Rest and Renewal
December 10, 2009
Some four thousand years ago, when the concept of Shabbat was first introduced to the world, the Torah tells us that having finished the work of creation, God rested, shavat, and replenished His Soul, va-yi-na-fash. So in keeping with both longstanding wisdom and contractual agreement, the rabbis of our congregation, in the cyclical aftermath of seven years of service, have been afforded the opportunity for sabbatical renewal. Eight years ago, thanks to the generosity of our congregation and its leadership, I was likewise granted such a sabbatical period (although by mutual agreement, it came at the conclusion of my 10th year of service to the Temple).
The years now having passed, beginning this November, I was to have begun another such sabbatical period of renewal and regeneration. However, as I assessed the difficult circumstances faced by so many of our members and families, and recognizing this as a time of both transition and transformation for our Temple, I decided that it was not in the best interests of our congregational community for me to accept the sabbatical period as previously agreed. Instead, I proposed to our leadership that the six months promised to me for spiritual and intellectual growth might be divided into somewhat more modest and manageable segments of two month-long interludes. And so, that is why I will be taking a brief, but most welcomed and appreciated sabbatical spell this January and February.
Looking back some eight years ago, I think back to all I was able to accomplish during that period, and how I tried to make each and every day meaningful. I began my Doctoral Studies at Spertus College with an intensive course on the History of Jewish Spirituality. I attended lectures on Pastoral Therapy at Hebrew College, studied Bible with Elie Wiesel at Boston University, and explored Jewish Mysticism at Brandeis. I also was invited to lecture on Jewish Theology to a gathering of over one hundred Christian ministers in the Midwest, and laid the groundwork of research for two papers that would later be published in national, scholarly journals.
Without a doubt, our congregation was equally the beneficiary of my own, personal learning and spiritual journeys. Upon my return in early 2002 from six months of sabbatical, we began a process of introspection and change that would result in the long overdue and thorough renovation of our patterns of worship, of study, of leadership and of communal outreach, which transformed, all for the better, the very face of our congregation.
So now looking ahead to the next eight weeks, even though the time away will be so much more fleeting, I am confident knowing that once again, my personal rejuvenation will bring seeds of transformation and growth for our congregation as well. I have already laid out a course of study to continue towards the completion of my Doctorate, and I also have a certain number of other goals in place – including becoming more proficient at chanting the nusach – especially Haftarah tropes, and experiencing modes of worship in different synagogue settings.
I know that the weeks will pass quickly — in the blink of an eye, and am grateful to our wonderful congregation for affording me these sabbatical moments. I am already looking forward to sharing with you all that I might learn and discover, as I continue growing intellectually and evolving spiritually as your Rabbi.
