On The Other Hand

It’s sad that the only comments on Neil Rubin’s thoughtful piece are concerned with grammatical errors. The larger point that Neil is trying to make should not be ignored.

I agree that the money factor and the boredom factor are both operating here. For the overwhelming majority of American Jews, synagogue membership dues are a discretionary expense. And most people are choosing to spend their discretionary dollars elsewhere.

Part of discretionary spending goes toward entertainment, whether it’s seeing a movie, going to an Orioles game, or eating dinner in a nice restaurant. Synagogues are competing with all of these and many more, whether they like it or not. Even if synagogues step up their entertainment value, as Neil suggests, they will never be able to compete successfully with these and multiple other forms of entertainment.

Even sadder than the hopeless attempt for synagogues to compete in entertainment value, they can’t even compete when people are seeking a spiritual experience. My husband and I recently visited Cooperstown, NY for induction weekend at the Baseball Hall of Fame. We were first-timers, but many of the people we met there are “worshippers” who come every year. For them, this is a pilgrimage. They are seeking spiritual uplift and a meaningful connection - and they aren’t finding it in their local house of worship.

Actually, Frank, you might need to learn how to read.

The word Neil uses here, “less,” is incorrect. The correct word is “fewer,” and you don’t see it because Rubin doesn’t care to correct an obvious error, even when it is brought to his attention.

Once you learn how to read, I suggest you google “less fewer” to learn the correct grammar usage rules.

Stuart, what are you talking about? I don’t see the word “fewer” in the text? At least you can spell SAT correctly.

Neil,

I couldn’t get past the first line of this.

Any capable writer knows the correct word here is “fewer,” not “less.”

This really is basic SAT stuff.

Still, its not as bad as Buerger using the word “squash” when he probably (but who knows?) meant “quash.”