A Rediscovery Moment

One of the primary reasons I entered the Jewish professional world, and ultimately chose the rabbinate, was to share my passion for Judaism and Jewish life with others.  From a very young age, I loved being Jewish.  I had a great rabbi who was engaging and clearly passionate about his role in the lives of his congregation and greater community.  I was active in youth group and Jewish camping, and in college I switched hats and became a youth group advisor, religious school teacher and camp counselor.  It was a natural fit, and I loved facilitating positive Jewish experiences for the next generation of Jews.

Clearly, I made it into a career.  But because there are so many other elements of this job, some equally as wonderful, and others not nearly as pleasant, there are times when I need to step back and reflect upon why I chose this path, and what I am doing to fulfill my needs.

This past Sunday was one of those rediscovery moments.  My wife, three children, and I drove up to Great Barrington, MA to attend new camper orientation at Eisner – one of our regional URJ camps.  My 10 year old, Daphne, will be a first time camper this summer.  She is so nervous to go away, since she has never really spent any real time away from both of her parents.

We arrived.  We broke up into age and session groups with other families.  We toured the camp together.  Then Daphne went off with her peers and some counselors while Shara, Zoe, Jason and I convened in a room with all the other parents and siblings not attending camp for some Q&A. 

By the time we picked up Daphne and it was time to go home, Daphne had made a friend that she intends to bunk with during the three weeks she will be at Eisner.  She was excited for the summer, and much less nervous.  And even Zoe and Jason were excited to get to go back and spend a week there with me during the time I’ve committed to be a rabbinic faculty member.

Being back at camp, and introducing my children to the magical world of Jewish (overnight) camping, reminded me of the impact certain experiences have upon the lives of young people.  I began to reflect upon the students who I work with towards B’nai Mitzvah, the Confirmation students I am meeting with as we prepare for their service next week, the youth group kids who always have a great time at their functions, the nursery and religious school kids I see regularly before, during and after class, and the kids we honored this past Friday night for being a part of the Jr. Choir.  And I took a deep breath…and I smiled.

As most people who know me can attest, to varying degrees, my calling to the rabbinate, and my current post as rabbi of The Reform Temple of Rockland (formerly Temple Beth El of Rockland County) is challenging and filled with demands…which is why I need to constantly remind myself of the impact that I can make upon others, youth and mature alike: inspiring others, like my rabbi…and my teachers, and youth advisors, and camp counselors inspired me, to love being Jewish.  I can live with all of the mishegas as long as I cling to the big picture and what it all means.

Senate News Conference -- 4/30/14

Here is the recording of the Rockland Clergy for Social Justice press conference at the State Capitol building in Albany on April 30, 2014.  My remarks begin at about the 19:08 mark, though the entire recording is worth watching.

Rockland Clergy for Social Justice Meeting with New York State Leaders, Albany April 30, 2014

Many of you know that I recently joined and quickly became very intimately involved with the Rockland Clergy for Social Justice, of which I am now a founding member.  Yesterday, 28 of our members traveled to Albany on behalf of East Ramapo’s public children and their families. Christians, Muslims and Jews were one in their purpose, determination and resolution. It was a day to remember, and to serve as a template.

The following is a copy of our petition that we presented to our friends in Albany:

Petition

Rockland Clergy for Social Justice

New York State Intervention in East Ramapo Public Schools

          Governor Andrew Cuomo                      Senator Jeffrey Klein
          Speaker Sheldon Silver                         Senator Andre Stewart Cousins
          Commissioner John King                       Attorney General Schneiderman
          Senator Dean Skelos                             Chancellor Meryl Tisch
          Comptroller Thomas Di Napoli                        

As leaders of Rockland County houses of worship, we appeal to you to respond to the extraordinary disruption of education services to children in East Ramapo public schools (90 percent of whom are children of color). The disruption is a result of the dysfunctional system of governance of the East Ramapo Central School District. Please note that clergy and other leaders of houses of worship of communities adjacent to Rockland County are aware of this tragedy and support this appeal.  We call on you to

1) Authorize immediate fiscal and administrative oversight of the East Ramapo Central School District concerning expenditures, budgets and financial and administrative policies; and to

2) Revise the structure, governance and financing of the East Ramapo Central School District, and school districts similar to East Ramapo, in order to ensure that public school students have access to basic educational opportunities and resources as stipulated in New York State’s Constitution.

