General Members Writings

5772

PDF:  Talk for Double Chai Gala

It was June of 1991 and a handful of us were sitting around the Herzig-Marx living room.  We had officially announced that we were starting a new Reconstructionist congregation, so…now what!??  Since we all know that God goes on vacation for July and August, we decided that it made the most sense to launch ourselves with High Holiday services that coming September. 

We scurried to get all our ducks in a row.  Ellie jumped in and  said she could  help with publicity, Jill Volk ( z”l)  offered to help bring in members, Elaine, Judy, Chayim and Dan were able to lead services…. ( I wasn’t quite sure what I could offer but then Elaine turned to me and said very matter of factly, “Cindy you can be in charge of the children”)…and we were off and running.   It became clear we were a resourceful start up group. 

It was both exhilarating and terrifying- could we really do this?  Would anyone come?  I so clearly recall that first summer, having vivid dreams (perhaps they were nightmares) that 10-12 of us would be sitting in the large Brandeis auditorium that Ora Gladstone helped us secure, and there we were, just us in that vacuous space.  Every time someone signed up for tickets, Jill Volk would call me up in Maine to report excitedly- we’re up to 15 people….the next week it was 24…and so on until the holidays arrived and indeed we had a nicely filled room and some of the most inspiring and moving services I have ever participated in. 

Those early days were filled with excitement and uncertainty.  There were a few things we knew:  we knew we wanted to create a full service Reconstructionist congregation- one with a rabbi, a school, regular Shabbat and holiday programs- the whole megllah!    About a year and a half in, we decided to dive in and start our school, beginning with one class and adding a  grade each year.  How fortunate for us that both Elaine Pollack and Jill Volk (z’l”) were seasoned Jewish educators, and with the two of them, Judy Herzig-Marx, Wendy Gedanken and I sat together and developed the blueprint for our school.   That school that is continuing to thrive today under the skillful leadership of Annette Lawson.

One of the other things we knew right from the start, was that we had the support of the Reconstructionist movement based in Philadelphia, so ably led by Rabbi Mordechai Liebling, who I am delighted to have here with us tonight- 21 years later. In his role as executive director of the movement, he provided organizational guidance and direction as we were getting started.

Mordechai guided us through three pivotal moments in our early development.  First, he served as our High Holiday rabbi for our first three years.  His presence on the bimah at Brandeis as we began each new year was formative and was clearly a high point of the year for so many.  Mordechai was also the one who selflessly told us after three years that if we really wanted to grow, we’d fire him as our High Holiday rabbi and get ourselves a student from RRC- someone who would be with us beyond just those few days each year.  For the next three years, student Rabbi Linda Potemken flew out from Philadelphia to join us for High Holidays and for one weekend each month. Linda was a welcome presence and introduced us to some of the resources that having a rabbi would offer us. 

We didn’t have the money to even think about hiring a full time rabbi yet, but we knew that we wanted to get there—we just had no idea how.  Once again, at that pivotal moment, Mordechai guided us to take that next leap.  Coming out to consult with us,  we sat as a large group together in the Alliance room as Mordechai walked us through the steps we’d need to take to be able to hire a full time rabbi.  His wisdom about organizational development coupled with his calm, thoughtful approach empowered us to action.  Talk about empowered- many of us vividly recall that moment when Lissy Medvedow, a relatively new member at the time, practically jumped out of her seat to volunteer  to chair a committee to raise the funds we needed to embark on our rabbinic search. 

In a moment I will turn the mic over to Mordechai.   I want to close with just a few more thoughts.  This occasion has given many of us the opportunity to reflect on where we’ve come from and rejoice in this place we’ve arrived at.  We’re grateful to all of you for coming along on this journey and helping make this dream of 21 years ago a reality. 

In the Talmud it says, “When a person is made leader of a community she becomes rich. (Yoma)  I speak for myself, but I am confident that I also represent the experience of many of my fellow founders and Dorshei Tzedek leaders.  I am a richer person for the experiences that Dorshei Tzedek has afforded me.  I have done things that I never imagined I could do; I took on leadership roles, I learned to leyn Torah, I had an adult Bat Mitzvah, I taught religious school and directed our school for five years…..all things that  terrified  me at some point.  This experience enabled me to rise above those fears and supported me as I learned and grew.

In Pirke Avot we are instructed: “Al tifrosh min hatzibur.  – Don’t separate yourself from the community.” Through my experiences helping to build Dorshei Tzedek, I have come to understand and deeply appreciate that it is not as individuals that we thrive but as members of a community.  I am grateful for these years and wish that everyone in this room experiences, at one time or another,  the joys that building and being part of community can bring.

Todah Rabah!