This week, as a small part of our new initiative called “Safe Homes, Safe Shuls, Safe Schools,” we announced our attempt to eliminate the phenomenon known as Kiddush Clubs, at which individuals leave services, usually during the Haftorah, and partake in hard liquor. Our Board voted at the first Board meeting of the new administration in Los Angeles, to overwhelmingly support the statement against these clubs. We have two objectives in this initiative. On the one hand, we are attempting to restore Kedushat Beit HaKnesset and Kavod Beit HaKnesset, sanctity and dignity to the prayer services in all of our synagogues. Secondly, we are concerned with the message sent by adults participating beyond moderation in alcohol on synagogue premises. Obviously this is only a small part of a larger effort in the area of educating our community regarding the dangers of alcohol which often lead to serious substance abuse. Another part of our attempt to change the culture of the services in the synagogue, is a live webcast shiur which I will begin on Thursday noon, February 24th and hope to continue every Thursday at noon. This shiur will be entitled “Tefillah v’Siddur haTefillah” or “Prayer and the Prayer Book.” This shiur will be open to all individuals from our offices as well as to anyone in the community who wishes to attend. It will be held in the large meeting room on the 14th floor every Thursday at noon. It will be devoted to the philosophy of prayer, halachot of prayer, and texts of the prayer book.
i'm all for it.
1. 'A visitor' posted on the Tue 1 Feb 2005, 12:35 pm
ReplyDeleteA little ironic, coming as it is immediately after a post about a drinking game. Let's be honest. Nobody gets seriously drunk at Kiddush clubs; they're just popping out for a quick drink at a slow point in the davening. Who can blame them? They've been in shul for an hour and a half already, they're tired, and its not like they're going to be paying rapt attention to the haftorah anyway. Everyone's back in shul, completely in control of their faculties, in time for mussaf. On the other hand, the whole point of a drinking game is to get plastered.
anon
2. A visitor' posted on the Tue 1 Feb 2005, 1:23 pm
ReplyDelete1. i don't know about you, anon, but i've never drank enough at a drinking game to get plastered. i might have a shot or a sip of beer, then call it a night.
2. however, i'm not serving MINORS there.
3. the big issue the OU is starting to tackle is the underage drinking problem that has been steadily growing.
4. and i've definitely seen people drink too much at Kiddush clubs.
5. if you're an adult, anon, and dumb enough to get plastered anywhere, please don't have kids.
dani
3. 'A visitor' posted on the Tue 1 Feb 2005, 1:45 pm
ReplyDeleteA word to anon:
I bet the ones going to the Kiddush Club have not been in shull anywhere near the start time, probably closer to 45 minutes. (BTW, most movies are 2 hours, and I'll bet they sit for every second of even the bad ones.)
David
4. 'Aylana' posted on the Wed 2 Feb 2005, 3:26 pm
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many of those that proposed this idea talk during services. I'd be willing to be that most of them do. The talking, especially when not touching on any sort of religious topic, is what most damages Kedushat Beit Haknesset etc.
I'm not actually for kiddush clubs, necessarily. But I don't really see that that's THE major issue facing the sanctity of the Beit Knesset, especially when people are actually gabbing in the "sanctum".
Hey, at least if they're talking outside in the club, it's quieter during the Haftorah.
5. 'Dani Weiss' posted on the Wed 2 Feb 2005, 8:41 pm
ReplyDeleteagain, the focus here is that this is the first strike against the underage drinking problem.
the rest of it is just nice side effects, in my opinion.