‘And Adonai said to Abram: “Lech lecha (go forth)
from your land…’ (Gen. 12:1)
I don’t recall a formal call from God; however, I believe I have
been on this journey since I was a child. My first synagogue was a home away
from home; I had my favorite seat in the sanctuary, I knew all the secret
hiding places, and the congregants made up my extended family. For me, the
synagogue was a place of joy, love, and community; I want to be a part of
creating this feeling for my daughter, for other children, and for every member
of the congregation I serve.
Growing up in the British Jewish community I was blessed with many
opportunities to volunteer and assume leadership roles from a young age. In a
smaller community, with Reform Jews as a minority, we had a responsibility to
create our own learning and Jewish experiences. This ignited my passion for
building community and teaching. I was fortunate to bring my experiences with
the global Jewish community to the United States, where I have found the
inclusive, innovative, and vibrant Jewish community I was searching for.
‘… to the land that I will show you…’ (Gen.
12:1)
The rabbinate allows me to live my passion for teaching and
creating community. There is something wondrous when people come together to
study and form community, giving new life to ancient words in the modern world.
As a teacher, I create experiences for congregants and families to grow and
develop on their own Jewish journey, bringing more meaning into their lives,
and bringing them closer to their tradition, God, and our community. I am
always excited when I can innovate, using new technology to bring Judaism and
Jewish life into the twenty-first century, and create easy portals for entry
into our rich and ancient tradition.
As
a Rabbi, I have the honor to be a service leader. When working with children, I
love the opportunity to make prayer fun and engaging; in the Early Childhood
Center, I have added dance routines to prayers and puppets often tell the
stories, ensuring Shabbat is a highlight of their week. I am
also eager to involve more people in the prayer leading experience, and so on Simchat Torah when we now unwrap the scroll,
recent Bnei Mitzvah students come forward and
chant sections of their Torah portion, retelling our story. The younger
children sit in the center of this circle of Torah and watch with awe as the
teens of the congregation model active engagement with the text and tradition.
And I have always felt that prayer, at its best, touches people where they are;
in London this meant coming off the bimah to lead the Shabbat Shira (musical) service in an intimate
prayer circle. While in Port Washington, responding to congregants’ calls for a
different type of prayer experience, I partnered with a congregant and trained
yoga instructor, to develop a yoga service, complementing our traditional
liturgy with yoga poses and meditations.
The modern world can often be lonely and intimidating. Today, more
than ever, our synagogue communities are critically important as places of
meaning and meeting, where we can come together and form community. Ultimately,
my rabbinic work is about building, and fostering, a strong and vibrant
community. We do this through education and prayer, as we continue the chain of
Jewish tradition, claiming our heritage and renewing it. Through social action,
where we can work together to make the world a better place. Through youth and
young adults, where we instill in the next generation a passion and joy for
their Jewish identity, developing our future leaders. And through families, as
we bring generations together to celebrate the cycles of life, but also
offering support and comfort at challenging times. This is the community in
which I wish to belong, raise my family, and would be honored to lead as a
Rabbi.
‘…and I will bless you…’ (Gen 12:2)
I have always sought out inspiring friends and colleagues from and
with whom I can learn; I have found these in all areas of my life and work; in
London, Jerusalem, Los Angeles, and now New York. Most importantly, I have been
truly blessed to be a part of two fantastic synagogue teams, working in close
partnership with wonderful colleagues who have become dear friends; we consult
with each other, support each other’s projects and passions, and make all
decisions as a team. It has been a privilege to partner with them in making
Judaism engaging and meaningful.
I have also been blessed with Rabbis and teachers in my life who
have been important mentors for me along my path. One shared with me an
important value which has guided my rabbinate: “People don’t care how much you
know, until they know how much you care.” Community is, at its core, about
caring for each other; being a leader of the community is about sitting with
people in the quiet moments, when they need comfort and support, providing an
ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on. There is a sacred partnership between
Rabbi and congregation; our Jewish journeys intertwine into a new reality,
where we can share our hopes, dreams and aspirations for ourselves, our
families, and our community. As a Rabbi, I simultaneously serve, lead, and
become a dedicated member of the community.
‘…and you shall be a blessing…’ (Gen.
12:2)
The synagogue is no ordinary community; outside of the family, it
is the only community which a person may join at any age, and should never be
asked to leave. In partnership with the congregation, my job as a Rabbi is to
ensure that the community is a warm, open, and welcoming place for everyone.
People will come in for different reasons at various points in their lives, and
every time they should feel at home, just as I did when I was a child. There
should be many doors into the synagogue. At West London Synagogue,
I opened the door for young adults, to ensure that they could find a community on the inside,
and empowered them to assume a leadership role and take ownership over their programs. At The Community Synagogue,
I have held the door open for youth and young families, recognizing the potential they have to give,
their need for Jewish community, and their importance for the future of the Jewish people. I
have held those same doors open for elderly members of the community who are looking for companionship, a listening ear and a warm embrace.
I have welcomed Bnei Mitzvah students and their families
through those doors,
leading them along a path on which they may grow and make the community their
own, ultimately leading us in prayer. And I have been active in opening the door for those families, and people, who may have
felt alienated from the traditional Jewish community, reaching out to those in same-sex relationships and interfaith families to show them that they too are at home with us.
And for some it has been about opening a virtual door, allowing them to connect first with the Jewish community online before taking the next step to join in person.
‘…and in you shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ (Gen.
12:3)
Abraham’s journey was not just about himself or his family; it was also about acting as a medium through which to bring blessings to others. As Jews, we are all heirs to this legacy,
and we all work together in a congregation to achieve this in our own individual ways. Only in shared partnership can we all be heirs to Abraham, both givers and recipients of that blessing;
building a community in which all are welcome to share in the blessing,
be the blessing, and then in turn, share their blessing with others. I look forward to working with a community
which will be a home for my family, and a sacred partner as we share this blessing.
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