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A conversation with family members many years ago concerned their particular Yom Kippur practice of attending services on Yom Kippur morning and then going out to lunch at the local country club. While different terminology was no doubt used, the discussion essentially focused on the concept and value of Klal Yisrael - the greater community of the Jewish people – and how/if our decisions and actions might impact that greater community. In this instance, it was discussed that regardless of whether or not they chose to fast, going out to lunch in such a public space on the holiest day of the year unintentionally conveyed a cavalier attitude to a community far beyond them about the sanctity and significance of Yom Kippur. I don’t know whether these relatives fast or not today; however, I know they stopped going OUT to lunch on Yom Kippur.

Particularly in Reform and progressive Jewish circles, there are numerous holidays during the Hebrew calendar year and personal life cycle moments at which we are presented with the same considerations regarding Klal Yisrael and our public choices. For instance:

• Should I avoid eating bread and other traditionally forbidden foods in public places during the entire week of Passover because of the broader message it might convey about Passover’s importance (or not)?
• For similar reasons, are there any public activities I should consider avoiding on Shabbat for the sake of Klal Yisrael?
• Should I serve shellfish or other treif at a wedding where members of the greater community – Jewish and not – will be in attendance?
• Should I refrain from speaking out against policies of Israel’s government in public settings?

The number of times the calculus of what to do/not do for the sake of Klal Yisrael would be overwhelming if we allowed it. While that is certainly not the aspiration, I suspect that in most instances the question never even comes to mind for many of us. Whether we intend it or not, though, our choices – Jewish and other actions as well – do broadcast broader messages about our character and what’s important to us, and as our Jewish lives are concerned, about what’s important to the greater Jewish community and people as well. Thus, in whatever ways we do choose to express our Judaism, may this be an invitation to reflect just a bit more expansively about the messages we convey through our public choices about Klal Yisrael to everyone around us. Even if we do not change a single thing, still, keeping our broader Jewish community in mind at a time when other forces seem to be tearing it asunder, is surely cause enough for consideration