Hi, everyone! I’m devoting this month’s column to talk a bit about what I’m planning on doing over the first third of my sabbatical. I’ve been serving this community since Bill Clinton was in office, and I’m very grateful to finally have the opportunity to step away, take a step back, and let these next two months provide a broader perspective on these last 28 years as Cantor of this amazing congregation.
My focus this July and August will be exploring different intentional communities, and how they express Jewish joy and Jewish justice. I’m beginning with a week of intensive Torah and Talmud study at S’vara – a “traditionally radical yeshiva” north of San Francisco. This yeshiva centers LGBTQ perspectives, and as the father of a trans son, and someone who seeks to make RSNS as inclusive as possible, I’m hoping this immersion in traditional learning (no English allowed!) with this specific focus will enrich both my Judaic knowledge and my understanding of the Queer, Jewish community. I’m also looking forward to returning for a week as Faculty at Camp Havaya, a place where my kids (along with many fellow RSNS children and teens) grew so much as Jews and as human beings, and where I discovered deep meaning through learning and living Jewishly as a Reconstructionist in the Poconos.
I also intend to visit a different synagogue, havura, or independent minyan each Shabbat this summer, some on Friday nights, some on Saturday mornings, to explore different approaches to singing and worship in a wide range of communities (except for July 24th, when I’ll be jamming with our band at the RSNS Beach Shabbat!). A few of the places on tap: B’nai Jeshurun (BJ), Romemu, Central Synagogue, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST), West End Synagogue, Lab/Shul, Kolot Chayeinu, Kehilat Hadar Shaare Zedek, Minyan Marom, Shir HaMaalot, Romemu Brooklyn, Nolita Minyan, Altshul, and Darkhei Noam.
Some are old favorites, others are brand new to me. Some have friends or classmates as clergy, others are lay-led. Some are Orthodox, some are Left-wing Socialist. All have warm, welcoming communities, fantastic music, and engaged singing! I can’t wait to bring some new melodies and spiritual practices back to RSNS!
I have a few other places I’d love to experience this summer, if I’m lucky enough to get off their waiting lists. One is the Let My People Sing! retreat at Adamah’s Isabella Freedman center. The other is a week of Improv training at the Upright Citizens Brigade, where many SNL cast members got their start! To round out my summer, I’m going to clean out my office (once every twenty years, whether it needs it or not!), try to get a head start on planning programming for next year, and finally learn how to play a dang bar chord on guitar!
I’m so grateful to Rabbi Jodie and Rabbi Lee, Rebecca and Adrienne, Liza and Shahrzad for being such a supportive team, and to our lay leadership for allowing me the opportunity to explore and grow in new and different ways this summer. Even though I won’t miss checking my email or voicemail twenty times a day, I will miss being with all of you. But I’m sure I’ll see plenty of you at the Town Dock, Smusht, Monday night vigils at the train station, or at the beach, trying to wrap my fingers just right to play an F chord.
Wishing you all a joyful, meaningful summer,
Eric
