Rabbi’s Column: Rabbi Sara Rich

Our Merits are Doubled

RABBI SARA RICH

In early December, I was honored to be recognized by the Buffalo Jewish Federation with the Judith and Daniel Kantor Professional Service Award at the Joint Annual Meetings of the Federation and Foundation. Here is an adapted version of the words that I shared with the community that evening:

Receiving a professional service award from the Buffalo Jewish Federation is a very meaningful moment in my life, and one that I never expected. When my husband Ezra and I moved here, coming up on six years ago, it was the start of an adventure for us. We came to Buffalo so that I could assume the role of Executive Director of Hillel of Buffalo and lead an effort to revitalize the organization. Ezra and I were ‘sold’ on Buffalo because of the professional opportunities here, and because it seemed like a wonderful place to raise a family.

In the Torah portion Vayishlach, Jacob leaves the land of Haran with his four wives, their twelve children, and hundreds of animals. He was not from Haran originally, and he traveled there with the purpose of finding a wife. However, once he is there, his world expands. He marries several times, has many children, and over the years, accrues wealth, knowledge, and life experience.

Over the last six years, Hillel has grown into an organization that serves 300-400 Jewish students each year, plus dozens of students who are not Jewish. We have crafted a Hillel that reaches a more diverse student population than ever before, with opportunities that go beyond Shabbat dinner to meet their interests in Jewish learning, Israel, cooking, community service, music, and more. Hillel of Buffalo has grown as a partner with many departments at the University, and we have been recognized through Hillel International as a model of innovation. We have reconnected with alumni from decades ago, and we are helping students today to build connections through local professional networks.

This is not success that I brought on the moving truck with me from Princeton. This was all grown here in Buffalo, and is only possible because of what I learned here, because of the generosity of so many people, and because of the power of partnership.

Jacob reflects on his life, saying, God, “Heiteiv, eitiv imach- Surely you will bestow much goodness” to me (Gen. 32:13).

Dan Kantor, Rabbi Sara Rich, Judy Kantor and Miriam Abramovich

There is a repetition of the word tov, ‘good.’ Medieval Torah commentator Rashi explains, the first word, heiteiv, is the goodness that Jacob receives on account of his own merits. The second good, eitiv, is on account of the merits of his ancestors.

For whatever goodness has happened for Hillel on my account, it is doubled by the merits of everyone who has lent a hand to help Hillel start to achieve its full potential. This list includes the Hillel staff, board, and students; Rob Goldberg and the Buffalo Jewish Federation staff; Irv Levy and the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies; my colleagues at our local synagogues and agencies; Aviva Snyder and all of my colleagues on other campuses and at Hillel International; Ezra, our daughters, and our families and friends; and it includes everyone who supports Hillel so that we can in turn support the students.

My blessing for all of us is that we can feel pride in what we have achieved in our lives, and can recognize the unexpected blessings that have come our way. May we express our gratitude to those who share in our successes, and may we merit to continue to serve our community together.

Rabbi Sara Rich is Executive Director of Hillel of Buffalo.

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