by Rabbi Judy Shanks
from the February 2008 Ruach
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Perachiah said: “Find yourself a teacher/rabbi, and thereby acquire a friend.” – Ethics of the Fathers 1:6
In late December and early January, I had the opportunity to attend two conferences: the Biennial of the Union of Reform Judaism (URJ) and the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis. These gatherings allow me to talk with colleagues and synagogue leaders from across the country, catch up on friendships, hear the latest ideas for worship, education, outreach, social justice initiatives, and all other parts of synagogue life. I was delighted that Temple Isaiah had close to 30 delegates to the URJ/WRJ (Women of Reform Judaism); we all came back energized with suggestions to infuse into the life of Temple Isaiah. Stay tuned!
This year, I also used the conventions as an opportunity to let the Reform Jewish leadership know we would be searching for a new Director of Education. It will be very hard for all of us, and for our leadership team here at Isaiah, to see Debbie move on to other life adventures, though we are happy for her and wish her every blessing. As I spoke to others, rabbis and lay leaders, about our synagogue leadership-team model, I was reminded again of how unusual is our approach. I heard comments like: “You say it’s a team, but one person really makes the final decision, right?” “Who’s really in charge?” “How does it really work?”
For sixteen years, Rabbi Graetz and I have worked together as partners to provide rabbinic leadership to this community. During those years we moved, slowly, into a non-hierarchical model; and a few years ago at a congregational meeting, you voted to formalize our status as Co-Rabbis. Formally and informally, we have realized the wisdom of Rabbi Perachiah’s statement from Pirke Avot quoted above. Our partnership has enabled us to teach each other, learn from each other, and together and individually become better rabbis and leaders for you.
But it is not a two-person team. With Cantor Korn and Rabbi Forrest, we function as a clergy team, making decisions together about the ritual life of our community, worship and life cycle events, holy day celebrations and learning programs. And, of course, our leadership team expands once again, to include the voices, expertise and talents of our Executive Director, Michael Liepman, our Education Director, Debbie Enelow, our Adult Program Coordinator, Mary Anne Winig, our Gan Ilan Director, Denise Moyes-Schnur, our Youth Services Director, Deb Phillips, and our Youth Advisor, Alli Darrow. Each person has an arena of expertise; each has an equal voice in planning, teaching, learning one from the other. “How does it really work?” It works because we respect each other’s skills and listen to each other’s ideas. It works because we jump in and help each other, spell each other, compliment and critique each other, with trust and respect and affection. It works because we are rabbis, teachers and students, one for the other.
But it is not a ten-person team either. The model of partnership, of covenant, extends in ever-widening circles to our lay leadership and to each and every one of you in our Temple Isaiah community. Our Board officers and directors sign a covenant when they are elected, a covenant to learn with us, to teach us from their talents, to share generously from their time and resources to fulfill our mission as leaders of a community committed to God, Torah, and the performance of mitzvot. Our hope, prayer, and expectation is that becoming a member of Temple Isaiah is also an entrance into a brit, a partnership, to learn with us, grow with us, enrich your lives through the deep meanings of Judaism’s rich heritage and vibrant future.
When God called to Abraham and Sarah to leave their homeland and enter into a brit, a covenant, a partnership with the Holy One, they answered hineinu – “here we are.” We are blessed, at Temple Isaiah, to have opportunities each day to ask and answer, to teach and learn, together, on the same supportive team. May we always go together, from strength to strength, in goodness and holiness.
Back