עֲשֵׂה לְךָ רַב, וּקְנֵה לְךָ חָבֵר
Aseh lekha rav, u’kneh lechah chaver… Pirkei Avot 1:6
Make for yourself a mentor (rabbi), acquire for yourself a friend…
This rabbinic dictum directs each of us to build the relationships that go both horizontally and vertically. When Mishnah urges us to ‘acquire a friend,’ it suggests that we need people to share our lives with, the good and the bad, those who support us, and those who need our love and encouragement in return.
But it opens with ‘aseh lechah rav’ – find yourself a rabbi, a mentor, a teacher – someone to inspire you, to help you look at the world through a different prism, someone to challenge you to grow and develop – as a person and as a Jew.
A few weeks ago we said goodbye to our beloved Rabbi, mentor, and friend – Rabbi Emeritus Jerry Brieger. There were many beautiful words and stories shared at the funeral and shiva, a fitting tribute to Rabbi Jerry’s beautiful soul and the amazing impact he has left on his community of almost 40 years… He was a true friend to many, and he was an inspiring rabbi to many more, imprinting his love of Judaism and music on generations of TE members of all ages. Together with many of you, I have cherished each story, each memory shared, each glimpse of the Jerry we knew and loved – and miss so dearly…
In the days that followed, I have spent much time thinking of ways to honor this humble man who inspired so many. It quickly became apparent that one of the best ways to honor Rabbi Jerry is through music – Jewish music that he loved and shared with all those around him for so many years. I am incredibly excited to tell you that the legendary Kol B’seder, a duo of Cantor Jeff Klepper and Rabbi Dan Freelander, have agreed to honor their teacher and colleague with a special concert in his memory. On November 6th, the eve of what would have been Rabbi Brieger’s 72nd birthday, we will come together to establish a new annual tradition in Rabbi Jerry’s memory – and to sing some of our favorite Jewish melodies.
We will have more details of the event available soon; in the meantime, please save the date and share it with your friends and family.