From Assistant Rabbi Darby Jared Leigh
This is the day that YHVH has made, let us rejoice and be glad on it. Psalm 118:24
It gives me a great deal of joy to be writing my first column for the Rainbow Reporter while sitting in my office as your new assistant rabbi. I am truly grateful for the privilege of sitting here and I am excited by all of the possibilities that lie ahead of us.
On June 1st 2008/ Iyar 27, 5768 I had the honor of walking through one of the most powerful rituals I’ve ever experienced in my life as I officially received the title of Rabbi. My connection to Bnai Keshet was palpable, even on that day. I felt it as I crossed the bima and shared a handshake and hug with Rabbi Dan. I felt it from the members of Bnai Keshet who were present in the kahal, the community, that day, as we exchanged a handshake, a hug, or a smile. I remember feeling grateful for the connection I was experiencing with Bnai Keshet then, and I want to offer my deepest gratitude for all of the support and warmth that has been extended to me and my family in the moments since then.
I’m sure many of us have had the experience of being asked on our birthdays or after a commitment ceremony, “so how does it feel?” “Do you feel any different?” These questions are wonderful because they have the potential to make us pause, to stop and reflect, to look within and to ask ourselves, “oh yeah, I just went through something significant, how do I feel?" This kind of introspection and reflection is an important part of living consciously and aware, one of the things I believe Judiasm exhorts us to do.
I am grateful too, for having been asked those questions in the days following my ordination. “So how does it feel?” “Do you feel any different?” The answer I have come to is, “Yes. I do feel different, even if only slightly.” The difference comes from the knowledge that while I have long seen myself and my commitment to Judaism as strengthening a link in a chain of tradition and peoplehood that stretches back thousands of years, I am now also strengthening a link in a different chain, namely the chain of rabbis that also reaches back into our collective and shared past. This does feel different, and it feels good, and right.
Having been at Bnai Keshet for just three days, I am aware of now joining another chain as well. I feel honored and privileged to join the chain of rabbis who have had the opportunity and blessing of serving this community.
I am delighted to be here and I look forward to working with Rabbi Elliott, Amy, our Education Director, and our new co-presidents, Lauren & Jill. I am also truly looking forward to getting to know as many of you as I can in the months ahead, and to all of the learning and growing we may do together.
B’Shalom,
Rabbi Darby
It gives me a great deal of joy to be writing my first column for the Rainbow Reporter while sitting in my office as your new assistant rabbi. I am truly grateful for the privilege of sitting here and I am excited by all of the possibilities that lie ahead of us.
On June 1st 2008/ Iyar 27, 5768 I had the honor of walking through one of the most powerful rituals I’ve ever experienced in my life as I officially received the title of Rabbi. My connection to Bnai Keshet was palpable, even on that day. I felt it as I crossed the bima and shared a handshake and hug with Rabbi Dan. I felt it from the members of Bnai Keshet who were present in the kahal, the community, that day, as we exchanged a handshake, a hug, or a smile. I remember feeling grateful for the connection I was experiencing with Bnai Keshet then, and I want to offer my deepest gratitude for all of the support and warmth that has been extended to me and my family in the moments since then.
I’m sure many of us have had the experience of being asked on our birthdays or after a commitment ceremony, “so how does it feel?” “Do you feel any different?” These questions are wonderful because they have the potential to make us pause, to stop and reflect, to look within and to ask ourselves, “oh yeah, I just went through something significant, how do I feel?" This kind of introspection and reflection is an important part of living consciously and aware, one of the things I believe Judiasm exhorts us to do.
I am grateful too, for having been asked those questions in the days following my ordination. “So how does it feel?” “Do you feel any different?” The answer I have come to is, “Yes. I do feel different, even if only slightly.” The difference comes from the knowledge that while I have long seen myself and my commitment to Judaism as strengthening a link in a chain of tradition and peoplehood that stretches back thousands of years, I am now also strengthening a link in a different chain, namely the chain of rabbis that also reaches back into our collective and shared past. This does feel different, and it feels good, and right.
Having been at Bnai Keshet for just three days, I am aware of now joining another chain as well. I feel honored and privileged to join the chain of rabbis who have had the opportunity and blessing of serving this community.
I am delighted to be here and I look forward to working with Rabbi Elliott, Amy, our Education Director, and our new co-presidents, Lauren & Jill. I am also truly looking forward to getting to know as many of you as I can in the months ahead, and to all of the learning and growing we may do together.
B’Shalom,
Rabbi Darby
