40 - thoughts (on being a rabbi for 40 years)

40 

Should it be divided by 10?

Or 8? 

Or 5? 

Or 4? 

Or even 2? 

40 years it has been

Since my classmates and I 

Received the blessing of 

Rabbinic ordination, 

With those of us who attended 

At Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion 

in Cincinnati, Ohio

Marking that milestone on June 6. 

40 is divisible by the pivotal events contained in that period of time

Which, in some ways, has gone by quickly

And, in other ways, 

Progressed at a gradual pace. 

There was 3, the years in Dayton, Ohio 

At Temple Israel, 

Which included a wedding 

That established a home and a path for the future

And a congregation that offered the blessing of mentorship 

That remained with me for the decades to come. 

There was, then, 22, the years at 

Temple Beth Sholom in Topeka, KS 

Assuming a wide range of roles in the congregation

With members of all ages 

And in the greater community. 

Rather than counting the years of my contracts, 

It makes more sense to remember

The celebration of a birth in the family

And later a Bar Mitzvah, Confirmation and High School graduation,

My 10th and 20th ordination anniversaries marked

With special programs, 

13, 20 and 22 years at the congregation celebrated

My 30th, 40th, and 50th birthdays woven into the tapestry 

The Temple’s 60th and 75th years feted appropriately 

Mourning the deaths of parents in addition to long-time members

Speaking to the congregation after receiving

My Doctor of Divinity degree after 25 years in the rabbinate

And developing multicultural and interreligious connections 

Through study, prayer, and song. 

Then there was 5, the years at Temple Israel of Dover, NH

With continued work with members, students, and 

Community partners and leaders

Extending my opportunities to observe Thanksgiving 

and to pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

And to discuss pertinent communal issues

To provide and gain enlightenment and insight. 

Then, there was 9, the years at Temple Beth-El 

Of Las Cruces, NM

With past activities taking on new forms

Still studying with congregants across the generations 

Still celebrating personal and family milestones 

With a wedding and the birth of grandchildren 

Miles away 

Being shared in the high desert 

And, without question, marching and speaking out for justice 

Sometimes publicly

Other times, privately

Even if it was something I did alone 

Because I believed in the cause 

Even if some didn’t 

And I wouldn’t let anyone take away my beliefs 

grounded in the Judaism in which I was raised. 

And then, there was one, or, almost one, 

11 months of retirement amid separation and quarantine 

That still preserved connection, mostly in two dimensions, 

But with voices continuing to provide insight and depth 

That felt like being in the same room. 

Why did I do this? 

For a heritage of faith

For the gift of song, a foundational thread 

that ran through all 40 years and more

For the belief that a congregational community 

could engender wisdom and warmth. 

I didn’t always see the ideal in its best form, 

But there were moments of 

Radical amazement (per Heschel) 

And witnessing the holy permeate worship and relationships. 

That’s why I did this, with the support of family, friends,

And many partners along the way 

Who shared my vision. 

There is more to do, but, for now, 

I will take a moment, reflect, 

and, then, 

I will count up 

From 40.   

  

Time in Las Cruces was about learning, coming together - Column for Las Cruces Bulletin, June 4, 2021

  

   As Rhonda and I prepare for our move to the midwest, we are remembering that it was a decade ago, at this time of year, when we were preparing for our transition from the New Hampshire sea coast to the high desert of New Mexico.   Our fascination with “real water” up there (with Atlantic beaches 20 minutes from our home) easily pivoted to becoming mesmerized with amazing mountain vistas and captivating sunsets.  

       While living in New Mexico, we became parents-in-law and, then, grandparents of two wonderful and inquisitive human beings who live in another state and city that begins with “New.” 

      Closer to our current home for the next few days, I have been thinking about how our time in Las Cruces has impacted my rabbinate.   

     The diversity of identity, heritage, and faith in Las Cruces offered opportunities for learning and engagement.   Annual gatherings at Temple Beth-El, held from 2015 to 2019 on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, sparked lively discussions on the themes of gratitude, hospitality, humility, standards for human decency,  and principles that can form a foundation for unifying and just leadership.   

    There were two “by the border” programs of the Jewish Federation of Greater El Paso that illustrated where we really are, beyond our geographic location.    In 2015, members of the Jewish communities of El Paso, Las Cruces and Juarez gathered together for the “Shofar (Ram’s horn) Across Borders” event at Border Monument One just before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.   That was an event marked by trust and celebration. The same event in 2019 was held at the border wall.  We reached through the slats to shake hands with our neighbors to the south, and united our voices in song and sounded our shofars together.  We felt a strong sense of reunion and connection.  It was a moment of hope that others in our region would ultimately recognize their common humanity.  

        In Las Cruces, I have been part of an ever-growing circle of relationships with people of different generations inside and outside Temple Beth-El. There were workers at coffee shops and our local pharmacy of choice who would call me by name and, sometimes, by my title.  I had in-depth discussions about the nature of community with the person whom I put in charge of necessary clothing alterations.  And, yes, I would see congregants and clergy colleagues at local stores quite often!             

       In my presentations at schools, houses of worship, and for local organizations, I found people here willing to learn about my tradition as I was open to become more enlightened about their personal stories and values.   While speaking at the Southern New Mexico Islamic Center Iftar meal this past May 6, I noted that one of the common teachings that Judaism and Islam share is that when we preserve, sustain and support even one soul, one person, it is as if we have saved the entire world. Other philosophies and faiths would likely agree with that maxim.      

       “Seeking harmony” has been the title/theme for my monthly column over these last several years. I am grateful to the Las Cruces Bulletin for granting me this space to share my reflections, and I thank Temple Beth-El and Las Cruces for giving Rhonda and me the chance to be active participants in community life. 

       May your future be bright (beyond the frequent sunshine) and may all of you go from strength to strength!