Tuesday Morning Torah – April 23, 2013 | Congregation Torat El - Monmouth County Conservative Synagogue

Tuesday Morning Torah – April 23, 2013

Last week my family and I had our first amazing experience at Disney World. As you might expect a fun time was had by all and there were many “magical” moments where Disney truly did feel like the “happiest place on earth.”  Waiting in line for Pluto to sign our autograph book, I found myself wondering just what makes Disney so special. And because I am always thinking about the American Jewish community and synagogue culture, I knew that there had to be some wisdom in the Disney experience that could speak to the synagogue experience. It was at that moment that I remembered an article that I read a few months ago, written by Rabbi Efram Goldberg, that had some insight into transferring the magic of Disney into our Synagogue communities. While he was specifically talking about the Orthodox community- I think that his insights apply to all synagogues. This is  some of what he wrote:

Making Our Shuls More Like Disney World

Perhaps the greatest part about the Magic of Disney is not the souvenirs, the rides, the characters or even the memories. It’s simply how nice everyone is to one another and how happy everyone seems. It is hard to think of another place where such a large quantity of people all seem so courteous, kind, pleasant, and polite. Generally speaking, you don’t find pushing or shoving, short tempers, a culture of criticism, or impolite and impatient people at Disney, despite having to wait on lines, pay large fees, endure the hot sun, and spend hours on your feet.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if our shuls (synagogues) and Jewish communities could be more like Disney? Wouldn’t it simply be incredible if Orthodox synagogues and communities were known as the happiest places on Earth, and that guests to our buildings couldn’t wait to come back and to visit as often as they could?

How does Disney do it, and what could we learn towards creating a culture of happiness?

A few years ago, I had the privilege of participating in a behind-the-scenes tour of Disney… what struck me most was the employee culture and how the attitude of the Disney’s tens of thousands of workers impacts each and every one of their guests. In every employee-only area, there are signs listing the Disney credo. It includes: “I project a positive image and energy. I am courteous and respectful to all guests including children. I go above and beyond.”

Disney understands a fundamental psychological principle supported by extensive research – happiness is contagious. Just as if one person yawns, others will follow suit, so too, if a person smiles, others around him will start smiling as well. A happy disposition, a positive spirit, and a pleasant countenance are simply contagious.

Whose responsibility is it to spread the smiles? Whose job is it to maintain the happiness effect? Whose responsibility is it to spread the smiles? Whose job is it to maintain the happiness effect? There are roughly 60,000 employees at Disney World in Orlando. All members of the staff, from custodial and maintenance, to the ride operators and people who wear the Mickey costumes, are referred to as “cast members.”

How many of the 60,000 cast members do you think are responsible for picking up the garbage? The answer is all 60,000. How many are responsible for helping someone find directions or return a lost child to their parents? 60,000. How many are required to smile and spread the happiness? That’s right, all 60,000. At Disney, the cast members know that they each have different tasks, but they are taught that they all have the same purpose: spreading happiness….

Rabbi Goldberg’s point is simple. If we want to create synagogues where people feel comfortable, and have an enjoyable experience than we are all responsible for acting in ways that make that dream a reality. Whether we are a staff member, a board member, regular Shabbat attendee, or we only stop by on occasion- we are responsible for creating the atmosphere of our synagogue. Each one of us is a representative of Congregation Torat El, and each one of us, therefore, has a responsibility to create the kind, loving, and joyous atmosphere that we want from our community.  To read the rest of the article,   click here.

What do you think? Is our synagogue a relatively happy place? Are there things that we could do better to make your synagogue experience more enjoyable? And, most importantly, what role do you have to play in making Torat El the happiest place on earth.