 
Though I plan to write a first hand account of my experiences over the next couple of days, I feel that it is important to get the word out immediately.  The following "briefing" of our day is described below, authored by Oscar Cohen, who serves the Spring Valley NAACP, was critical to the forming of our group, leading the charge on this issue, and putting together this unforgettable and absolutely amazing experience, and is a class-A mensch:
 

Twenty eight members of Rockland Clergy for Social Justice traveled to Albany on Wednesday, April 30, 2014 to meet with New York State leaders. Members included:

1.       Pastor Carl Johnson

2.       Trustee Yusuf Quinn

3.       Trustee Azeem Farooki

4.       Reverend Weldon McWilliams IV Ph.D.

5.       Rabbi Adam Baldachin

6.       Rabbi Ari Hart

7.       Rabbi Paula Drill

8.       Pastor Melvin Mungin

9.       Pastor Joel Michel

10.   Pastor Darwin Abraham

11.   Pastor Matt Poterbin

12.   Rabbi Jeremy Ruberg

13.   Elder Frances Blauvelt

14.   Rabbi Paul Kurland

15.   Rabbi Michael Churgel

16.   Trustee Ray Verhoef

17.   NAACP Paul Adler

18.   NAACP Oscar Cohen

19.   Grace Point Gospel Fellowship, Micheal Miller

20.   NAACP Ouida Foster Toutebon

21.   Elder Ed Ilarraza

22.   Pastor Gabriel Zamora

23.   Pastor Jacques Michel

24.   Trustee Faseeh Uddin

25.   Rabbinical Intern Ariella Rosen

26.   NAACP Willie Trotman

27.   NAACP Beth Brown

28.   Pastor Jacques Michel

 

      Meetings were held with Secretary to Governor Cuomo, Larry Schwartz, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffe, Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, Assemblyman James Skoufis, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, majority leader of the Democratic Conference, Senator Dean Skelos, Co-Leader Republic Conference, Senator Jeffrey Klein, Co-Leader Independent Democratic Coalition, Senator David Carlucci, Senator John Flanagan, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee.

     Respective meetings started with a prayer by a minister, rabbi or representative of a Rockland mosque. A consistent theme to the prayers was their emphasis on the education, caring and nurturing of children. Clergy represented a range of Christian, Muslim and Jewish groups, including Reform, Conservative and Orthodox rabbis.

     Clergy did not ask for additional state funds. Instead, discussion focused on the dysfunctional nature of the East Ramapo public education system reflected by the elimination/reduction of  educational and extra-curricular requirements, which have been significantly  greater than any other Rockland school districts; lowest high school graduation rates, English and math test scores in Rockland; millions of dollars in legal costs defending the board against parent complaints and violations of state education requirements brought by New York State Education Department; and having a board whose values and preferences are directly opposed to public schools in favor of segregated, religious  schools for their children.

     Clergy presented Secretary Schwartz, Senators Stewart-Cousins, Klein, Skelos, Flanagan and Carlucci, Assembly Representatives Jaffe, Zebrowski and Speaker Silver with copies of the Rockland Clergy for Social Justice petition of over 1000 signatures calling for the Governor and legislative leaders to provide immediate financial and governance oversight to the district and to revise the governance model of how public education is provided to children in the East Ramapo district, i.e. changing the current construct of how education is provided to East Ramapo’s public school children.

     In addition to the petition, officials were given background material describing the East Ramapo situation.

     Senators expressed surprise that their bill providing $3.5 million in “spin up” funds specifically to East Ramapo was refused by the East Ramapo board due to the requirement for oversight over how those are to be used. Senate and Assembly representatives indicated that East Ramapo’s current requests for additional state monies were unfounded given that East Ramapo has been given higher state aid increases than other districts.

     Rabbi Ari Hart indicated that Uri L’Tzedek, a national organization of Orthodox rabbis and persons committed to social justice, has joined the efforts of Rockland Clergy for Social Justice. Rabbi Michael Churgel of Temple Beth El, Spring Valley read a statement from Rabbi David Saperstein, president of Washington-based Religious Action Center (RAC)

     “We are deeply concerned by the current situation in the East Ramapo School District that is inhibiting public school students from achieving their full potential. We cannot allow the public schools to be weakened, denying this or future generations of students the same opportunities we and others have had. We encourage the state to intervene as necessary to ensure that public educational opportunities are provided for all students in East Ramapo and beyond.”

