What do I do? I am the mashgiach for the kitchen, supervising the kashrut of the synagogue ensuring that it does not become tainted. I am official paginater, announcing Sequitur and non sequitur pages to the congregation during worship. Solemnly, I attend to the role of periodically rising to inform the community of the page we are now on. I am a sermon maker. The first thing that any community wants to know of it’s rabbi is, ‘Does she speak well?” Most members want to hear good stories and uplifting morals when I go to synagogue. I counsel the grieving and bury the dead. When those who are called to the Next Universe I comfort the bereft while escorting the dead to the next appointment.
I scribe the Hebrew on tombstones and officiate at unveilings. I am called to the bedside the dying alongside the newly birthing mothers. I guide both parents through the process of naming and bris. I hold the hands of those whose marriage s are dying and take them through the process of getting a Jewish divorce.
I plan weddings and delivery homilies. I represent the Jewish community at any number of interfaith gatherings- gatherings, vigils, colloquiums, Lions Club, Rotary, human rights issues, guest speaker at local colleges college, and tour guide for students who come through the synagogue. One question that communities need to know is will the rabbi keep us together? Factions proliferate and attitudes are about as diverse as they can be. Is the rabbi able to keep the congregation as one people, and one single community, while increasing numbers?
During my tenure I have sought to create and independent community, one that is capable of living a meaningful Jewish life in the quietude of their own homes. Consider all of the energy has gone into adult education. It should not seem surprising after all the hours spent in creating programs in the shul that my personal goal was to create a more literate Jewish community.
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