In this week’s Torah portion, T’rumah, the Israelites start building the Tabernacle, using the gifts that are brought by all whose hearts so move them. Together, they build a sanctuary so that God can dwell among them. They invite the presence of God into their midst through their generosity and collaboration.
I am still riding high from my service of installation last week, which brought together my new Temple Jeremiah family with my loved ones and mentors from throughout my life for a joyous celebration. I was so moved to see so many people contributing their gifts from the heart, and I am still overwhelmed with gratitude. As Rabbi Cohen concluded the service, “Let the joy of this moment, let the love of this moment, the happiness and blessing of this moment, carry us not only through Shabbat, but into the week, into the month, into the years, into the decades ahead, spreading joy & love, health & blessing throughout our world.” Truly, our worship together brought God in to dwell amongst us. I am so grateful to be part of a community that gives so generously from the heart.
In the spirit of continuing blessings, I want to share my remarks of gratitude from the service of installation:
Last week’s Torah portion, Yitro, contains one of my favorite verses of Torah. After crossing the Red Sea to freedom, but before the revelation at Sinai, Moses is hearing and adjudicating the complaints of all of the Israelites. His father-in-law, Yitro, comes up to him and says, in Exodus 18:18, “you will surely wear yourself out, and these people as well. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.”
This verse sets up a model of leadership that inspires my cantorate. Leadership is not something that you can do alone. It is something that you do in community, both through the community of people that have formed you, and together with the community of the people that you serve. You can’t do holy work alone.
I’m so grateful tonight to be able to bring together some of the people who shaped me as a Cantor into my new community here at Temple Jeremiah. Thank you to my family and my friends that have become family for traveling here in the cold! I want to extend great thanks to Cantor Richard Cohn, who as the Director of the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music when I was a student, was one of my first role models as a cantor. I want to thank my classmate, Cantor Olivia Brodsky, who has been a friend and colleague since we landed in Jerusalem. I want to thank Rabbi Peter Stein, who was there for me as I started thinking about what it would be like to become a Jewish professional and clergy person. In my first pulpit in Santa Fe, I made some lifelong friendships, two of whom are here today. Fred Milder helped shape my musicianship as my constant musical collaborator, and Ziva Gunther will be a wonderful rabbi and colleague when she finishes her studies. And now, I am so grateful to be part of a whole new wonderful team.
It is a privilege to be a part of such a fabulous senior staff: Rabbi Paul Cohen, who is the living embodiment of what it means to be a pastoral presence; Rabbi Rachel Heaps, who both sees and brings out the best in people; Danny Glassman, who keeps all the wheels turning. I am grateful to Matt Rissien, who brings enthusiasm and connection to everything he does. And thank you to the whole staff for everything you do every day.
I also want to thank our lay leadership, President Steve Kleiman and the whole Temple Jeremiah board, and chair of the cantorial search committee, Ross Wolfson, and everyone who served on the committee that brought me out here. Our emeritus staff, Rabbi Schreibman, Cantor Zussman, Anne, & Fern have welcomed me with their kind wisdom.
I am so grateful to have wonderful musical collaborators who help bring meaningful music and worship to this community. Fred Kagan is truly so generous with his time and talent and brings so much to our worship. Marianne Kim & Marissa Simmons help lead our music with such professionalism and musicality. The Temple Jeremiah choir is so dedicated and truly gives such beautiful music straight from their hearts.
And lastly, I want to thank every single member of the Temple Jeremiah community, whether you’re here in the room, watching online, or even just hearing about this after the fact! We are all working together to build a meaningful community, where we can learn together, pray together, sing together, celebrate together, and support each other through difficult times. A synagogue is a co-creation, not just of its clergy and staff, but also of its members.
The task of building a connected, empowered community is too heavy for any one person. But it is not for any one person to do – we shoulder it together. Thank you for allowing me into this community to take up my piece of the load. I am so excited to see what we can build here together, and am grateful to be a part of Temple Jeremiah.