My “rock ‘n roll rabbi’s” mini-sabbatical will be epic

JORDAN PALMER, CHIEF DIGITAL CONTENT OFFICER

My rabbi is taking a sabbatical.

Rabbi Randy Fleisher of Central Reform Congregation also happens to be a mentor. He was my first summer camp counselor in 1981, where he made sure I studied for my bar mitzvah instead of going to activities one hour a day. He introduced me to the writings of Jack Kerouac, J.D. Salinger and Kurt Vonnegut and the music of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. He co-officiated my wedding as a rabbinical student in 1998 and has been there for me every day since.

So, over lunch a year ago, I was not surprised when he told me his plans. My rabbi is taking a sabbatical and following Springsteen on the southern leg of the Boss’ new tour with the E Street Band, his first since the COVID lockdown. Well, maybe it’s really a ‘mini-sabbatical,’ like an extended purposeful vacation.”

“Two weeks, four concerts; reading and writing on the beach in between. A pure solo road trip experience,” said Fleisher. “I’m driving down to Miami, Florida and then I will travel to Tampa, Atlanta, Orlando and back to Miami.”

Following Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band around the country attending