Klei Kodesh
In Search of Klei Kodesh
Harold Schulweis
A few months ago I was asked to speak at a national convention of synagogue executives. Arriving early, I found the assembly participating in mincha-maariv services. I was taken aback by the competence and seriousness of the executives at prayer. Why was I surprised? Because I had not understood them as klei kodesh.
I had [...]
Rabbi as Vessel: Journeys of Holiness
Richard Hirsch
Two stories: (1) When my son was in 2nd grade at the local Schechter day school, I was invited to spend thirty minutes with the class describing what I do during the day while my son is in school. This seemed like an easy assignment. After all, how hard can it be to explain [...]
Lead and They Will Follow
Marcel Lindenbaum
The job description of a congregational rabbi has gone through many permutations in the past 200 years. Jewish communities and their constituencies have changed radically. This has fostered a need for rabbis to relate to new realities. The traditional emphasis on learning and education gave way to an emphasis on communicating – giving effective [...]
Creating Holy Momemnts
Lavey Yitzchak Derby
Some years ago, a member of my congregation stopped by to ask me if I would say a special blessing for her son before he got married. I was delighted and explained to her all the customs surrounding an aufruf, then noticed that I would be on vacation on the shabbat in question. [...]
A Counterforce Against the Seductions of a Perfect Rabbinate
Doreen Seidler-Feller
Twenty-six years ago, I had only a passing acquaintance with what it might mean to be a rebbetzin. Of course I intended to maintain an independent identity as a clinical psychologist, but there was no denying the role induction that had been set in motion by my marriage.
Over the years, I have shared a [...]
How a Holy Community Connects Individuals and Institutions
Tsvi Blanchard
What can we say about working in the con-temporary Jewish community as either a professional or a volunteer? While we live in the interesting times of cultural and intergenerational change, we are today less trusting of institutions – governmental, educational, and religious – and prefer personal associations with family and friends. We want to [...]
