Dear Friends,
Being a rabbi is an interesting career choice.
I’m often asked why I decided to become a rabbi.
My answer is that I love to teach, I love to learn, and I love to show people that Judaism can be a meaningful, spiritual, holy part of their lives.
In January it will be five years since I was ordained. My answer was why I went to rabbinical school. It’s still true today.
I wear many hats here at Beth Sholom, like all congregational rabbis.
What do rabbis do all day?
Funerals, weddings, baby naming, sermons, community leadership, counseling, bar/bat mitzvah lessons, fundraising, membership, ritual/halachic questions, prepare sermons and Torah reading for Shabbat and Holidays, attend minyans, adult education, pastoral care – hospital and home visits, leadership development, outreach to the community, rabbi’s messages, and more. Whatever hat I’m wearing at the time, I try to help Judaism be a part of the solution to whatever problem or opportunity presents itself.
Every rabbi is different, of course. We all have strengths and weaknesses, things we enjoy and things we don’t. Many people assume that funerals are the hardest part of my job. They do take time to prepare, and they tend to throw a curveball into my schedule, but I don’t find funerals challenging, most of the time (they’re certainly harder when I have a close personal relationship with the deceased). For me funerals have a beautiful rhythm and holiness to them – I deeply appreciate how Judaism responds to death, and when I chant the El Maleh – the memorial prayer at every funeral, it always moves me.
I’m not sure what the hardest part of the job is – trying to get everything done, and doing my best to keep everyone happy are probably the hardest. If any of you know how to do either of those things, I’m all ears….
What’s the most fun I get to have as a congregational rabbi?
For me, it’s teaching. I love adult education, Starbucks Shabbat, giving sermons, and sharing wisdom. I would do that all day every day if I could.
And for me the ultimate enjoyment is to welcome people into the Jewish tradition.
I’ve been teaching an Introduction to Judaism class this year, and this Sunday we will celebrate the four students who will be converting, as part of our Tikkun Sholom program. From 10-11 we will convene a Beit Din, a Jewish law court made up of three wise members of our community. We’ll hear from each of the conversion students about their Jewish journeys, and then the Beit Din members will have a chance to ask each of them a few questions to ensure that their hearts are in the right place and that they are ready to join the Jewish people. At 11, they will head to the mikvah, while everyone else helps get Beth Sholom ready for the High Holidays with polishing, painting, tzitzit-tying, siddur/machzor switching, and more. At the end of our morning, we’ll come together in the sanctuary to have the kids change the Torah covers into their High Holiday whites, and then each of our new Jews will have a chance to hold a Torah for the first time, and receive their Hebrew names and a few special blessings. At the very end, one of the new Jews will also be remarried in a Jewish wedding ceremony!
It takes tremendous amount of dedication to study through the whole conversion process. I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching the material, and I have learned a great deal from our students. Seeing them encounter Judaism for the first time has allowed me to experience it with new eyes as well. I am humbled and moved by their insights and how hard they’ve worked to reach this occasion.
So my friends, I hope you will join us on Sunday for some holy fun and celebration.
The Beit Din is open to all – we’ll be open for business at 9:30 and the Beit Din part of the program will begin promptly at ten. I’m sure many of you will be moved hearing their stories.
Tomorrow night at 8 pm we’ll also have our annual Selichot program.
Selichot happens the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah, or the previous Saturday night when Rosh Hashanah starts early in the week, as is the case this year. We’ll meet at Beth Sholom at 8 pm to see some delightful short films by Israeli filmmaker Hanan Harchol, which will prompt a discussion about the real meaning – and limits of – forgiveness and repentance. A short Selichot service will follow.
Of course, we’d also love to have you tomorrow morning at our regular Shabbat service.
Lots of wonderful activity at Beth Sholom this weekend and in the weeks and months ahead. Looking forward to having you with us on the holidays very soon.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Ilan
