They say that when someone speaks their last words, these are always the words that people pay attention to. Moses’ last oration at the end of Deuteronomy is one of the moments. You can easily imagine the people inclining their ears wanting to glean every syllable. I’m no Moses, but I am going to take advantage of that phenomenon as I stand before Shir Shalom in my last d’var Torah.
When Stella and I got here last year, we were coming off a moment in our lives that, quite frankly, we would not wish on anyone. We were, in a very real way, grieving the loss of a position I held for 27 years. I was angry and hurt, for obvious reasons. But sometimes the universe just comes together in a mystical way. Call it karma. Call it beshert. Call it mazal. Whatever it was, it brought us here.
After my New Jersey position ended, I interviewed in two fabulous congregations, here and New City, NY. Both had their amazing strengths and uniqueness. But there was something different about Shir Shalom and we couldn’t put our finger on it for the longest time. I have come to understand that there was a chemistry. It still remains undefinable, but it is most definitely there. We sensed immediately that there was something special about this temple. This would not simply be a job, do the work and then leave. This would be the perfect beginning to a new chapter in our lives.
And it has been perfect in more ways than I can recount to you.
Over the course of the past several months, I have been unafraid to say that this year has been a complete joy. It is as if the prophet Jeremiah wrote his words directly to me and Stella when he said, וְהָפַכְתִּ֨י אֶבְלָ֤ם לְשָׂשֹׂון֙ – And I will turn your sorrow into joy! Like any new adventure, we were apprehensive about starting a new phase of my and her career but all apprehension disappeared almost immediately once we started to dive deep into Shir Shalom.
This Shabbat, though, marks the end of this moment of joy as your interim rabbi but will not mark a moments of joy for the memories of Shir Shalom that we take with us into the future. Shir Shalom will always be a treasured memory. Still, the life of this temple has to move forward.
You are now ready for your new leader, Rabbi Bess Wohlner. With her, you will continue to grow and be challenged, learn and teach, and grow even closer as a community. For the past year, I have brought you my Torah and in the coming years, she will bring your hers. She will lead with her wisdom and compassion and insight and be an advocate for Reform Judaism in Gainesville.
But I need to say that the new rabbi is only a leader if people learn with her, pray with her, teach with her, learn with her, and participate with her. A rabbi is a person that takes you with to new places, not someone who does for you. What this means is that the temple that we have today may have been led by Stella and me, but not just us. We may have led but we could not have done it by ourselves. Every one of you was willing to participate in this transformative year, not a year of transition but of real transformation.
Knowing that, I must acknowledge the extraordinary board and executive committee and the committees of dedicated and brilliant congregants who create the environment to thrive as Reform Jews. And to those who work behind the scenes, not wanting credit, they are also the pillars of this holy place. Shir Shalom is fortunate to have so many true leaders and you have responded with your participation, love, and dedication to Shir Shalom. Now your task is to continue to build with Rabbi Wohlner. As Pirke Avot says, הַיּוֹם קָצָר וְהַמְּלָאכָה מְרֻבָּה, וְהַפּוֹעֲלִים עֲצֵלִים, וְהַשָּׂכָר הַרְבֵּה, וּבַעַל הַבַּיִת דּוֹחֵק:
The day is short, and the work is plentiful, and the laborers are lazy, and the reward is great, and the master of the house is insistent.
To me, this means that there is no end-point of what Shir Shalom is or can be. Rather the work to build, attract new members with creativity and love, warmth and enthusiasm, and to fill Shir Shalom with joy is an ongoing task.
And we have such enthusiasm and creativity by the barrelful! I mean, how many Yom Kippur services exist in this country that can claim a euphonium, a drum, violin, and piano? How many Shabbat services can claim a violin, at least one guitar, and terrific volunteer voices? And if you have ever been to an event here, you have sensed something special: you have sensed real community.
One of the gifts of Shir Shalom that you must treasure and jealously guard is the joy that you have when you are all together. Keep singing loudly during services and, as the Psalmist says, שִֽׁירוּ־לֹ֖וa שִׁ֣יר חָדָ֑שׁ – sing unto God a new song. Keep sharing your lives with one another and with Rabbi Bess. Let her into your lives the way you have let me and Stella in. Laugh together. Comfort each other in sorrow. Share the joys of simchas together. And, for God’s sake, don’t turn the air conditioner off and leave the building at 77º overnight!
