By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.
EL CAJON, California — In the heart of the San Carlos neighborhood of San Diego, within just a few blocks, Young Israel, Chabad of East County, and Beth Jacob will stand as pillars of Jewish life as they settle into this lovely area. Each offers its own unique flavor of Torah learning, davening, and community. Yet, how often do we hear someone say, “That’s the shul I don’t go to”? It’s a phrase that reflects not only our deep sense of belonging but, sadly, sometimes our divisions.
But Torah compels us to think differently. The Talmud teaches that the Jewish people are like a single body, with each community, each person, playing an essential role. When we are divided, we weaken our collective strength. When we come together as a united kehilla—a true community—we fulfill the vision of Ve’ahavta L’reacha Kamocha (Love your neighbor as yourself) and reflect the unity of the Torah itself. The Rebbe taught, “Peace doesn’t mean that everyone thinks the same way. Peace occurs when plurality discovers its higher oneness.”
Today, more than ever, we can bring genuine goodness by rising above labels, affiliations, and customs that divide us. The world is watching, and the challenges we face as a people demand a response rooted in unity. Imagine the light we could bring to San Diego—and beyond—if we saw each shul not as “the one I don’t go to,” but as “the one I’m connected to because we are all part of Klal Yisrael.”
Young Israel, Chabad East County, Beth Jacob—each a long-standing wellspring of Torah and inspiration. Together, they could become a beacon of unity, proving that our differences are not barriers but opportunities to strengthen each other. The Torah was given to us as one at Sinai. Let us live that way, too. Let’s do more than sing, “Acheinu Kol Beit Yisroel,” (“Our Brethren, the entire House of Israel”) let’s take visionary action and live this.
Albert Einstein once observed, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.” For several years I’ve been imagineering – well, truth be told, I’m always imagineering – but in particular, I’ve been prying into a vision of I’ve had for more than a decade of a “United Kehilla of San Diego.” Please, no eye rolling, just grow with this. I mean go with this. No, I categorically mean grow with this. I’ll explain.
We are in very challenging, emotionally charged, emotionally “sandpapering,” times. I believe we are being given the opportunity to thrive and grow through this extraordinary period. It is clear that we are being asked to share in a beneficial united dream of deliverance and nationhood. It is possible.
The way to grow through this is to see through a proper lens, to see that what’s being asked of us is to prioritize our connections with, and to serve, each other, for the benefit of the other, for Am Yisrael, for the greater world, and for ourselves.
What’s this daring, audacious, maverick idea I’m floating? I’d like our wonderful San Diego community to build on recent and upcoming moves of East County shuls to unite and create a “United Kehilla of San Diego.” Let’s identify the path that is there for the Orthodox shuls in San Diego, and perhaps all synagogues, to become “One Shul.” One “United Kehilla of San Diego.”
No, this idea isn’t original. Four Orthodox shuls in Long Beach and Lido Beach came together several years ago to coordinate the formation of a United Kehillah. Instead of each shul working independently, they’ve joined forces, combined a number of resources for the good of all, in order to provide more robust and engaging programs for their entire community.
So, I ask, why not grow through this spiritual opportunity to emerge in our own distinctive and innovative San Diego manner for the wellbeing of all in our Jewish community?
Why would any individual congregation want to consider this, seemingly to some, daring, valiant notion? Because it’d be a magnificent show of unrivaled community leadership, a nationally noteworthy move in response to this time of emotional and spiritual challenge. It would elevate our community and grow it to become an even greater place for Jewish families to live. And above all, it’s the right response to the challenge we are being given.
I’m suggesting we creatively call for there to be “ONE shul” in San Diego. The “United Kehilla of San Diego,” each institution with its own identity, properly earned over decades of service to the community, with its own Rabbis and lay leadership of course, but with a united sense of resolve to insure, for example, an organized approach to Torah learning in which all classes, shiurim, will be coordinated and intentionally open to all members of the community. The same will be true in the “United Kehillah of San Diego” for all community programming, community events, community dinners, community growth, spiritual inspiration, and religious services, with “members” rotating through all synagogues, with a UNITED single “membership” in the “United Kehilla of San Diego,” that promotes attendance, involvement, connection and inclusion for all.
Fear not. No institution will lose any independence. No one will lose any power. There is only gain. An entire community now belongs to, and is united in, all shuls.
In the words of John Lennon, “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one…I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will live as one.” Imagineer with me, readers.
Can you imagine the gala inauguration of our “San Diego United Kehilla”? Can you imagine coming together as one on any given day in any given shul of one’s choice for religious services, for community events, holiday dinners, broad-based learning, family celebrations and misfortunes, offering assistance to those in need, speaking and acting with one voice?
This “sandpapering” time period, is our opportunity to grow and unite our community, ironically while we are so physically separated, to expand our thinking, to look at what can be, not what was, to see through the windshield not the rear view mirror, to take a faithful step forward and connect ourselves for the greater good, while the world attempts to break us down and apart. We thrive, we succeed.
Please, consider this, speak with your Rabbi, your lay leaders, and each other. Let’s convene a meeting all together.
In the emotionally filled words of Mordechai ben David Werdyger’s famous song, “Someday,” composed by Dina Storch,
“Someday we will all be together
Someday we’ll be sheltered and warm
Never will we have to express any fear
Our scars and our wounds will disappear
Avraham and Yitzchok will be there to greet us
Yaakov and his sons will stand by and smile
Moshe Rabbeinu will lead us once again
in Yerushalayim, B’ezras Hashem
Someday we will all be together”
I believe that “Someday” is now, for us to be together.
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Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly D’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family are members. They are also active members of Congregation Adat Yeshurun.