The rabbi of our synagogue is always exhorting the members to come to services. Come for selichot, for shacharit every morning, for mincha/maariv on Shabbat afternoon. Honestly, I’m busy, I have work and family, and I don’t find prayer services particularly meaningful. Why should I go to shul? What’s in it for me?

Many believe that synagogue attendance is required only for rabbis and perhaps other seriously religious people. This is a mistaken impression.

One of Judaism’s fundamental insights about the human condition is that we need community to be full human beings. In the story of Creation, the first thing that God labeled as “not good” was loneliness—lo tov heyot ha’adam levado—it’s not good for human beings to be alone.

No doubt, prayer and worship are difficult activities for many of us. Without practice, it is difficult to acquire either skill or understanding for the activity. That is highlighted especially in the framing of this query. "What's in it for me?" I "pray" the inquirer will forgive me, but this is such an American perspective on so many activities and/or skills that don't seem to have a practical application. The language suggests that we are consumers of Judaism rather than its practitioners. As opposed to what one may get from attendance at services (by the way, I think regular participation does have substantial benefit for our growth in spirit and character), I would prefer the focus be on what a person may bring, share or give to those who assemble with us. As a friend once suggested to another congregant, "I come to synagogue because you are here." I understand that to mean that we help create a community, enrich other lives and in so doing grow our selves and souls. One other thought: try another Shul.