Many thanks to the Installation committee for inviting me to participate in this milestone moment in Temple Beth Sholom history. It is unique in that it’s not often that a former rabbi of a congregation is chosen to install a new rabbi in this way. However, as some of you know, I received a call in mid-March of 2021 from Rabbi Ken Chasen, whom I have known for 40 plus years. He was teaching a course for soon-to-be ordained rabbis at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. Rabbi Chasen asked if I could speak with almost-rabbi Sam Stern, who was going to have a phone interview that night with the Temple Beth Sholom search committee. The rabbi-to-be and I had a far-reaching conversation for nearly an hour. And, well, here we are, having already had time together as colleagues, but not having shared this bimah until tonight.
When I saw that the Torah reading for this Shabbat is from the first parashah in Numbers, B’midbar, I realized that its themes are perfect for an installation. Numbers Chapter One contains this command to Moses: “Take a census of the whole Israelite company [of fighters] by the clans of its ancestral houses, listing the names, every male, head by head. You and Aaron shall record them by their groups, from the age of twenty years up, all those in Israel who are able to bear arms.” Moses and Aaron appointed a member of each tribe to help them accomplish this task. While this was a sort of Israelite Selective Service draft, I have always found that the greatest significance of this passage is in the names of the designated census takers. Many of those names referred, in some way, to God, including: Shlumiel, meaning “God is my peace”; Nethanel - “God has given”; Elishama - “my God has heard”; and Eliav, meaning “God is my parent.” There is one more name I want to mention from that list. A few days ago, I asked Rabbi Stern several questions about becoming and being a rabbi. In response to the question “What led you to pursue the rabbinate as a career?”, Rabbi Stern replied that he always wanted to be a helper. He added that, as he matured, he developed a deep connection to Judaism and realized that he wanted to serve the Jewish people as a rabbi. As it turns out, one of the tribal representatives bore the name ACHI-EZER, which means “my brother - or sibling - is a helper”: BEN, son of; AMISHADDAI, meaning “my people belongs to Shaddai, God almighty.” Therein lies an apt description of what it means to be a rabbi: being a helper, and serving the Jewish people, with God’s presence always close by.
Numbers Chapter 3 noted that Moses also received this command: “Record the descendants of Levi by ancestral house and by clan; record every male among them from the age of one month and up.” In this case, the goal of the census of the Levites was, obviously, not for defense, but for leadership in worship as priests. According to one interpretation, this census intended to direct the education and spiritual development not just of the priests, but of all the people. In Exodus Chapter 19, God instructed Moses to tell the Israelites: “you shall be to Me a dominion of priests and a holy nation,” meaning that the responsibility for leadership and knowledge rests with all community members. This dimension of the rabbinate can bring growth in knowledge, wisdom and connection for rabbi and congregants alike. When I asked Rabbi Stern about the aspects of his rabbinate here that he most enjoys, he listed teaching, pastoral care, and the moments when he gets to talk with people one on one. Those encounters are opportunities for educational and spiritual development from rabbi to congregant, and, most definitely, from congregant to rabbi as well.
The Haftarah reading for parashat B’midbar contains a passage that is also appropriate as part of an installation ceremony. We read in the book of Hosea, Chapter 2, as Hosea spoke for God to the people: “I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love and compassion. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness and you shall know the Eternal.” With this pronouncement, the prophet Hosea declared how the people could grow closer to God, godliness, and the best of their character. The values embodied in this formula are central and integral in creating a positive community. They are: TZEDEK - righteousness; MISHPAT - Justice; CHESED - goodness, steadfast love, kindness; RACHAMIM - mercy and compassion; and EMUNAH - faithfulness. Rabbi Stern echoed these values in his answers to my questions, noting the generous spirit of welcome which he and Caryn have received at Temple Beth Sholom, the ease of nurturing relationships within this tight-knit congregation, being able to make an impact on the local and statewide community, and possibilities for growth in many aspects of life, leading to an overall goal of sharing a love of Judaism with all.
Rabbi Stern, your Hebrew name, HaRav Shmuel ben Avram Moshe V’Gilah, including the names of your parents, bears signs and remembrances of great Jewish leaders. Shmuel, the prophet Samuel, anointed not one but two kings and offered moral leadership to the Israelites. AVRAM, Abram became Abraham and was called “the father of nations.” MOSHE, Moses was a revered lawgiver, teacher and an unparalleled prophet in our traiditon. The name “Gilah” is from a word often used in the Tanakh and in our liturgy to mean “joy.” All of these elements of your name point to the significance of this special Shabbat of celebration for you, your family, and this congregation and community.
As a way of establishing a chain of installation tradition between me, as a former rabbi of this congregation, and you, Rabbi Stern, I am offering a charge for your rabbinate here for the years to come. You already have a sense for your own special mission and path. These words of challenge and blessing were shared with me at my two previous installations. I know that, in this congregation, they will guide you and members of Temple Beth Sholom towards a promising and bright future. Please join me, Rabbi, at the lectern:
As a Rabbi in Israel, as a teacher of Torah, our hope for you is for holiness, our prayer for you a sacred reflection of the purpose toward which all community members strive.
Be among those who cherish the truth, who banish falsehood with their faith.
Be a teacher of sacred words with your deeds, and an exemplar of the timeless legacy of Jewish living.
Aspire always to be loving, compassionate, humane and hopeful.
Be the prayer for goodness that is ever upon your lips.
Be “Yisrael” – a model of the sacred struggle that we all embrace.
Be “Yisrael” – a bearer of God’s goodness, a blessing to all whose lives you touch.
I now ask members of the congregation to turn to page 381 in Mishkan T’filah and to rise as you are able as we join together in offering this rabbinic blessing to Rabbi Stern:
MAY YOU LIVE to see your world fulfilled,
may your destiny be for worlds still to come,
and may you trust in generations past and yet to be.
May your heart be filled with intuition
and your words be rich in understanding.
May songs of praise ever be upon your tongue,
and your vision clarify a straight path before you.
May your eyes shine with the light of Torah
and your face reflect the brightness of the heavens.
May your lips ever speak wisdom
and your fulfillment be in righteousness,
even as you ever yearn to hear the words of
the Ancient One of Holiness.
AND LET US SAY AMEN.
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