I wish my daily life as a congregational rabbi were filled with study, learning, and teaching. This is what rabbis did historically. But contemporary Jewish life demands so much more of our rabbis. We are indeed teachers, but community building, administration, and fundraising demands often keep us in front of spreadsheets and not ancient texts. This is especially true of rabbis who work in small congregations like Kol Ami. Keeping the day-to-day operations, including but not limited to setting up and cleaning up, managing employees, and budgeting, have kept me away from the kind of teaching, learning, and writing I long to do as a rabbi.
Last year, I stepped back from teaching and my own learning to invest in other aspects of our community's life. This was a mistake, both for my own personal sense of well-being and the well-being of our community. And this year, I am making a change. With the support of Kol Ami's leadership, I am shifting my time and energies back to the core of who I am and what I do. Rabbi means teacher, and this is my purpose.
This summer, Kol Ami made some bold moves to lessen the administrative burden by engaging in an accounting firm that specializes in serving synagogues and revamping our use of our database to serve the community better. I hope you will notice the changes in the year ahead. They are all for the better. We are hiring a new administrator (J. J. decided to find a new job offering benefits) and a facilities and programs coordinator. I will be back in the classroom on Shabbat mornings, teaching and leading our Bnai Mitzvah program, and I will offer multiple weekly Zoom classes for our teen and adult learners.
Every Shabbat is an opportunity to teach and provide spiritual leadership for our community. I will strive to make the most of every Shabbat. I manage my time every week so that Friday nights and Saturday mornings are when I am on my A game! Our members and guests deserve the best from their rabbi.
Jewish learning enlivens the soul. It is the special sauce that makes Judaism a positive force in an individual's life. It is not just the learning but also the thinking, processing, and discussions that are life-giving. I hope every interaction with Kol Ami is an opportunity to grow and learn as a human and Jew. For our members, these classes are all free. For Kol Amu guests, many courses are free, but we charge for a special limited series to sustain our small but growing synagogue.
Accessible learning, inclusive learning, engaging learning. Seeking guidance and wisdom from our ancestors is a core purpose of our community. I hope you will give some of our courses a try, especially if you have never engaged in Jewish education as an adult.
Our new courses are this month-August. We offer a weekly program on Wednesdays (Torah study lunch and learn) and Sundays (Jews in the News-current events and conversation). Mid-month, we will bring a new series of learnings in the mystical and spiritual realms to prepare ourselves for the high holidays. We will continue our Shabbat Torah study once our religious school programs begin in September. And, of course, I prepare unique teachings to offer during services every Shabbat.
We will also offer a course in the history of Israel and Zionism and a beginning Hebrew class later this year.
Jews in the News
Discussion sessions about news in the Jewish world, with a particular emphasis on Israel and Antisemitism. Bring a cup of coffee, and let's get into it! Sundays at 10 am. Email me at rabbikinberg@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
Weekly Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Kinberg: Torah
Explore and dive deep into the Torah. Study the weekly portion with Rabbi Kinberg. Questions encouraged! Biblical Hebrew word of the week! Opportunities to share and grow in the Jewish community. Wednesdays at noon on Zoom!
Mussar, Mysticism, & Meeting the Moment of Renewal at the High Holiday Season
Personal spirituality and transformation through Jewish wisdom and ritual: culminating Mikvah or Naming ceremony optional as part of this program. Sign up and pay one time, but must attend all classes. Thursday nights starting 8/15 at 7 pm.
Register here: https://www.kolaminw.org/events-1/mussar-mysticism-meeting-the-moment-of-renewal-at-the-high-holiday-season-2024-08-15-19-00
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