Social Networking Old and New
One of the best perks of being a Rabbi is the opportunity to constantly research, constantly learn.

Prompted by the interest of one of my classes I explored the concept of community from the Jewish perspective.  Seems like such a plain vanilla kind of topic, hard to define, not much controversy.  But then there is the question of what makes it tick?  What it the glue that holds it together?  What is indispensible to the sacredness of community that we all cherish?

Although I may not have found the final answer, I do think I stumbled upon a first response.  The first and most basic communities were simply "food sharing" communities.  Survival was based on the presumption that when one person had abundance, he (I would love to say "he or she", but back then it probably was "he!") would share with his fellow in famine.    But then when the first found himself in famine, he could demand reciprocity from his friend who now had an abundance of food.    Reciprocal food sharing was simply a way of hedging against starvation, and it worked-it still works.

The Traditionalists out there may want more than the anthropologists' take.  Our tradition is not wanting in this regard.   Take for example the words of King Solomon in Ecclesiasties (Kohelet):
"Two are better than one, for they have good reward for their struggle.  Should they fall, one would pick up the other; if one would fall, he would have no second to pick him up. . . And if one would be overcome in an attack, two would stand against him; and the tripled corded thread will not quickly break."

How many mitzvot do we have that say exactly the same - giving to the poor,  sending gift baskets of food on Purim,  sharing holiday meals, and most especially the Seder.   At this event we declare, "All who are hungry let them come and eat, all who are needy let them come and celebrate."   And we actually do mean it, and have meant it.  We have opened up our homes, to students, strangers, immigrants and the other side of the family that we might not particularly enjoy.   Over the past week I have enjoyed hearing stories of the mothers and grandmothers, who walked among the new Russian and Polish immigrants in Winnipeg and Edmonton making sure that anyone who needed, had a seder to attend.  As well, the story of the mother who hounded Hillel House to make sure her family had new students at their seder every year.  

Food sharing, Seders, it builds our community.  It builds it through giving, favors, favors in favors, giving after giving.  Our favors are the strands, the web that weaves  community.

But here is where, as the Rabbi, I get worried.  Online social networking is amazing in its speed, and in its volume ( I regularly hear about those with 500 or even 2000 facebook friends).  But Web 2.0 Social Networking is a thin community; in fact, it is not a community at all.  There are no favors, no demands for reciprocity, no obligations to members of such a group.  Oddly enough social obligations / the need to return the favor, or to pay it forward is the glue that has held the Community together.   As that element quietly slips away from our new "communities", on-line or elsewhere, we put ourselves at risk of eroding this, our sacred community space.

Our Seders are one key to creating the sacred space of Community; they are even better when everyone "pays" their way in.  This means that everyone in attendance has their role, their job:  From setting the table to buying flowers,  researching an example of modern slavery, or bringing a comment from an ancient haggadah.  Invite them to grate the apples, or roast the shank bone; invite their friends and colleagues.  The Seder is the perfect place, the perfect paradigm, from which to learn, to see, and to demonstrate that in Community it is wonderful to get, but even better to give.  And by doing so, all take part in the weaving of community, and their own networks within the greater Community.

Happy Pesach cooking and good Shabbos. 

Rabbi Andrew Rosenblatt