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from the rabbi emeritus: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE RABBI EMERITUS? Back in the Spring of 2005, not long after I had announced that I intended to retire on June 30, 2007, a long-standing member of Temple Habonim asked me, "What does it mean that you are retiring?" To which I responded, "It means that I won't be your rabbi anymore." With the benefit of hindsight, I suspect that my answer was a bit too blunt; nevertheless, my answer was - at least for the most part - accurate. June 30, 2007, has come and gone; and I am no longer the rabbi of Temple Habonim. Those of you who were at our service of transition last June 8, witnessed the transfer of the Torah - and with it the symbolic transfer of rabbinic leadership - into the most capable hands of Rabbi Andrew Klein. While it is true that I am no longer your rabbi, it is also true that I am your rabbi emeritus. What does it mean to be your rabbi emeritus? The answer to this question depends in part upon all of you who constitute the membership of Temple Habonim, in part upon Rabbi Klein, and in part upon me. The role of rabbi emeritus varies widely from synagogue to synagogue. At one extreme, the rabbi emeritus is retired in name only; he - they are almost all he's at this point in time - continues to show up at his office almost daily and sits on the bima at just about every worship service. In short, he is a person who refuses to let go. In my judgment, such a rabbi emeritus does considerable disservice to his successor; for by his intrusive presence, he is making it almost impossible for the new rabbi to effect a smooth and successful transition. At the other extreme is the rabbi emeritus who disappears - rarely, if ever, setting foot in his synagogue after the day of his retirement. Such a rabbi emeritus also does his successor a disservice, for he is depriving the new rabbi - and the congregation at large - of the wealth of his experience. From what I have already said, you can well understand that I see myself as rabbi emeritus establishing a balance between the extremes of intrusiveness and absenteeism. To be more specific, as is customary with almost every rabbi emeritus, Sandy and I will not be attending High Holy Day services in Barrington this coming September. Rather, this Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we will be worshipping at the synagogue of my friend and colleague, Rabbi Neil Kominsky, in Lowell, Massachusetts. We will certainly miss worshipping with you, but is important for Rabbi Klein to establish a new rhythm for our services, a new style of rabbinic leadership. By next spring I plan to become more involved as a regular worshipper at Temple Habonim. Rabbi Klein is well aware of the fact that my relationship with some of you extends back more than three decades; he understands that there will be times when you may want me to share in your joyful rituals of birth and marriage as well as in the rituals surrounding illness and death. When these situations arise, please let Rabbi Klein know that you would like my involvement; he will contact me, and I will certainly participate if it is at all possible. What does it mean for me to be your rabbi emeritus? There is no one, simple answer to this question. The answer will evolve over time. The answer depends upon all of us together - upon you who are Temple Habonim members, upon Rabbi Klein, and upon me, your rabbi emeritus in progress. James B. Rosenberg, Rabbi Emeritus August, 2007
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