I debated whether or not to thank individuals because when that happens, I will inevitably forget someone. But I will break my rule a bit tonight because I want you to know how much these people have helped us to transform Shir Shalom this year.
In no particular order, Gracie, who has been a pivotal part of this temple and has guided me every step of the way. She knows everything and everyone and I have depended on her in so many ways.
There are the myriads of committees that deserve to be recognized, too. You may not know all of them but they deserve to be recognized for the incredible work they do. This includes the Green Team, the gardeners of our beautiful grounds, those who show up with leaf blowers and shovels to clean up, those who recycle the plastic and contribute to a better world, the Religious School committee, the treasurer and Finance committee, the Membership committee, Jaime’s incredible eShofars and website, Social Action, the new Building Committee, Budget, Fundraising, Nominating, Safety, the Seder Committee, the Purim Committee, the Cemetery Committee the Strategic Projects Committee, and, of course, the Sisterhood Plus which is an anchor of Shir Shalom. This temple is solid because of everyone’s commitment to it.
Of course, I must thank the musicians who have been on this bima throughout the year. Paul Richards, of course. Danielle and Danielle on the High Holidays. The High Holiday readers and Torah readers. And almost without fail, and completely out of the kindness of their hearts and with love for the temple, every Shabbat, Raf, Sonya, JT, Kim, Sam, Dori and Gidon help to create at atmosphere of Oneg Shabbat, a joy of Shabbat through music and sharing their talents with us all. I am profoundly grateful.
When a rabbi first comes to a temple, the first contact is usually the ritual committee. Under Toby’s leadership, the ritual committee has been instrumental in helping me navigate the minhagim and traditions of Shir Shalom. The committee trusted me and gave me so much latitude in services – everything from restructuring the physical bima to the varieties of services, Torah study, and even the humor that occupies the bima. They have given me guidance and advice and, because of their commitment to the spiritual temperature of Shir Shalom, they have my deep gratitude.
The board of trustees of Shir Shalom is a group of devoted and dedicated members who have sustained this temple, led it with dedication and love, have supervised the search for two rabbis in two years, cared for the temple finances, and work to make this place something special. They are all very special.
And to the very special Rabbi Search Committee shepherded by Ann and Jonah, I offer the deepest thanks and appreciation. The intensity and focus of their challenging work in finding a new rabbi for us has been a long road and their results will be felt for years to come.
And I must acknowledge and give heartfelt thanks to the so many people who worship every week with us; to the members of my Adult Hebrew class who went from zero to prayerbook reading and comprehension in 7 months; to the members of my Talmud class who were awake and alive and learning Torah at 8 am every Sunday morning; to my New Testament class who, because of their questions and curiosity helped me to teach all of about 80 pages of our 285 page book! And to the teachers who teach your children who deserve special thanks and that, too, comes from my heart.
And, of course, I need to acknowledge Yale, our president. Only other temple presidents know what temple presidents do! It is a tough job and takes a certain kind of person to be able to lead a congregation. Yale has done a magnificent job both as a partner to me as the rabbi and to Stella as the Religious School director.
Finally, there is one more person who was the foundation of everything I tried to do. Of course, I am speaking about Stella whose work in the Religious School was legend and will be talked about for years to come. But also her work behind the curtain as my favorite booster, my sounding board, my critic and constant presence throughout this year. Any success that you think I contributed to Shir Shalom this year is not mine alone – it belongs equally, if not more so, to Stella.
Tomorrow, though, begins a new future. The building continues, but not under my guidance. Yes, Shir Shalom will always have a very special place in our hearts and it seems more than a bit certain that we will visit from time to time. We will always be connected to this temple and it will remain a part of us for the rest of our lives. But our formal time here is coming to an end. The task to continue building and thriving must come from each of you. Do not simply see Shir Shalom as a commodity to consume but rather a place to make holy with your support, your presence, and your love. For a temple build on love will never fail. And there is a lot of love at Shir Shalom
