Community Building Resources in unlikely places

Mitch Albom is on fire as an author and his newest best seller is titled have a little faith - a true story(sic). Honestly, this was the last place I thought I would be getting thoughts on community building. But, I encountered a pleasant and interesting surprise as I read this book about the rekindling of faith, much of it about the author's meetings over the past eight years with his "Reb."p

Toward the end of the book (a quick read of less than a day) there is a discussion about a special reunion-honor service for Rabbi Albert Lewis, who had led his congregation for six decades. The Rabbi and the author, whom the Rabbi had asked to do the eulogy at his funeral, were discussing the turnout and celebration. I am going to quote part of what he wrote so you read what I mean about community-building thinking; This quote begins on page 223: " "I tell you," the Reb said, shaking his head as if in disbelief, there were people who hadn't seen one another in years. "And when I saw them hugging and kissing like such long lost friends -- I cried, I cried. To see what we had created together. It is something incredible."
"Incredible? My old Temple? That small place of Sabbath mornings and funny holidays and kids hopping out of cars and running into religious school? Incredible? The word seemed too lofty. But when the Reb pushed his hands together, almost prayer-like, and whispered, "Mitch, don't you see? We have made a community," and I considered his aging face, his slumped shoulders, the sixty years he had devoted tirelessly to teaching, listening, trying to make us better people, well, given the way the world is going, maybe incredible is the right description." (223-224)

Rabbi Al stayed with his Temple for more than sixty years. Rabbi Al was a leader with a vision and energy, and caring and compassion and knowledge and more -- portraying many of those traits and characteristics we need if we are going to build effective communities.

Even for those who have a problem with "faith" this is a good read. In fact, it might be those of us with that problem who will get the most from what feels to me like a very practical book for today's world.