Crazy Idea, or Is It?

[wrenb]

Last week I was at the Union for Reform Judaism Biennial convention. I had a wonderful time attending workshops, concerts, a play, and praying a whole lot (and, a.n.ers, meeting Karen for dinner and photos). In addition to the ideas I've got for improving my committee work, I've come home with a crazy idea percolating in my brain.

Would I make a good rabbi? I have an undergraduate degree in psychology, which reflects my desire 10 years ago to counsel people with problems, not with serious mental illnesses. I have always been an institutional prayer kind of girl, ever since Sunday School at the age of 7. I'm a regular on the Torah reading schedule. I have a good voice, but very few technical musical skills, so I feel that being a cantor (a Jewish professional singer/musician) isn't available to me.

On the other hand I'm shy. And I can't go back to school for at least another 2 years. I'd like to spend some years at home with my hypothetical future kids. And this is an idea, not a burning passion.

But I've just spent 5 days surrounded by rabbis, cantors & Jewish professionals, and I felt a deep bond with them. I don't want to be a secretary my whole life. I want to lead prayer and help people through their troubles.

If I do this I need to learn Hebrew far better than I do right now. First year rabbinic students live in Jerusalem. And I can't speak Hebrew, only pronounce it. I wish I could take a class at the UW, but that's not in the budget right now. I do have a workbook that I never finished that I could go back to working through. I figure Hebrew and Torah study (Saturday mornings at my synagogue) are baby steps I can take.

Am I dreaming far beyond my abilities and talents?

Comments

[webhill.livejournal.com]

Does your congregation have any lay leadership? Perhaps a position like that would be interesting for you. Also our congregation has a Mitzvah Corps - does yours? It must. I bet that working with them could be wonderful for you. I mean, it's not glamorous, but helping people clean their house to prepare for shiva, or after shiva, bringing food to those in mourning or to the sick or the postoperative, helping to put together care packages for those who have lost everything in a fire, etc etc - we do all that kind of stuff and it is very rewarding, and a lot of the people being helped also do want to talk so there is that opportunity....

[wrenb.livejournal.com]

I need to talk to people at Temple about leadership opportunities that do not involve being on committees. We do have some lay leaders for services, but the ones I can think of all are song leaders, and I don't play guitar. Maybe I could help lead shiva minyans... Hmmm... Good idea Hillary! I don't really want to be funeral girl, but I'm sure that's something I could get over.

I am co-chair of the Caring Committee (aka Mitzvah Corps) so I'm all over that. Sort of. I went to 3 different presentations about caring communities at Biennial last week -- there are some amazing programs out there. Compared to them our committee is really puny and not all that effective. There's definite work to be done there. I'd also like to be involved in outreach stuff for young congregants, and in the new Reform push for Shabbat observance of some sort. Rabbi Yoffie (president of the Union) made it sounds really exciting, and I want to be there. I was beaming during that sermon. I'm going to talk to the rabbi and president about that in the new year. Which means I need to go back onto the Religious Practices committee. I left that committee last year when they did absolutely nothing for 4 months -- overcoming transportation challenges didn't seem worth it in order to discuss the mission statement.

[abernat.livejournal.com]

But now she can transport herself. :)

Seriously, though, I think getting more involved is a great idea. Right now the Temple has two avenues. Well, three.

1) Committees, Board, officers.
2) Songleaders. We get in for free because there's not that many and we're kinda popular.
3) Torah readers. Yeah... but that's all you do.

But just because there _are_ those three doesn't mean that that is all there _can_ be. I think lay leadership is a great idea. Really wonderful. There are even some ways to do it. I know that there are services the Rabbi doesn't lead. Normally they're covered by the Cantor or Educator
(or our songleader, actually), but you could definitely help there. Or helping out with Saturday morning services.

My guess is that, like most organizations, we're entrenched into a certain way of thought. And it's about time for it to change.