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Rabbi Avi Friedman

June 2010 / Sivan 5770

On the one hand, five years is a long time.  On the other hand, five years go by in the blink of an eye.  On yet the other hand – as Tevye would say – five years is just the right amount of time to form an accurate judgment about a place.

Now that I have been at the SJCC for five years, I can say without hesitation that I am just as excited to be here as the day I was offered my position.  I still see many of the same qualities that attracted me to this community during the interview process.  

First of all, the SJCC is warm and welcoming. The Yiddish term for this atmosphere is haimisch, and you can feel it the minute you walk through the door. Members are genuinely happy to have newcomers share in the SJCC experience. My family and I were welcomed warmly, and I am proud to say that we continue the tradition – established by Rabbi Horn – of seeking out the new faces and extending a hand of friendship.

Secondly, the SJCC functions due to the contributions of a large core of members. I am not talking about financial contributions (though we could not function without those!). I am talking about the gifts of time, energy, enthusiasm, and expertise. People give of themselves to make this a better place, and it is evident in every phase of congregational life.

On top of all that, there is a real commitment to the foundations of our tradition as articulated in the centuries-old collection of wisdom known as Pirkei Avot:.  Torah - study, Avodah - worship, and Gemilut Hasadim - acts of kindness are the building blocks of congregational life. The SJCC is a wonderful place to learn about our tradition no matter what age you are and no matter what level of learning you wish to pursue. Our services, whether they are led by Cantor Roth or one of her many disciples, are filled with spirit and energy. Our members regularly join together in acts of communal service aimed at making our community and our world a better place.

If that were not enough, we are about to embark upon an exciting expansion project which will give us the physical plant we need to support our many programs, classes and services.  We have never let our building stop us from doing fabulous things.  However, it will be nice when our physical space actually enhances our spiritual undertakings.  Our building will be open during this project; we will not let construction get in our way.  

It is an exciting time here at the SJCC.  Whether you are a long-time member or a newcomer to the area, please join us as we pursue new texts to study, different paths of spirituality, and innovative ways to lift up any members of our community who are in need. I look forward to our journey together.

Rabbi Avi Friedman

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