Rodef Sholom: A Reform Jewish Congregation in Marin County, California

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Rodef Sholom = Pursuers of Peace
Recently, a member of our community asked what our name, Rodef Sholom, means and why our congregation bears this name. "Do you want the short answer or the long one?" I asked. That day, the short answer sufficed, but still, our beautiful and powerful name deserves more elucidation.

Why Rodef Sholom?
Over 50 years ago, when a group of our synagogue founders gathered to choose a name, one man recommended Rodef Sholom. Why? Because this was the name of his childhood synagogue in Philadelphia. Moreover, Rodef Sholom in Philadelphia is the oldest Ashkenazi synagogue in the western hemisphere, having been founded in 1795. And, we all know, there are synagogues all over the world that bear this name -- in New York, Ohio, Denver and even in India!

Why, then, do so many synagogues bear this name?
The term Rodef Sholom derives from the passage in Pirke Avot, the first section of the Mishnah, written in 250 CE. "Be the disciples of Aaron (the first high priest and brother of Moses and Miriam), loving peace and pursuing peace, loving people and drawing them near to the Torah. In the time of the temple, the priests were not known for being peaceful, but rather, focused on the minute details of sacrifice, and often considered to be arrogant. Why then, are we asked to be like Aaron as opposed to Moses, his brother? Perhaps it is a reminder to us to keep our hearts open, to overcome any obstacles in our hearts and lives toward finding peace.

How Rodef Sholom?

To pursue peace -- that is central to what we, you and I, do at Rodef Sholom. And we do that on three levels; first, we pursue peace in our souls, through t'shuva, introspection, through prayer, and through meditation. The synagogue and our worship give us space and guidance for that. Secondly, we pursue peace in our community. Every day, people in this holy community are working to bring peace to the lives of other members of Rodef Sholom -- this peace comes in the form of calls and meals to those who are ill, challahs delivered, cards, prayers and concern. And finally, Rodef Sholom is a great source of peace to the larger community and world beyond the synagogue walls. Through our work in Darfur, the Canal, Israel, New Orleans, and beyond, we work every day to bring peace and justice to the world.

Yes, the short answer is that Rodef Sholom means pursuers of peace and we were named after a synagogue in Philadelphia, but really, when we were named Rodef Sholom, we linked our mission and our passion and our purpose to the ancient and holy cause, to pursue peace in our world, our community, and our own hearts and souls. As we prepare for this New Year, I pray that each of us is able to find that peace for ourselves and help it to flourish in our world.

Rabbi Stacy Friedman