Some Jews say they are turned off by the service because it is not relevant to their lives or because it is repetitive. But do such people really understand it? Do they fully know what each week’s parshah is about? Do they prepare for it as if it were a journey of discovery? Can they not find ways to relate to it in their own lives?
Do they engage in reflection based on the content of the service? Is the repetition of prayers and other readings really so intolerable? Does the turned-off congregant, in fact, fully understand the meaning behind the service and appreciate the beauty of its music, prose, and messages?
Drama, artistic beauty, relevance, spiritual elevation, rejoicing, reflection, warmth, serenity – all these elements are in the Shabbat morning service, if you’re willing to look for them. And unlike a stage opera, you can even be a participant.