Rabbi’s Message – February 16, 2023
Over the years, Temple has participated heavily in interfaith work. Those who are interested in learning more about Judaism know they have an open invitation to delve deeper here at Temple Israel. Through collaborations on social justice, community health, education opportunities, and, of course, our Jewish Cultural Festival, we demonstrate to the Dayton community that Temple is invested here. We go out of our way to welcome others and are pleased to engage in learning together.
How do we do this? Often, it is a collaboration with local schools. This past Shabbat, we welcomed Dr. Abraham Rubin and several students from the University of Dayton to observe our services as part of their religious studies assignment. Today, I will be participating in Sinclair’s 5th anniversary Faith Fair from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. in the Library Loggia. Students from nursing, physical therapy and religion courses will be in attendance as more than a dozen faith leaders share thoughts on the theme of wellness. This spring I will be teaching Judaism 101 again at UDLLI (University of Dayton Lifelong Learning Institute), and Rabbi Sobo and I are often invited to speak to students in local school districts.
I have noticed an increase of interest in Judaism, especially among young adults. I believe that our experiences with Covid have provided space for individuals to explore their own spiritual journeys more. If that leads them to learn more about Judaism, we at Temple Israel are here to support their efforts.
Do you know someone interested in Judaism? Feel free to invite them to join us for services, our Jewish Cultural Festival, our Newish to Jewish events, or even to meet with Rabbi Sobo or me to discuss interest in conversion. Our Jewish community is strengthened by the deep relationships we are building with others.