JewsByChoice.Org

I’ve been thinking a lot about the discussion on Shimshonit’s post (Truth Holders v. Truth Seekers) and the idea of a Rav and whether or not liberal Jews have Ravs. I will admit that I was initially annoyed at Avi’s implication that having a Rav (and not just your congregational rabbi) is much less prevalant in the liberal movements. It felt like a blanket statement that really couldn’t be backed up with anything but anecdotal information of what he was aware of. I still believe that it is a blanket statement that probably doesn’t hold completely, but I’m no longer annoyed, because a) it made me think, and b) I’ll admit that there is probably some merit to it.

First I’ll address why I think the statement has some merit. As Reform Jews (which is the only perspective I can honestly speak from, and I will freely admit to also be speaking from my own personal knowledge of people I know) we are encouraged to educate ourselves and come to our own conclusion about our observances and about what we believe (aka informed choice); it is a foundation of our movement and makes us a fairly independent bunch, I believe. I think that many times a Reform Jew will feel more than comfortable asking their rabbi for advice or for counsel, but that in the end they rely more on themselves for making decisions when it comes to their personal observance. We may go to our rabbis with questions about certain practices or Torah or whatnot, but instead of just taking it as a ruling I think Reform Jews are more likely to fold the knowledge into their own understanding and still come to an ultimate decision on their own.

Now, that said, I believe that there are many of us who do view our rabbis as our Ravs. We see these men and women as our teachers and they are who we would turn to first in a crisis or with a question. I will use my own life as an example here. A number months ago I was having lunch with my rabbi and we were discussing some things that would be incredibly life-altering for me, that would cause me to uproot myself and, eventually, find myself in a new community. He pointed out that my temple would always be my home congregation and that he would always be my rabbi. And I knew right away that he was speaking the truth. I know a lot of rabbinic students and rabbis because of our close proximity to HUC Cincinnati; a few of my good friends are either recently ordained rabbis or nearly ordained rabbis. Basically I am not short on rabbinic authority in town. However, despite this almost glut of rabbinical knowledge, the first person I always turn to with questions or to discuss Torah or if I need to talk is my rabbi. I don’t always agree with what he says, but the respect I have for him makes me think about even the stuff I don’t agree with. I believe that no matter where I am, no matter what congregation I am a part of I’ll always return to him for advice, spiritual and otherwise. He knows when to challenge me in what I am thinking or doing, and I understand that his challenges are not attacks. I have been encouraged by him in my studies and in my seeking of knowledge from sources other than himself. He is my teacher, my spiritual leader, and my friend. He is my Rav.

That said, I know that it can be difficult to form a bond with your rabbi on this level when you are part of a large congregation and the rabbi’s duties include so much more than teaching. Or, even if you are part of a small congregation there is, a lot of the time, much more for the rabbi to do because they don’t have the staff to rely on that larger temples do. Administrative duties and multi-tasking rabbis can sometimes rob us of our abilities to find a Rav, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t try or don’t want to. And it doesn’t mean that many liberal Jews haven’t redefined the idea of what a Rav is to them.