Rabbi Jason Fruithandler — who graduated from the Joint Program between the Jewish Theological Seminary's List College and Columbia University with a B.A. in Talmud and Rabbinics and a second B.A. in Sociology, holds an M.A. in Jewish Education from JTS, and ordination from the JTS rabbinical school — was installed last Shabbat as one of the rabbis at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.
He gave a memorable installation sermon. Here is the text, which does not fully capture how beautifully it was delivered. The audio is at the Sinai Temple website:
Shabbat Shalom.
It is a great honor and privilege for me to be standing in front of you this morning and officially be installed as Rabbi at Sinai Temple. It is also a pleasure to have my installation coincide with the beautiful voice and music of Cantor Marcus Feldman. As I look out at our extraordinary congregation, I'm reminded of this morning. I was practicing my big installation sermon for my favorite audience — my 18 month old daughter. Her response, at about 30 seconds in, was “no no no no no.”
This morning I want to share with you my vision for who I am as a rabbi. I will share with you three Jewish leaders I admire and what I learn from them. I will take a look at the ancient Israelite Priests, the commentator Rashi, and the founder of modern Zionism, Theodore Herzl.
We begin 3000 years ago with the ancient Israelite priests, Aaron and his sons. Our first religious leaders. This week, in particular, we learn about all of the different kind of sacrifices. There was the sin offering, the burnt offering, the wheat offering, and several others. One of these sacrifices was the zevach shelamim. Translated into English, the zevach shlamim is the Sacred Gift of Greetings. An Israelite would bring an animal for sacrifice; the priests would offer a small portion to God; and then the family who brought the sacrifice and the priest would sit down and have a meal together. More than that — the implication is that they are sitting with God as well. This image is foundational for Jewish life throughout history.
I am not advocating slaughtering an animal, burning some incense and sprinkling some blood. But I can think of no better way to be a rabbi than to sit with each of you and share zevach shelamim, the sacred gift of greetings.
Now let’s flash forward 2000 years — to the great 11th century French Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki, better known as Rashi. Rashi changed the face of the Jewish world. He is among the first rabbis to change the nature of commentary. Rashi was not only a scholar; he also managed his family vineyard; he was a business man. Imagine that! One of the greatest scholars in Jewish history was a also a businessman. Rashi was able to bridge the gap between scholarship and everyday life, because he was still involved with everyday life.
As a young rabbi, I am committed to continuing to a vibrant 21st century Judaism, and I believe to do that I need to stay involved in the secular world. I hope you'll see me at the movies, reading books, and watching TV. I hope to use these experiences to tip toe in Rashi's footsteps and bring a pathway to Jewish engagement.
Flash forward another 1800 years — to Theodore Herzl. Herzl is a sensational Jewish leader. I am a Zionist and a dreamer, so I love Herzl. But I look up to him as a rabbi, because he was an agent for change. He took his own convictions, used his own resources, and his gift with words, and began a movement. He traveled all over Europe; he spoke to political leaders. He convinced the Jewish world that a Jewish state was not only a necessity but a real, viable possibility. Herzl was able to recognize a need of the Jewish people. He was able to articulate that need in a way that made sense to Jews everywhere, in all walks of life. He was able to inspire them with an impossible dream.
Now I don’t suppose that I’ll be creating any new nations, but if I could see you, see what your needs are, and help you dream of a way to meet those needs, and be a part of your process of meeting them — well, that would be a magnificent accomplishment.
Fast forward another 150 years – Rabbi Jason Paul Fruithandler. I come from suburban New York, a small town called Mount Kisco. I am the son of Neil and Sheryl Fruithandler. I have a wonderful wife, Jessie, who is also a Jewish educator, and an amazing 18 month old daughter named Liba, who smiles and screams “Abba!” every time I walk in the door. I am a lucky man.
As a rabbi, I stand with the ancient Israelite priests, the great Rashi and Theodore Herzl as my spiritual guides. With them I see myself as a rabbinic doorman. It might seem odd that my great ambition is to be a rabbinic doorman, of all things. But I think the doorman is just the right mixture of the mundane and the majestic. A good doorman knows everyone in his building. He pays attention and sees when they might need a little help. Finally, and most importantly, he looks and sees when people in his building are ready to go through the next door, and then he holds that door open and guides them through. So I ask for your help. Stop me in the hallways, tell me about yourself, give me the chance to open some doors for you.
Everyday I come to work and feel blessed and amazed that I am really here at Sinai Temple. I hope to bring to you all the zevach shelamim, the sacred gift of greetings, I hope to emulate Rashi's plain speech, and capture just a fraction of Herzl’s inspirational power.
As I stand here and humbly accept the duties and responsibilities as your rabbi, please know that I will hold that door open, help lead the way to the next door, and hopefully, the one after that. Guiding us together, as we journey and grow. I am immensely grateful for this opportunity.
Thank you, and shabbat shalom.