Twenty-five years ago, on May 17, 1998, I was ordained a rabbi. Six years of intense study at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion had prepared me for the moment. I had learned my Biblical grammar, Talmudic Aramaic, medieval Jewish history, contemporary Israeli poetry, and modern Jewish thought. Along the way I earned two master’s degrees, one in Hebrew letters and one in Jewish education. I’d completed my rabbinic thesis, all 388 pages of it. I was ready to serve the Jewish community as a Rav B’Yisrael, a “master” of Torah and Jewish tradition.
I learned a great deal preparing for that moment, but I’ve learned so much more since then. I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to continue my studies through a fellowship with the Hartman Institute and another with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, chavruta (on-on-one) study with beloved colleagues, and three amazing years living in Jerusalem while I was serving as Director of the Year-in-Israel program for HUC.
Beyond the text study though, beyond the conferences and professional development opportunities, beyond learning about synagogue management or school administration, I’ve learned so much about Judaism, and so much about life. I’ve learned from the extraordinary colleagues I’ve come to cherish along the way, I’ve learned from those who came before, and—most of all—I’ve learned from the amazing people and communities I’ve been privileged to serve.
So, as I reflect on my 25 years (so far!) in the rabbinate, here are three lessons that I’ve found especially meaningful, lessons I’ve learned from you, the extraordinary people who have welcomed me into their communities, homes, and hearts, as one of their rabbis and teachers.
Judaism continues to be relevant, meaningful, and deeply—even desperately—needed. I hear this again and again when you come to talk with me in my office, or through something you share in a class I teach, or in a question you raise in an email or letter. In this ever-changing world—in the course of my career I’ve witnessed innovations from email to the internet to social media and now artificial intelligence—the hunger for the meaning found in our 3,000-year old tradition continues to inspire so many to remain connected to Jewish community, Jewish learning, and Jewish practice. The tools at our disposal will constantly evolve, but this yearning for community and meaning will not change.
The human capacity for generosity is abundant. Through the gifts of your time, your talent, and your treasure, I am continuously inspired by just how much folks wish to contribute to their communities. Whether it’s through service on a committee, the Board of Directors, or a task-force; through gifts of precious resources needed especially to fund the operations of large organizations like ours; or the creative ideas that inspire us in our teaching and programming, I am absolutely blown away by just how much people wish to contribute to their communities, their congregations, and their schools.
The most important thing we can build together is relationships. As I reflect on the past two and half decades, more important than any sermon I delivered, any class I taught, any project I helped shepherd from the inception to fruition, are the relationships that I have been so blessed by. The time I have spent with bat and bar mitzvah students, couples preparing for marriage, committee chairs planning meetings and campaigns, and families united in their grief over the loss of a loved one—these are the moments that I remember above all else in the time I have spent as a Rav B’Yisrael, a rabbi serving the Jewish People and humanity.
It has been—so far—an extraordinary blessing, and I pray that I be given the strength to continue to serve you all, the broader Jewish community, and our world.
In gratitude and joy I wish you all a Shabbat shalom,
—Rabbi Yoshi
P.S.: Please join me tonight for services as we celebrate Shabbat and the Festival of Shavuot, and tomorrow morning for Spirit of Shabbat, which will include our Yizkor prayers of memory.