In just over a month I will be celebrating 14 years since my rabbinic ordination. It has been an incredible experience, and I am grateful every day for the opportunity to do what I love – to spend my days taking care of the Jewish people and my beloved community, Temple Emanuel. Early in my career I have moved around the world, and so it is only now that I am approaching my first sabbatical – an opportunity to step back from my daily routine, to study and to learn from others, to find new ways to enrich my rabbinate. It is perhaps symbolic that the first act of my sabbatical (to be taken over the course of the next three years) was to attend the biennial conference of the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ). I feel in many ways that I am a poster child for the World Union – it had inspired me to become a Jewish leader when I was a teen, offered me an invaluable Jewish education at Machon (Moscow institute of Jewish studies) where I met my wife Olga, a fellow student who has become my life-long partner in life and work. I was honored to return to the FSU as a rabbi and to continue to serve my movement as best as I could. The WUPJ has seen me grow from a teen with leadership potential into a Jewish professional, and so it was really exciting for me to attend the Connections 2015 in Rio as part of my sabbatical!
Hundreds of people from all over the world, multiple languages spoken. Rabbis, cantors, youth leaders, lay leaders, fellow travelers. People who have supported the WUPJ for years – indeed decades – and brand new faces. Dozens and dozens of attendees from Latin America – Brazil, Argentina, Chile – hosting the WUPJ conference in their part of the world for the very first time. Shabbat services hosted by the ARI synagogue in Rio, a 900-family strong community which so lovingly welcomed us all into their synagogue and their homes for shabbat meals afterwards. A chance to learn about the realities faced by reform and progressive communities all around the globe, a chance to see old friends (including Rabbi Elena Rubinstein from St. Petersburg) and to make new ones. To learn and to teach, to pray together and to laugh. To take in the Copacabana sun and to learn to say ‘obrigato’ to the friendly waiters and taxi drivers. A chance to celebrate this worldwide Jewish community, to thank the outgoing Chair Mike Grabiner (London) for his work, to install the new Chair of WUPJ Carole Sterling (Toronto), to sing and to dance. To be together. It doesn’t happen all that often – but when it does, it is an honor and a privilege to be part of this wonderful gathering.
I am very grateful to my TE community for giving me this opportunity to begin this process of renewal by reconnecting with my roots. As my sabbatical plans continue to take shape, I am excited to know that we are off to a good start!
