I recently checked out a book off the B’nai Moshe library cart. The title is "Spiritual Boredom." It’s hard to believe, but even with what’s going on in the world and all the demands and excitement in our daily lives, it appears there’s a lot of boredom going around.

To tell you the truth, I am not finding the book all that exciting. But, I am learning some things. For example, back in the Middle Ages it was thought boredom was caused by excessive spleen secretions? (Now, that’s a tidbit you can discuss with your endocrinologist or use to entertain your friends.)

I think much of what the author writes is basically common sense - backed up by copious historical, religious, and scientific research and quotations. But it has got me to thinking about the spiritual boredom – its causes and its cures.

I would venture to say there are probably three reasons people find something boring:

1. The subject is inherently not interesting to us.
2. The manner in which it is presented.
3. We do not make an effort.

There isn’t much we can do about the first reason, but we can have a lot of control over the second and third.

Religious ritual and practice can be particularly boredom inducing. Face it. Just reading and saying the same words and doing basically the same thing week after week does not really generate a lot of excitement – even though we Jews have kept doing it the same way for thousands of years. So, how can we stay engaged? Interested? Awake?

Well, first let me say, I think excitement is often vastly overrated. I know that my days are hectic. So much to do and so little time. Religious ritual and practice offers the chance to disengage from the rat race for a while, slow down, relax. The repetition can actually be quite comforting. There is no pressure. Like eating comfort food, you don’t care how it looks. You just like the familiar taste.

As far as the presentation is concerned, our B’nai Moshe clergy is constantly trying to introduce freshness. As you know, we have a brand new siddur. While very little in the Hebrew prayers were changed, many of the translations are updated. In addition, the siddur provides transliterations and there are many new footnotes. A lot of times, I notice what is new and it catches my interest.

Another example: We introduced the triennial torah reading – which sometimes means the Shabbat service is shorter and other times means Rabbi Pachter has more time to teach us. Also, pay attention to Cantor Berris and you will hear how he changes the melodies of the prayers and introduces new ones. Singing along (regardless of your vocal talents!) is a great way to stay interested.

Think about fellow congregants you know who seem immune to religious boredom. Two people immediately come to my mind: Marc Sussman and Barry Levine. Both of them are always looking at prayers and the torah from different angles. Week after week they find new insights, meanings, and questions to explore and share. I find their enjoyment of Judaism contagious.

So, if you think you may be a victim of spiritual boredom, we may already have found the cure. Come find out.

What are your thoughts about religious boredom in our synagogue? Do you have suggestions for other things we could do - individually or as an organization - to combat it?

If you do, I’d like to know. Please tell me in person or send me a note or e-mail, or, if you prefer anonymity, just drop your idea in the suggestion box outside the synagogue office.