July/August 2001 What To Do In The Summer By Rabbi Alvin Kass American Society is undergoing a sharp revision of attitudes about the proper kind of activity to be carried on during the summer. For many years now the summer has been a veritable wasteland, barren of productive achievement. However, the realization that life is short and so much needs to be done has led to rethinking of what is appropriate summer activity. Many colleges now operate on a twelve month basis thereby accelerating the studentÕs educational pace. Many public school systems now offer summer programs on both the secondary and primary levels for those anxious to take advantage of them. The original reason for stopping most institutional activity for the summer goes back to the time when most families made a living through agriculture. As a result, everyone had to go into the fields and prepare to produce and harvest the crops in the summer so that there would be enough food for all to last during the ensuing winter. Farming is obviously an activity pursued today by only a small minority of our population. Hence, there is no sensible rationale for abandoning all serious endeavor for two months of the year. A vacation is certainly a healthy and important part of oneÕs life. But most people do not vacation for two months. As a result, an effort should be made when we are around to keep in touch with the kind of useful activity that takes up our time during the year. Certainly included in this category is the synagogue which must and should go on twelve months a year. We will have services every day and, of course, every Sabbath during the summer. When you are home, please come and shower our efforts at keeping the synagogue open and operating continuously with success. Fortunately, we have air conditioning so that prayer becomes not only a reward for the spirit, but for the body as well. Also be sure to read and study books on Judaism and Jewish life during the summer. DonÕt permit your minds to become stale through lack of intellectual challenge and achievement. I pray that all of you enjoy a summer of joy and happiness, and most particularly of useful achievement. Above all, donÕt forget God so that He wonÕt forget you.