     Secretary Schwartz, Senators Stewart-Cousins, Klein, Skelos and Flanagan and Assembly Speaker Silver commended the assistance, passion and commitment of East Ramapo’s local representatives Jaffe, Zebrowski, Skoufis and Carlucci in working to resolve the dysfunctional state of the East Ramapo public school situation.

     The state officials indicated they were alarmed over the disruption of education to East Ramapo public school students, would seriously consider the petition submitted by Rockland Clergy for Social Justice and provide feedback in a timely manner.

     A prayer vigil was conducted which was recorded by the Capitol Media Office.  Speakers included:  Reverend Weldon McWilliams, IV Ph.D., Rabbi Adam Baldachin, Rabbi Ari Hart, Pastor Joel Michel, Trustee Azeem Farooki, Rabbi Paula Mack-Drill, Rabbi Michael Churgel, RJE.

Next steps include:

1.  Meet with Chancellor Meryl Tisch, Commissioner John King, and Regents Lester Young and Harry Phillips in a Rockland house of worship (TBD) likely in early June.

2. Encourage phone calls and written letters to Representatives Jaffe, Zebrowski, and Carlucci, thanking them for support for the children attending East Ramapo public schools

                                Assemblywoman Jaffe, 845 624-4601

                                Assemblyman Zebrowski, 845 634-9791

                                Senator Carlucci, 845 623-3627

3. Congregational visits to Albany

Heeding my own sermonic advice

On Rosh Hashanah morning I presented a very lengthy sermon where I encouraged my congregants to take a leap and try something new.  Using my first experience jumping off a 10 meter diving platform as the metaphor, I offered the idea that during this new year, each one of us should take a leap of faith, incur some risk, and make a change of some sort.  Though I have many things in mind for myself to try or reinsert into my life this year, I thought that starting this blog might be one of these "new ventures" that I pursue.

Back in high school and throughout my years of college and for a few years into my early twenties, I was a prolific journal writer.  I believe that I still have the volumes that I wrote in a box either somewhere in my basement or in the garage.  Over the years that I practiced the art of journaling, I found it very cathartic to give myself the opportunity to record and reflect upon my experiences.  For a long while I kept a daily account of my comings and goings.  After a while, I believe I became less concerned with the minutia, and I learned to focus on the more important and/or significant events in my life. 

Let's face it, trying to keep up with every detail of our lives and record them all is overwhelmingly time consuming.  As a husband, the father of three young children, and the rabbi of a congregation, I find that I have very little time to myself.  During the time that I do have, I tend to watch a little television, play a quick game on my phone, read the newspaper, a magazine, or even occasionally a book.  Or I find myself bogged down with domestic duties like paying bills, running errands, and the other mundane activities that most adults must entertain.

But I am determined to make this work.  I have a need to do this for me - to record and recount and reflect; and I believe I have a need to challenge myself to write more often, to reflect up what I do and say, and possibly extract some of these ideas and form them into sermonettes, stories, and other tools that I can use "on the job."

My sermons over this year's High Holy Days were highly personal.  Three of them reflected directly upon stories from my personal life.  Surprisingly, (or perhaps not as surprisingly as I initially thought,) most people seemed to really appreciate being brought into my life, as it enabled them to connect with me on yet another level.

Isn't that what life is all about?  Connections are so important.  For many years I was very guarded with certain details of my life.  And to an extent I still am.  But I've come to realize that the more I share, the more some people are able to connect, attain a greater level of comfort with me (their rabbi), and form that deeper relationship that I always desire. 

Of course there are those that still want to see their rabbi as "other," literally and figuratively up there on the bimah, just out of reach, not quite as fallible as the rest... a tough image to live up to for anyone, and often disappointing when the congregant eventually learns the truth that their rabbi...all rabbis are human beings with flaws, feelings, and the same challenges that everyone else faces.

So I am starting this blog to share with those who are interested.  I don't know how often or what I will write, but my intentions are good and clear.

May this continue to be a year where push/challenge myself to step out of my realm of comfort, take risks, and work to make myself and those that I serve better.

Keyn yehi ratzon!