Image: Nine Jews demonstrating against Trump’s racism. Three people in this photo are rabbis – can you tell which ones? Photo courtesy of Bend the Arc, a great social justice organization.
If you say “rabbi” to most people, the image that comes up is a bearded man. I don’t look like that rabbi.
Actually, I look like my grandmother: Irish-American, round, soft, motherly, maybe grandmotherly. My haircut (a buzz cut) disrupts the effect a bit, but it doesn’t make me look more like that mental image of a rabbi. I usually wear a hat, which might be a kippah (looks like a rabbi) or an A’s baseball cap (not so much.)
As a result, I often surprise people; I’m a stealth rabbi. “What do you do?” someone will say to me, as Americans do, and I will reply, “I’m a rabbi.” If they identify as Jewish, this may produce a panicked response:
“Oh! I’m Jewish. Well, I’m a bagels and cream cheese Jew, you know, not religious. Seinfeld. …” And then they will tell me why they haven’t been to synagogue, or what’s wrong with synagogue, or who drove them from synagogue… I listen. Usually it’s a long speech.
They think I’m going to pass judgment upon them, and I’m not. Depending on the story, I’m sad that Jewish community didn’t work out for them, or appalled at what drove them away. Mostly, I’m sad that they have no idea what Judaism is for; their Jewish identity is a ball and chain they drag along through life.
What I’d like to say to them, if we had longer for a real conversation, is this:
I’m not here to judge you. As a rabbi, it’s true, I sometimes function as a judge, but only in very limited situations. Mostly I’m a teacher, because learning is at the heart of Jewish life. So relax: I’m harmless!
Would you like to take that ball and chain, and turn it into something a little easier to carry around? Maybe into a walking stick, something to support you when you are tired and afraid? Or maybe into a beautiful box of treasures, an inheritance of marvels?
All you need to do is open your mind and heart to learn. You pick the topic: what’s bugging you about life? There’s are several Jewish approaches to it, I promise you. Or, if you are really adventurous, what about Judaism bothers you? Let’s look critically at the tradition, and find new bits of it. Let’s debate! Let’s play with it, have a good time!
There’s the wide world of social justice work that Jews have been doing forever. There are great organizations just waiting for you. Whatever is your passion, you can pursue it as a Jew, with other Jews, amplified far beyond your social media or letter to the editor. You can tap into the riches of the tradition to support you in that work, too.
If food really is at the heart of Jewish identity for you, let’s look at that. There’s more than bagels out there for you to enjoy. There’s the myriad of Ashkenazi and Sephardic cuisines, and Middle Eastern food. There are chef/scholars like Michael Twitty, who explores the places where African and Southern and Jewish foods intersect. There’s Tami Weiser, who will give you beautiful recipes and invite you to think about them.
My role as a rabbi is to be a resource. I have spent years cramming my head and heart full of Torah, and learning the sources so that I can make them available to you. Some rabbis, congregational rabbis, create and maintain environments where Jews can be Jews – where you can be Jewish. Not all those environments are like the synagogue you remember. Some rabbis are chaplains, committed to hanging in there with people who are suffering. I’m a teaching rabbi: I am here to help you learn.
And yes, we’ll have bagels.
Fabulous commentary on Rabbi! Wish the Rabbi of my youth was like you! Shalom.
Sheila, I appreciate your readership very much.
I belong to two different synagogues and attend another on occasion. At one the rabbi is a young married woman (heterosexual) with three children and an amazing supportive husband. At the other, the rabbi is an older divorced, childless man who grew up in an Orthodox shul, is open and welcoming to all, at the same time he shares his stories of his bubbe and zayde and tries to teach us some Yiddish. The third is led by an exciting and dynamic gay rabbi and her wife. I call them all Rabbi. How lucky am I??? Heartfelt thanks to you and all those whose courage and commitment has given so much important diversity to this amazing tribe!!
My goodness! You do indeed have an assortment of rabbis! Thank you for reading and commenting.
This is a wonderful post, Rabbi, with many important points! I wish more people saw Judaism as a treasure that can help them navigate life, rather than as a set of rules that they drag like a ball-and-chain, begrudgingly. There is so much wisdom and beauty in Judaism, but like anything worth having…we have to work a little to get the benefit!! jen
You’ve just reminded me of a mishnah, Jen, which will be the topic of a future post. Thank you for your readership and your wonderful comments!
I look forward to that post!
Loved the post. It’s very appropriate for many communities looking to find the unaffiliated Jews in town. So nu? Who are the other 2 Rabbi’s besides you?
Rabbi Harry Manhoff is on the far right (maybe the only time any one has ever described him that way.) And third from the right is Rabbi Mike Rothbaum.
Rabbi Adar, I like that we can find such a variety of rabbinic guides on line to augment our congregational experience. No one person can be everything to each person and keep their sanity 🙂 Thank you for all the time you put into your blog, education articles and outreach. May those who don’t know how hungry they are for jewels of judaism find you. I am trying to learn more thru Coursera’s holocaust, Modern Israel and Middle East classes.
That’s wonderful, Meredith! If ever you feel like writing up a review of their classes, let me know and let’s talk about a guest blog.
Fantastic … and “funtastic” as well!