Sacred Partnership. You may have never heard the term. You may have heard someone mention it in passing. You may have done a lot of reading on it. What does it mean in the context of our Temple Beth Tikvah community?
The word “sacred” can be a bit intimidating and even alienating. It evokes a weight and gravitas that can feel like an embrace…or can be so heavy as to feel almost suffocating. It demands a respect for, or holding apart, for that which it is applied to.
The URJ offers, ‘Sacred partnerships recognize each of us as individuals and our desire to inspire sacred action in our communities. Sacred partnerships are built and nurtured through the Jewish values of mutual respect, trust, honesty, listening and communication, transparency, confidentiality, flexibility, reflection, empathy, and vulnerability.”
We are a community in transition, seeking a rabbi to lead us in our next stages. We flexibly celebrate our faith in homes, churches, and public spaces throughout Central Oregon. We share space with the broader Jewish community of Central Oregon in educating our children on learning the Torah and our collective rituals. At only 15 years old, Temple Beth Tikvah continues to increase in congregants while wrestling with the inevitable growing pains of an increasingly diverse set of needs within our community.
As we sit on the precipice of our next tomorrow, it is imperative that we are rooted in the mission on which we were founded:
Community. Education. Worship. Social Action.
We must also be guided by the values listed above—we must enter into a Sacred Partnership as a community. When we are guided by these values, we remember that if we have been hurt or angered by someone we go to that person for discussion. When we notice a difference between our own point of view and another’s, we take time to listen, recognizing that there are many means to a shared destination. When trusted with a disclosure, we remember that not all stories are ours to share and maintain the sanctity of discretion. When we notice assumptions we are making, we seek clarification.
On Sunday, May 19, we will gather as a community as we do each year for our Annual Meeting. This year, I hope you will join with the expectation of learning more about the state of our congregation. As a board, our sacred partnership demands we are rooted in TBT’s mission and values with a focus on ensuring the financial viability of TBT, that programming is inclusive, and that our eyes are focused on a future our community seeks. I look forward to seeing you there.
Shalom,
Cere