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May 31, 2024 - 24 Iyyar 5784 Parasha Bechukotai: The White Elephant
I hope this correspondence finds you well and enjoying the beginning of the summer season. Please join us this Saturday for Shabbat services, which will take place in our beautiful sanctuary from 10:00 am until noon. As always, the services will be available on our regular Zoom prayer link and followed by a festive Kiddush luncheon. In 1814, Ivan Krylov (1769–1844), poet and fabulist (that’s a good SAT word), wrote a fable entitled "The Inquisitive Man," which tells of a man who goes to a museum and notices all sorts of tiny things yet fails to take notice of an elephant in the room. The phrase became proverbial. In this week’s column, I would like to address our congregation’s White Elephant in the Room, namely, my upcoming transition to a new full-time pulpit in Westchester County. Friends, I have been honored and privileged to be part of this sacred and special community for seven wonderful years. I was first invited some years ago to participate in High Holiday services by Rabbi Shammai Engelmayer and Nadia Massuda. It was such a great mutual experience that shortly thereafter, the leaders of the congregation invited me to participate in the upcoming fall holidays (Sukkoth, Simchat Torah, and Hanukkah). Only one month later, I began working with the Shul every week. And what a treat it has been! Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, we entered the Covid crisis. We went from in-person services and activities to functioning in the new world of Zoom technology. We all scrambled to learn to self-mute, screenshare, and sing softly! I even recall posting some humorous Zoom jokes on the website, which of course, quickly became anything but funny. Nonetheless, we managed by being strong together. After conducting High Holy Day services first online and then in a plastic enclave that looked like the Pope Mobile, we finally returned to Davening like normal people. Thanks to the dedication of our members, we began “coming back.” At first, it was one brave soul, and then two, and now we have a regular cadre of worshippers, who we greet unmasked, without an elbow bump, and without social distancing. I am also proud of the breadth of our Adult Education programming. We have hosted authors, musicians, Hazzanim, Israel experts, and who could forget our series entitled "Irregular Rabbis!" This year, we were blessed to innovate our Shabbat mornings by integrating programming into the context of our services. We started with a series called Young Voices: Today’s Topics, which featured a variety of special guests. Some shared their musical talents (Neshama Carlebach, Josh Sauer of 613, and Cantor Joe) and we enjoyed interviews that gave us insights into issues such as social-media advocacy for Israel, the gaps in the American Disability Act, antisemitism on college campuses, and the history of our Memorial Scroll Trust Czech Sefer Torah. Additionally, we are in the process of reopening our Holocaust museum, which today represents the only such educational center in the country overlooking a vibrant and active, sacred sanctuary. Friends, presently our task at hand is to transition to new clerical leadership. I have worked with our lay leaders to identify excellent candidates from amongst a robust pool of applicants. Some of these rabbis will join us on Shabbat mornings in the coming weeks for an “audition.” They are all personable, intelligent, and well-educated, so I hope you will join us to meet them. Today, we hold interactive, energetic, and spiritually uplifting Shabbat services that are second to none. We share joy, song, Torah, and community. With your participation and attendance, we have made our time together sacred. While I will take with me fond memories and friendships, I want you to continue to build on what we started. With many synagogues facing challenges, CBIOTP is unique in many ways and it must carry the mantle forward as the only home for Conservative Judaism in the area. I know that as a strong and unified community you will partner with the new rabbi to lead the synagogue forward, building upon on our success and moving from strength to strength. We have been blessed in many ways. May the blessings always continue. Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Eric L. Wasser, EdD, Hon DM.
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