How Does Your Family Spend Its Summer Vacation (Jewishly)
Not too long ago we posed the following question about Shabbat and Jewish observance during the Summer months:
"....Is it major for you ? For that matter, is it different being Jewish during the Summer ? Do you observe Shabbat any differently ? Is being Jewish different for you during the Summer ? More meaningful ? Or in some small way do you start to "take the Summer off" and pick up again in the Fall ?Tell us what you do - what works for you and your family ? What would you like to work for you and your family ?..."
We recently received this thoughtful response, and want to share it with you. We hope it might trigger a larger discsussion on the issue. If not, maybe it will get you to thinking about what you do and whether it's the way you want it to be:
I am going to attempt to answer the question you set forth last month as to Jewish observance in the summer, and whether it is any different than the rest of the year.
I've given this question a lot of thought, and reluctantly, I've come to the conclusion that yes, our family's Jewish observance is different in the summer, certainly from a Shabbat observance point of view.
During the school year, Shabbat is a welcome opportunity to have Friday night Shabbat dinner, with candles illuminating a special wintery meal, early on a dark Friday evening. It gives families a chance to catch up after a hectic week. This is usually followed by a relatively early bedtime for all.Saturday mornings are reserved for schul, with the myriad opportunities of babysitting, Junior Congregation, etc. for the younger family members. Saturday afternoons are rest time, play time, and Shabbat is over.
Summer seems to be exactly the opposite. With most synagogues halting their children's programming for the summer (i.e. B'nei Mitzvah celebrations, babysitting services, Junior Congregation, etc.) with the thought that children are away at summer camp and families are on vacation, the service tends to be more intimate, and also more difficult to bring a family with children along. With so many things to do late on a Friday afternoon in the summer, it begins to be difficult to bring the family in from the pool, beach, etc. for a nice Shabbat dinner when it is still bright out. We have had Friday evening barbecues for Shabbat, and although it's fun, it doesn't have that traditional feel to it.
Then the question becomes, should I bring in Shabbat early, or not?
I have an Orthodox acquaintance who feeds her child an early dinner, but doesn't bring in Shabbat until the official time. This wouldn't work for me either, because by then my children would probably be sleeping, and they would miss the part of Shabbat they love (i.e. the candles, grape juice, challah, and accompanying songs).I was once vacationing in Alaska during the midnight sun of July, and found myself having a similar conversation with the Chabad rabbi in Anchorage. Since it never gets truly dark at night during the brief summer, the community brings in Shabbat together on Friday evening, and Shabbat lasts through Saturday night, basically until one wakes up on Sunday morning!
I have also grappled with how to observe Saturday without the routine of going to synagogue? It becomes a very long day, and while it gives the family a fun day to play in the sun, I don't come away with the Shabbat flavor that I do during the winter, for example. I think the light of Shabbat in the darkness of winter leaves me feeling much more spiritual than the effect of the light of Shabbat in the sunshine.Then there is the lack of Jewish holidays in the summer, with the exception of Tisha B'Av, of course, which is hardly a fun, family-friendly holiday.What's the solution?
Perhaps a summer Shabbat havurah would solve the problem. Maybe on a long, sunny Saturday afternoon, after the children and adults frolicked outside, the families could have some Torah study. Or perhaps after an early Friday Shabbat meal, a family could host an Oneg in their backyard?
Best of luck with your own family's summer observances.
"....Is it major for you ? For that matter, is it different being Jewish during the Summer ? Do you observe Shabbat any differently ? Is being Jewish different for you during the Summer ? More meaningful ? Or in some small way do you start to "take the Summer off" and pick up again in the Fall ?Tell us what you do - what works for you and your family ? What would you like to work for you and your family ?..."
We recently received this thoughtful response, and want to share it with you. We hope it might trigger a larger discsussion on the issue. If not, maybe it will get you to thinking about what you do and whether it's the way you want it to be:
I am going to attempt to answer the question you set forth last month as to Jewish observance in the summer, and whether it is any different than the rest of the year.
I've given this question a lot of thought, and reluctantly, I've come to the conclusion that yes, our family's Jewish observance is different in the summer, certainly from a Shabbat observance point of view.
During the school year, Shabbat is a welcome opportunity to have Friday night Shabbat dinner, with candles illuminating a special wintery meal, early on a dark Friday evening. It gives families a chance to catch up after a hectic week. This is usually followed by a relatively early bedtime for all.Saturday mornings are reserved for schul, with the myriad opportunities of babysitting, Junior Congregation, etc. for the younger family members. Saturday afternoons are rest time, play time, and Shabbat is over.
Summer seems to be exactly the opposite. With most synagogues halting their children's programming for the summer (i.e. B'nei Mitzvah celebrations, babysitting services, Junior Congregation, etc.) with the thought that children are away at summer camp and families are on vacation, the service tends to be more intimate, and also more difficult to bring a family with children along. With so many things to do late on a Friday afternoon in the summer, it begins to be difficult to bring the family in from the pool, beach, etc. for a nice Shabbat dinner when it is still bright out. We have had Friday evening barbecues for Shabbat, and although it's fun, it doesn't have that traditional feel to it.
Then the question becomes, should I bring in Shabbat early, or not?
I have an Orthodox acquaintance who feeds her child an early dinner, but doesn't bring in Shabbat until the official time. This wouldn't work for me either, because by then my children would probably be sleeping, and they would miss the part of Shabbat they love (i.e. the candles, grape juice, challah, and accompanying songs).I was once vacationing in Alaska during the midnight sun of July, and found myself having a similar conversation with the Chabad rabbi in Anchorage. Since it never gets truly dark at night during the brief summer, the community brings in Shabbat together on Friday evening, and Shabbat lasts through Saturday night, basically until one wakes up on Sunday morning!
I have also grappled with how to observe Saturday without the routine of going to synagogue? It becomes a very long day, and while it gives the family a fun day to play in the sun, I don't come away with the Shabbat flavor that I do during the winter, for example. I think the light of Shabbat in the darkness of winter leaves me feeling much more spiritual than the effect of the light of Shabbat in the sunshine.Then there is the lack of Jewish holidays in the summer, with the exception of Tisha B'Av, of course, which is hardly a fun, family-friendly holiday.What's the solution?
Perhaps a summer Shabbat havurah would solve the problem. Maybe on a long, sunny Saturday afternoon, after the children and adults frolicked outside, the families could have some Torah study. Or perhaps after an early Friday Shabbat meal, a family could host an Oneg in their backyard?
Best of luck with your own family's summer observances.
posted by eric model at 9:25 AM
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