what's next?

The Yiddish word "vaiter" means "further" or "ahead" - We hope to make a Jewish movement that looks ahead and pushes ahead, and we're starting here with the Virginia Inspirational Torah Revival. Judaism desperately needs revival - I remember once in Yeshivah one of the boys said to the Rabbi, "I was watching TV and I saw a church program, and I saw they were singing and dancing, jumping around, excited and inspired. Why isn't shul like that". The Rabbi answered "it just depends upon which shul you go to."There was a recent article in the Forward describing Hassidic Regae star Mattisyahu's dabbling into a little-know estactic Hasidic community, where they have a tradition to scream every word of the prayers (except for the silent Amidah). He had never seen anything like this, and wondered why more synagogues don't follow this practice.The holy martyr Rebbe Kalonymus Kalman Shapira of Piascesno, zy"a, Hy"d, wrote in his "Chovas HaTalmidim" that it is natural for the human spirit to desire excitement, and he stresses to Torah educators that we have an imperative to make that excitement come from the Torah, or else our souls will seek it elsewhere. The Torah of the LORD is perfect - it restores the soul! (Psalms 19:8)Judaism has to be the place where we are inspired, the place where we jump up and down, scream, dance, sing, meditate quietly, whatever it takes to get us interested, inspired, and enthusiastic.In this city, Richmond, VA, we are told there are 13,000 Jews, yet I would be surprised, with eight synagogues, temples, minyanim, etc. in the greater Richmond area, if more than 1,000 Jews attend weekly services at any denomination. The problem is not with the Jews, the problem is with the synagogues - it's time we break free of the politics of denominationalism "orthodox", "conservative", "reform", etc., and just reach out directly to God! - we need to supply a spiritual center where our souls can fly, where Judaism can be about spirituality rather than a social club - let's get together and make it happen.