Endowed by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA
On being a Rabbi’s son
November 6, 2015 24 Cheshvan 5776 Vol. 96 | No. 8
This Week
by LEWIS GRONER Growing up, I had a unique job encompassing much responsibility, high expectations, and limited pay, but great benefits. What was my job? Serving as a rabbi’s son in both Omaha and New Orleans where my dad, Rabbi Benjamin Groner of blessed memory, led pulpits when I was a kid, including Beth Israel Synagogue during the 1950’s and 60’s. The job automatically came via birthright with no application process, and it emanated in part from our congregants. For example, just before Passover, when I was 15 and we lived in New Orleans, a congregant called our home. “I need to ask Rabbi Groner if a certain food is kosher for Passover or not,” he explained. Since Dad wasn’t in, I told Mr. Congregant that I’d have Dad return his call later. “Well, perhaps you could answer the question for me,” and he proceeded to inquire about the permissibility of a certain food on Passover. I didn’t know the answer, and ensured him that a real pro -- my dad -- would address his question upon his return home. This made me realize that as a rabbi’s son, I was considered something of a junior rabbi, which always
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Lew Groner fascinated me. If an attorney’s client happened to call his lawyer at home and the son answered the phone because his dad was out, would the client ask the lawyer’s son to render an opinion on a legal matter? Or if a patient called his doctor at home (indeed, people did that years ago) and the doctor was gone, would the patient ask the doctor’s son to recommend a medicine for his ailment? I don’t think so! Yet a rabbi’s son is expected to play a role similar to his dad. Wherever I went as a kid, if a ques-
tion about anything Jewish arose, the reaction typically was, “Let’s ask Lew -- the rabbi’s son should know!” So I became very adept at thinking on my feet, and if I didn’t know the answer, I tried to respond with something that at least sounded plausible. At times, rabbis’ sons can play vital roles, especially when a rabbi’s family is hosting guests for Shabbat and the holidays. In the early 1960s, while living in Omaha, then Governor Frank Morrison and his wife joined us for a Passover Seder. I was only three or four years old and don’t remember any of it, but I’m told it was a marvelous evening, and I played a supporting role. My older brother Raphael -- who spent his formative years in Omaha, and who himself became a rabbi -- relates that I gave a rousing rendition of Go Down Moses to the Governor and the First Lady, which helped to ensure a memorable evening for all. Governor Morrison was just one of countless people from all over the world who spent time in our various homes over the decades. Fortunately, Dad was a wonderful raconteur, entertaining guests with enlightening anecdotes and clever humor, and of Continued on page 2
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Jerry Kaye speaking with Temple Israel students last year. by SCOTT LITTKY Program Director, Temple Israel Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute has always held a special place in Rabbi Aryeh Azriel’s heart. Over the
course of his time as the senior rabbi of Temple Israel, he has helped to send hundreds of kids to attend camp there. This coming summer will be the 65th summer of programming at Olin-Sang-Ruby. Over the years, more than 30,000 children have passed through the gates, building lifelong friendships, exploring their Jewish identity, and having the time of their lives. In 1952, Union Institute was founded by the Reform Movement; today, URJ Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute serves more than 1,000 campers each summer from throughout North America and beyond. We look forward on Friday
Nov. 13 to welcome Jerry Kaye, the director of Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute, to Temple Israel. Mr. Kaye also serves as the head of the Union for Reform Judaism Youth Department for the Great Lakes Region. He served as a member of the Brandeis University Professional Advisory Committee on Informal Education and has authored numerous works relating to Jewish education, self-esteem and youth. As co-chair of the URJ National Committee on Youth Program Education, he worked with program development for youth throughout the Reform Movement. Continued on page 3
Female Masorti Rabbi visits Beth El by BETH EL PUBLICITY Rabbi Chaya Rowen Baker of Kehillat Ramot-Zion congregation in French Hill, Jerusalem, will be a scholar in residence at Beth El Synagogue on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Rabbi Chaya Rowen Baker The Masorti Movement is the name given to Conservative Judaism in Israel and other countries outside Canada and the U.S. Masorti means “traditional” in Hebrew. The movement began as a minyan at Australia’s Emanuel Synagogue in the early 1990s. Today, there are 12 Masorti congregations in Britain. Rabbi Rowen Baker is in the United States as a guest of the Central District of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ), and during the second half of her visit she will be a featured educator at the USCJ Convention, Nov. 13-17 in Chicago. Her North American visit comes on the heels of her participation last July in an interdenominational gathering at the home of Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. As reported in The Forward, President Rivlin hosted leaders from the Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and secular movements for an event demonstrating Jewish unity. It was widely considered a significant move for Rivlin, who has drawn criticism in the past for denigrating non-Orthodox Jews. At the event Rivlin spoke about the importance of accepting all Jewish streams: “One could disagree with the positions and opinions of members of the Reform or Conservative movements, but one could not deny their dedication or the clear voice with which they speak in support of the State of Israel, here and around the world.” Rabbi Meir Azari of the Tel Aviv Reform Congregation Beit Daniel was also present and said the following: “We need to stop seeing life in the framework of black and white. We need to see the importance of recognizing the other, even with its complexities Continued on page 2