APRIL 2008
BULLETIN
From the Rabbi’s Study
I believe it is important to periodically reflect on our purpose in life, material as well as spiritual journey. As my work in Congregation Beth Israel is almost completed, I want to share some personal thoughts, urging you to do the same.
MY SPIRITUAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY
I was born in Israel in 1938 into a religious family. My grandfather was the spiritual leader in a large synagogue in Jerusalem and my other grandfather was appointed the assistant to the Chief Rabbi in Israel. Although I was young when I left Israel, my grandparents made an impact on my life through their personal religiosity and indoctrination of my parents and me.
In 1939, my father left for America and in 1943, my mother and I left Israel to join him. The religious home in which I grew up was the foundation of my spiritual journey. I joined my father not out of choice, but without reticence at Services, daily in the synagogue in which he served as Cantor in Birmingham, Alabama. The house of worship was my home away from home, literally. I loved it and had no reason in later years to rebel, as did some of my friends. Our home was based on a solid religious foundation, making my spiritual journey in life joyous and enthusiastic. My experience in religious school was fair – good but that has to do with “after school, religious school education” which is not overly successful in many synagogues.
At age 10, I was encouraged to study in a parochial school (Yeshiva) in New York. This necessitated my leaving home, but because I was so proud of being Jewish, the “will” to go there was overriding and I left my family with whom I was very close. After six months, I returned for a visit, but because I had lost weight, my parents were convinced I could not take care of myself at such a young age, and did not allow me to return.
The background fortified my love for Judaism and strengthened me spiritually while I continued studying in public school in Birmingham.
Four years later, I returned to the Yeshiva and completed high school in New York, now once again fortified with a love of my tradition.
Even though these years were cherished, I chose the University of Alabama
for my college studies.
Again, my spiritual journey was strengthened. In the fraternity house,
I alone observed the Dietary Laws and prayed daily. I began to invite
fraternity brothers to join me at least twice a week for Minyan and organized
a Service which existed for a number of years. I helped young men who
had bid farewell to the synagogue at age 13, or who had never officially, in
the presence of a congregation, become a Bar Mitzvah, return to G-d and to
give Him a place in their lives. I felt I was fulfilling an important
role as a Jew – serving as an example to others, yet not in a professional
sense. Our fraternity was known for its excellent scholarship, athletic
activities, parties, and now that we had converted the date-parlor into a synagogue,
we were respected for an added perspective – a fraternity with a bit
of religion and spirituality.
In my senior year, I decided to go into the rabbinate and returned to New York where I attended the Jewish Theological Seminary for six years. I was ordained as Rabbi, Teacher, and Preacher. The Conservative ideology was different from that which I had learned in parochial school, but I made peace with it and felt comfortable in my faith.
In 1965, my spiritual journey took me to New York where I served in the rabbinate for 11 years after which I moved to Hammond, Indiana where I have served our wonderful Congregation Beth Israel for 32 years.
Because my “journey” has brought me so much satisfaction in life, my goal since I began my career has been to inspire others to love and worship G-d as I do.
My parents, Z”L, sisters, and the entire family have only enhanced my religious commitment by their examples. Cynthia has added spirituality to our home. I am left with questions regarding my children – What will their continuous spiritual journey be like? Have I inspired them sufficiently? Time will tell.