Blog – Page 27 – Temple Emanuel of Greater New Haven

Jodi Harris, Religious School Director

I was born in New Haven and moved to Bloomfield CT as a baby, where I attended Yeshiva of Hartford before attending public schools. My socially progressive parents and Orthodox grandparents helped shape my Jewish
identity and I embraced the concept of Tikkun Olam at a very early age. I received a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Connecticut College, but the pull of Boston’s big business in the Reagan era caused me to abandon
the idea of social work. Once I was back in Connecticut raising my family, I became very involved in volunteering not only for Temple Beth David, but also for numerous “good works” in the area. I taught religious school at Beth David for 13 years, serving as its president during a rabbinic transition. In 2013, I was accepted into the Master’s of Jewish Education on-line program at Hebrew College in Newton Centre MA as a Legacy Heritage Fellow and expect to receive my degree next spring. Before accepting these exciting roles as Religious School Director at TE and TBD, I worked full-time with children with autism in the public schools. I have a passion for finding ways for all students to achieve and believe that our Temple communities can provide all of our children with rich and meaningful Jewish experiences which will in turn help them make their own Jewish journeys.

I am the proud parent of William, a recent law school grad about to take a job at a firm in NYC, and Natalie, a rising senior at Georgetown, currently in Israel for the summer seeking ways to reach peace through cultural awareness. When I am not working, my greatest joy is spending
time with my friends and family, escaping to the coast of Maine, cooking, working out and enjoying a novel or two. I am looking forward to meeting everyone at TE and learning with you all!

July 16 update

The walls have been primed and are in the process of being painted!

library and new classroom - view from corridor — library and new classroom – view from corridor

The doors have arrived! July 9 update.

A glass block window in the new education office

The new door into the education/office wing has arrived!

Shabbat on the beach – July 31 at 7pm

Our ‘Shabbat under the stars’ services are always a great opportunity to enjoy the beautiful TE grounds and be outside. This year, we continue the wonderful new tradition that began last summer: Shabbat on the beach! On July 31 at 7pm head over to the Walnut Beach in Milford (113 E Broadway, Milford, CT 06460) – don’t forget a beach blanket or a chair, and bug repellent just in case! We will sing together and greet shabbat by the water. Please spread the word and invite your family and friends to join us!

June 26 update

The drywall is complete, commencing the taping!

June 25 update – soundproofing done!

June 22 – Gas line installed!

The walkway installed, new HVAC is in place!

June 9 update

The gutters have been installed, and all the preparations were made for concrete walkway installation.

Am Israel Chai…

aliya - rabbis — an aliya to the Torah for the Rabbis and other professionals serving congregations world-wide

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!

ARI shabbat service — beautiful sun-lit sanctuary of ARI synagogue

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.

Shabbat dinner with Karen, Marcello and Alan Rochlin of ARI

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!