My Rabbinate is grounded in the following values, which I strive in every situation to model, advocate for, and inspire:
- Autonomy, tradition, & community
- Mind & soul
- Be a Mensch
- Judaism and other influences
- Awe-inspiring tradition
- Commitment to community
- That which is greater than any of us
1) Autonomy must be guided by tradition & community:
I affirm that Jewish decisions in a post-enlightenment era must be made autonomously by each individual. But that freedom of decision-making is accompanied by a responsibility to and reverence for tradition, Jewishly-informed decision making, and communal influence upon the decision.
I take as my responsibility to provide resources for, access to, and guidance in Jewish intellectual and spiritual learning; to ground my advice and recommendations on a continually growing base of personal Jewish knowledge; and to advocate for and work towards a community which is a model of, a safe environment for the exploration of, and inspiration for a meaningful Jewish life
2) Jewish decisions are made through both the mind & the soul:
Faith and reason are not only mutually-compatible, but also essential, enlightening, and simultaneous inspirations for sacred life decisions. Decisions made in holiness are infused both with the rationally-derived free will of humanity and the divinely-inspired guidance of that which is greater than humanity. The rational is supported by Torah (learning). The spiritual is supported by Avodah (worship & sacrifice). The result and goal is G’milut Chassadim (acts of lovingkindness).
I take as my responsibility to ensure both parts of this wholeness are present, visible, and available to me and to my community.
3) Be a mensch
(an always kind and caring person). Period.
4) Judaism is not a part-time matter, though it is also not the only matter:
All aspects of Jews’ lives, Rabbis or otherwise, should be infused with and influenced by Judaism.
I take as my responsibility to assist those people with whom I am privileged to interact discovering how Jewish influences must be intermingled with the other important influences in our lives.
5) Judaism is a glorious, joyous, awe-inspiring tradition which has much to say about how to live a meaningful modern life:
Not enough people know what sanctity Judaism can bring to their lives. Programs of outreach are essential both to Jews and to those whose souls are longing for Judaism. And when people give Judaism a chance in their lives they must encounter Judaism at its core—a beautiful lens by which to focus perspective on life and the world.
I take as my responsibility to ensure that anyone who encounters Judaism catches a glimpse of the sublime nature of its traditions, and is greeted and welcomed with open arms.
6) Commitment to all levels of community:
Jews in general, and I particularly as a Rabbi have responsibility to all levels of community. These communities include me, my family, my congregation, my city, my Jewish community, my local inter-religious community, Reform Judaism, my state, American Judaism, my country, the Jewish people, and the world.
I take as my responsibility to be a positive influence and positive representative of Judaism in each and all of these communities; and to assist others in doing so as well.
7) God is that which is greater than us and inspirational to us:
We have a responsibility to make every moment of our lives better and better until the world is perfected. As Jews, we live in a sacred partnership with that which is greater than us, an entity which we call G-d. G-d imposes expectations on us, and we accept these expectations by considering them our duty to enact in our lives. It is this mutual covenant which guides us to do and be better than we thought possible.
I take as my responsibility to seek and experience, and to inspire others to seek and experience this covenantal connection and the holiness it brings to life.
