Some advice from the sages for making friends at synagogue:
Shammai said, make your Torah study fixed, say little and do much, and receive everyone with a cheerful countenance. – Pirkei Avot, 1:15
“Make your Torah study fixed” – As Woody Allen famously said, most of life is simply showing up. If you come every week to services, people will begin to recognize you. Opportunities for small talk will increase. If you only show up for High Holy Days or a yahrzeit, don’t be surprised if you feel like a stranger!
“Say little and do much” – If you really want to make friends at synagogue, volunteer for something. My personal favorite is “clean up crew” after an event. The people who always do it are anxious to have help, they will want to learn your name. Generally people chat while they are clearing away tables or folding chairs. By the end of 30 minutes, you are practically guaranteed to have the beginnings of at least one synagogue friend. Usually the work is not onerous, and the next week, there will be someone smiling in your direction.
“Receive everyone with a cheerful countenance” – When you make eye contact with someone at a synagogue event, what do you do? When you have a chance to exchange a few words, what do you talk about?
I am an inveterate greeter of newcomers, and I’m always a little surprised at the number of people who begin a conversation by complaining about something. I’ll say, “Hello, I am Rabbi Adar” and they’ll counter with something like, “Why don’t you have gluten free food?” or “The music here is not very good.” (Honest to goodness, people have said those things to me.) Others walk around scowling, and it takes a bit of nerve to walk up and say hello.
If you volunteer for the clean up crew, don’t grouse about it. Just get on with it, and make cheerful conversation as you do. If you would rather do anything than clean up after other people, take a class or volunteer for a task where you can put on a “cheerful countenance.” Grumbling about what pigs people are will not make friends for you.
It’s not easy to be new. However, it is a curable condition, if we take Shammai’s advice. Show up, volunteer, and be friendly, and before you know it, you’ll have a friend or two at shul.
well put, Rabbi 🙂 another thing I try to remember is to seek out others who may also be ‘new’ and striking up a conversation.
People say the darndest things! 🙂
Great suggestions, Rabbi Ruth! One thing that helps me a lot to make new friends is that our synagogue is very friendly. Thanks so much! Best in 2016!
It’s certainly true that the synagogue can make this process easier, Fabio!
Thanks so much, Rabbi Ruth, and I wish you a joyful and enlightening meeting at the Rabbi Campi! 🙂
Love the picture and the blog! What you’ve written is so true. In the first few years, I really felt like I didn’t belong at my synagogue. Once I started to volunteer on committees, I began making coffee dates and lunch and dinner dates to get to know people better. Now I’m seen as one of of the many leaders of my Jewish Community!
Thank you for the great example, Denise! I love that picture too.