaddish for a loved one, they would have felt bad if they did not help make a minyan for others.
What was the committee’s conclusion as to the best motivator? None was reached. What is my opinion as to the best motivator? I don’t have one and I don’t care! Whatever gets people here at 7:30 a.m. in the morning works for me!
In this week’s parasha God says to the Jewish people: “You shall not profane My holy name, that I may be sanctified in the midst of the Israelite people-I the Lord who sanctify you.” (Lev. 22:32)
In the Talmud Rav Ada bar Ahava asks: “How does one know that the individual may not say prayers of sanctification [such as the kaddish] on their own? Because it is written, ‘I shall be sanctified in the midst of the Israelite people.’ Every prayer of sanctification must be said with a minyan (prayer community) of at least ten Jews.” (T.B. Berachot 21:2)
Although the Rabbis required a minyan of at least ten Jewish adults to say prayers such as the kaddish, or the kedusha of the Amida, or to read the Torah in a service, they did not say how to get them there. In the old days it was not unusual for someone to stand outside the synagogue door and flag down a passing Jew to make the minyan.
That technique would not work at TIS. Not too many Jews randomly pass our door! We have to resort to other means to ensure the presence of a “daily ten.”
What would motivate you to attend morning minyan once a week or once a month? The mitzvah points you receive? A sense of obligation to your fellow Jew? Guilt, because without your presence kaddish cannot be said by a mourner?
I suggest you find a reason that works for you. With your presence and support we will always have the ten necessary to sanctify God’s holy name in the midst of the community.
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Rabbi Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego. You may comment to him at leonard.rosenthal@sdjewishworld.com or post your comment on this website provided that the rules below are observed.
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