MEET OUR RABBI
I want to begin by saying what a great honor it is to be chosen to be the rabbi
of Congregation B’nai Abraham. I am looking forward to the many things we will
do together this year. As many of you know I already have a connection to this
congregation and have worked with Rabbi Youdovin to educate many of the
congregation’s young people in the past few years and get them ready for Bar and
Bat Mitzvah. I have also worked with some of the congregation’s adults who
wanted to learn Hebrew. Because of this connection - I know some of you.
However, there are many I do not know and I want to spend a
few moments introducing myself to you. I grew up in Texas in the Dallas area. I
have not always wanted to be a rabbi. In fact in high school I had dreams of
studying music and being a professional trombonist. I realized part of the dream
and was accepted into the music education program at the School of Music at
University of North Texas in Denton. Music is a very competitive field, so I
decided to change majors to something more practical - Engineering and
management - quite a change.
It was not until my college years that I became involved in
Judaism. I did not grow up in a religious home. I was born in 1969 and my
parents were fairly Afree spirits@ you might say when it came to organized
religion. When I was in college I came to know a small lay-led congregation in
Denton. They needed help doing everything: leading services, teaching in the
religious school, organizing holiday events. I found myself doing as much as I
could and truly enjoying it.
To make a long story short, I was debating what to do next
with my academic career when a rabbi I was studying with in Dallas at Temple
Emanu-El encouraged me to apply to rabbinic school at Hebrew Union College.
I studied Hebrew and was accepted for the class beginning in
1997 and spent the first year of the rabbinic program living in Jerusalem. When
I returned to the USA, I began my studies at the Cincinnati campus of Hebrew
Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion and was ordained in 2003. For the
past five years I have served on a part-time basis as the rabbi of Congregation
Anshai Emeth in Peoria, IL.
In order to be ordained, each student must prepare an
extensive research project or Thesis. I chose to work with Dr. Nili Fox,
professor of Bible and Archaeology, on a curriculum for teaching Biblical
Archaeology in the religious school setting. I mention this because Archaeology
is one of the areas that I love to study. One summer, I worked on an excavation
in Israel for a month and loved every minute. There is something inspiring about
the personal connection with the past that I feel when picking up a piece of
pottery that was last touched by human hands over 3000 years ago – I have even
thought about going on one of the excavations for the Burpee Museum of Rockford
to dig up dinosaur bones.
I am also inspired by studying the texts of the Jewish
tradition. There is so much wisdom and insight in those pages. The rabbis knew
a lot about the human condition that has not changed so much despite all of our
technological advances. Reading their words and making a personal connection
with a scholar who lived hundreds of years ago is wonderful.
I am also inspired by teaching. There is nothing more thrilling than seeing a
student get excited as they are able to read a Hebrew word for the first time
and to see them make a powerful and personal connection to the Jewish People.
I have a question for you - What do you call this building?
Most of us would call this building A the temple or A the synagogue. Neither of
these titles is Hebrew though. The Hebrew for this place can be one of three
possibilities, and each one reflects a different function.
One is Beit Tefillah - House of Prayer - This is truly an
important part of the life of a congregation. Gathering together to worship and
observe the holidays anchors the life of a Jewish community. I am looking
forward to gathering with you and leading the community in worship. I want to
learn your treasured traditions, and I hope that we can explore some new and
creative things as well.
Another is Beit Midrash - House of Study - Prayer is not enough - we must study
together as a community. Study is what gives strength and substance to a Jewish
Community’s life. There are many exciting things that we can do together - we
can study Hebrew, learn Torah Chanting, engage in Adult Study programs on a
variety of subjects.
Finally, such a place can be a Beit Knesset -House of
Assembly - In others words a community center. In a small community this can be
extremely valuable. There is no other place within miles and miles that the Jews
of Beloit and Janesville area can gather and share opinions and ideas with other
Jews. When some is ill, we can share our concern and offer help. It is
satisfying and healthy to connect to friends and family and the synagogue is an
important place to make connections with other people. Even gathering together
to watch a movie is a strengthening experience for the community. I hope to
strengthen the community by being present in times of need and being part of the
life of the congregation.
Is one of the areas - (worship, study, community) more
valuable than the other? Not necessarily. Jewish tradition would teach us that
the ideal community has elements of all three.
When we work toward a balance of all three to make this place
a House of Prayer, a House of Study, and a House of Community - Beit Tefillah,
Beit Midrash, and Beit Kenesset - we work toward making this place not only a
place where a Jewish congregation meets from time to time, but
we work toward creating what our tradition calls a AKehillah Kedoshah a Holy
Congregation.
Feel free to contact me at home 815-399-9116 or on my cell phone if it is urgent, my cell number is 815-670-1918.
I am eager to meet with members of the congregation on any matter.
As Always we invite non-members to worship with us!
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