Cultivating a Curiosity to Learn
Our Jewish tradition teaches in Pirkei Avot 4:1: “Who is wise? One who learns from every person.” I am curious to learn and grow as a human being and am passionate about helping you do the same as we learn together and from each other. Everyone has some gift to offer and I enjoy helping others discover their own gifts as well as cultivate gratitude for all the people and gifts we have in our lives. As a child I listened on the radio to America’s Top 40 song countdown hosted by radio disc jockey and icon Casey Kasem, who signed off each week by saying ‘keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.’ I believe it’s important to ‘keep your feet on the ground’ in this world, incorporating practical insights from our Jewish tradition to help us live more meaningful everyday lives, and also to ‘reach for the stars,’ by being open to moments of wonder, awe and mystery, in nature, for example when we see a beautiful whale, or in a hospital room with a loved one, where we feel connected to something much larger than ourselves. I serve people during these scared moments where perhaps at times we are open to the possibility that our life occurrences are not merely random events, but part of something greater and more profound – “Divine winks” as I like to call them.
As the rabbinic intern at Beth David synagogue in Toronto, Canada, I organized innovative experiential learning opportunities to engage a new group of young professionals, including “Torah Slap Shots” where we learned short texts at a Toronto bar during the commercial breaks of the National Hockey League (NHL) All-Star Game, and “Bible and Baseball” where we learned Torah at a Toronto Blue Jays baseball game during the 7th inning stretch.
While serving as the community rabbi at Fair Lawn Jewish Center Congregation B’nai Israel, I led weekly Friday night and Shabbat morning services where I delivered a sermon and introduced the spiritual practice of singing wordless niggunim/songs during the sit-down community Kiddush buffet after services and before the Grace After Meals prayer. I also introduced the spiritual practice of fabreghen, social gatherings bringing small groups of people together to sing and share and build community.
I believe it is important to continue to learn and teach in innovative ways, and have recording unique “Torah Nuggets on Ice” video clips where I share inspirational stories and Torah teachings on the ice. Our tradition teaches there are 70 faces of Torah, referring to our vast tradition. I think of this as 70 branches of Torah and I look forward to learning together and helping you grab onto the branch of Torah that speaks to you.