SPIRITUAL LEADER'S MONTHLY MESSAGE

Some Insight into My Life
Avrum Rosensweig

Now, most people would advise a new spiritual leader to express great amounts of rabbinical confidence - chest puffed out and all - in his/her work, especially in the very beginning of the job. The suggestion is a wise one, as clearly it gives the spiritual leader's bosses and congregants a sense of satisfaction in their hiring decision.

I come from a different school however that says, the more honesty I reveal, the less trouble I can get into and ultimately the greater trust and enjoyment between us.

To this end, I feel comfortable sharing with you that I was quite nervous heading into my first Bar Mitzvah and 'shivah release'. Yes, I was born into a rabbinical home (my father was the rabbi in Kitchener for 37 years) and therefore it is appropriate to say that 'spiritual leadership' is in my blood. But there is a vast difference between watching my father console a family and actually doing it myself.

But all of a sudden, there I was, sitting across from a family who had buried their mother only a week prior, were searching for words of comfort from me, an attentive ear and a shoulder to proverbially place their heads on. I took a deep breath before entering the family's home and in my head reminded myself that: I am a good listener and have faced many of life's challenges along my own journey. Other not so compassionate voices challenged the 'good voice', but in the end, the optimistic one won out, and we all did just fine.

It would seem that growing up under the tutelage of a rabbi and learning from him through osmosis paid off. In fact, I have started to realize that so much of what I have done through my career, interaction with my family and community - has trained me for these moments.

This is very exciting. It is because having the chance to play a role in many people's lives, either through their Bar/Bat Mitzvot, Friday night services or even some sad services, is a true honour. Not only am I in a position to do Tikun Olam (repair the world) by sharing with others, I am learning about myself and enhancing my own sense of individuality and Jewishness.

Further, the more I spend in the Habonim world, the more I see what a rich history it has; a well defined spiritual infrastructure and an outstanding staff and set of volunteers who are passionate and deeply caring.

Your hospitality toward me has been splendid. Thank you. I have found that help and assistance is available whenever required and that appreciation is consistently forthcoming especially in light of the difficult times the shul has gone through over the last little while.

I am very positive about joining Congregation Habonim in the position of the interim spiritual leader. Despite the fact that I swore I would never be a Rabbi (This also comes with being a rabbi's son) I am satisfied that I made the right decision in accepting this position.

Habonim is a unique place from the inside out (the 'outside' because there seems to be a tree in the middle of the parking lot which I smashed my van into) with a beautiful past, a compelling present and no doubt a very promising future.

I look forward to meeting as many of the congregants as possible and God willing, celebrating in your simchot (good times). Yisha ko'ach (Yiddish for 'way to go') to everyone who has assisted me on this short journey to date. I am appreciative of your sensitivity and willingness to help me in my absorption into the shul.

I know that together, through our commitment to our Judaism, we can make this year a powerful and thrilling one for Congregation Habonim, the Toronto Jewish community and the people of Israel and the world.

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