Students keep Temple Israel going
Student rabbis are making it possible for Temple Israel in Uniontown to continue since the retirement of Rabbi Sion David three years ago. “We are a viable congregation and the reason is we are able to get student rabbis,’ said David, who is now known as rabbi emeritus.
The newest student rabbi is Beth Kalisch, who arrived Sept. 19 in time for the High Holidays, which include Rosh Hashana, the start of the new year, as well as Yom Kippur, the day of atonement that is celebrated 10 days later – this year on Oct. 1.
Kalisch, who returned to school in-between the holy days, is the first female rabbi to serve the congregation, which was founded in 1904.
“It’s really exciting,’ said Kalisch, interviewed the day after the congregation held a dinner in her honor. “Last night I had a chance to meet members of the congregation and everyone was warm and welcoming. I look forward to being able to teach and study with them over the next year.’
A native of Scarsdale, N.U., Kalisch is a graduate of Yale University with a bachelor of arts degree in religious studies. She now lives in Brooklyn where she is in the third year of a five-year program at Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion.
While Kalisch is a first for Temple Israel as a female rabbi, she noted, “My graduating class is two-thirds female and that’s echoed in a lot of Christian denominations also.’
Temple Israel has been making use of student rabbis from Hebrew Union since David retired in 2003 after 27 years of service to the congregation.
“Many congregations, especially those that are small, don’t have a full-time rabbi,’ David explained. “They use students.’
Temple Israel had 125 to 130 members when David arrived in Uniontown in 1976. Today, the congregation is about 35 members. They have been meeting in the Uniontown Jewish Community Center, located at 406 W. Main St., since 1995 when the congregation moved from its former location at 119 E. Fayette St., a building it had used since 1907. Uniontown has two congregations: Temple Israel, which is reformed, and Tree of Life, which is conservative.
David has offered to help out the congregation since his retirement, but the students who come once a month to hold services hold the role of rabbi. They come for the weekend and then return to school for classes.
“Some congregations are so small they only have services on High Holy Days,’ noted David.
Kalisch served in a small congregation last year when she was sent to Brookhaven, Miss., last year for High Holy Days. Without her, members had to travel to Jackson for religious services and Hebrew school.
Kalisch will be making visits to Uniontown to coincide with the Jewish holy days throughout the year.
“I’m here to offer any advise but she’s the boss,’ said David. “She’s the rabbi of the congregation.’
Kalisch said of her new assignment, “It’s really exciting. In school we study the ancient texts of Judaism but I think it will be fulfilling to take the work I’m doing and bring it to the people in the community. I loved growing up in the Jewish community and I’m looking forward to sharing my love for Judaism and learning the Jewish stories of the people here.’
Dr. Barbara Wilhelm is president of the Temple Israel congregation. For more information on the congregation and services, visit the Web site at www.templeisraeluniontown.com
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