Questions to Ponder:
1) Millennials, by in large, don't attend or support synagogues on a regular basis. Many feel out of place there. Why do you think that is?
2) Why do we need Holy Spaces anyways? Is G-d confined to a building? Can't I feel Jewish where ever I am?
3) What is the most important physical structure in the Jewish community?
Layer 1: The Distinction Between The Inner World and the Outer World
A) What is special about your home that you won't find on the street?
B) What's a value you hold so supreme, you will never cross?
(ה) יוֹסֵי בֶן יוֹחָנָן אִישׁ יְרוּשָׁלַיִם אוֹמֵר, יְהִי בֵיתְךָ פָתוּחַ לִרְוָחָה, וְיִהְיוּ עֲנִיִּים בְּנֵי בֵיתֶךָ...
(5) Yose ben Yochanan, man of Jerusalem, says, "May your home be open wide, may the poor be members of your household...
Layer 2: The Inner Sanctum
A) How would you define the closeness between siblings vs. friends?
B) In the generation of social media, is there anything left to be kept private?
...Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; and the spirit of God came upon him”
hat was it that Balaam saw that so inspired him? He saw that the entrances of their tents were not aligned with each other, ensuring that each family enjoyed a measure of privacy. And he said: If this is the case, these people are worthy of having the Divine Presence rest on them.
Layer 3: The Menorah: Your Vision For the World
A) What would we want our family legacy to be remembered as?
B) In Judaism, we never stop growing. What's one thing you would like to learn or develop?
כָּתוּב בְּהַדְלָקָתָן לְשׁוֹן עֲלִיָּה, שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְהַדְלִיק עַד שֶׁתְּהֵא שַׁלְהֶבֶת עוֹלָה מֵאֵלֶיהָ
One must light the Menorah in a way that the light ascends by itself...
Layer 4: The Table - Depth of Sustenance
A) How do we want our children to perceive wealth?
B) What brings me in the "zone" that I don't get burned out?
בשעת פטירתו של רבי זקף עשר אצבעותיו כלפי מעלה אמר רבש"ע גלוי וידוע לפניך שיגעתי בעשר אצבעותי בתורה ולא נהניתי אפילו באצבע קטנה יהי רצון מלפניך שיהא שלום במנוחתי יצתה ב"ק...
At the time of the death of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, he raised his ten fingers toward Heaven and said in prayer: Master of the Universe, it is revealed and known before You that I toiled with my ten fingers in the Torah, and I have not derived any benefit from the world even with my small finger....
Layer 5: The Holy of Holies: The Secret of Our Being
A) Many argue that we could enjoy life living in open relationships, without the institution of marriage. What do you think?
B) What's one thing, in your lifetime, that you'd like to uncover about yourself?
ההוא דהוה קאמר ואזיל כי רחימתין הוה עזיזא אפותיא דספסירא שכיבן השתא דלא עזיזא רחימתין פוריא בר שיתין גרמידי לא סגי לן
When our love was strong, we could have slept on a bed that was the width of a sword. Now that our love is not strong, a bed of sixty cubits is not sufficient for us...