Do you remember your first day of school? You walked into the classroom and immediately gravitated to those one or two classmates who you were friends with, who you hadn't seen all summer and were eager to get re-acquainted with?
Now repaint the picture: it's still the first day of school. However, you walk into the school filled with trepidation, unsure of what to expect because you have just moved to town. None of the faces surrounding you are familiar and you feel a sense of disquiet, as an anxiety settles into your stomach while you shrink and fall into a desk. The teacher walks in and immediately smiles in your direction, acknowledging that she recognizes this is scary for you. Two weeks later, it is as if you have been there for years.
Today is like my first day of school. In fact, it is a weekend full of firsts: new state, new city, new congregation. And like the first day of school, when we all introduce ourselves to our classmates, let me take the opportunity to introduce myself. My name, as you know, is Elana Nemitoff and I am honored to be standing in front of you. As a second year student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, this is my first student pulpit, the first time I will stand in front of my congregation and be a source of comfort and learning (I hope).
I have spent the last two years living in Israel, improving my Hebrew and learning about the ancient homeland of our collective people. I spent the first year in Israel learning at HUC and my second year working as an aide in a school for kids with special needs just north of Tel Aviv. There, I became more enamored with cycling, which I continue to both love and be involved with in Los Angeles. I was able to explore my surroundings in a more intimate manner, creating a stronger connection with the country and the land. Now I look forward to getting to know a vast expanse of land that doesn’t exist in Israel, this beautiful land of Montana. I am sure you can point me in the direction of some great rides/hikes.
Growing up, I moved twice before leaving for college, to Columbus, OH right before I began kindergarten and to Overland Park, KS right before beginning 8th grade. Although as an eighth grader I was filled with angst and anger toward anyone willing to get close enough to me to find out, the moves were both mostly positive experience. Thankfully, that’s changed a bit since those days.
Today, I stand before you as a woman filled with gratitude and humility. That gratitude is to you, for opening your doors and your homes to welcome me into your familial community. The humility is due to my lack of knowledge. As a second year student, I have gleaned from the text and the wisdom of our Jewish tradition, but I have much more to learn. You will teach me just as much, if not more, than I will teach you and I am honored that this is the case.
This weekend, I face you as your new student Rabbi. I am bursting with ideas and have so many tunes and prayers swimming in my head. However, I must be honest: I will need your help. I love learning and teaching, but my singing voice is not necessarily the best. Therefore, you will need to participate with me. Regardless of how you feel about your own singing voice, Judaism is about creating a safe and loving community, regardless of natural ability. Our prayer services will not be as impactful or spiritual if we are not working together to make them so. If you have a favorite tune or reading, let me know, and then be patient as I learn it.
I am struck by a verse from this week’s Torah portion that says: “For you are a people consecrated to the Eternal your God: the Eternal your God chose you from among all other peoples on earth to be a treasured people” (Deuteronomy 14:2). Although I would not dare to compare myself to God, I was chosen to be here and serve you. Walking on the shoulders of other Rabbis, I accept their contribution while reminding all of us that I am unique from anyone else who has stood on this bima, as lay person or clergy. I will work in conjunction with you, as God worked with the people, and will strive to merit that appointment.
Truthfully, I do love the first day of school. New school supplies, books with that new book smell, usually new clothes, a touch of fall in the air. Here too, I am experiencing that. And so are you. Let us take this opportunity to acknowledge that. Introduce yourself to me and I will do so in return. I want to get to know you and be there for you.
Experiencing this first with you is such a blessing, cloaking me in retrospection and vulnerability. Whatever simchas and sorrow we experience this year, may we experience them together. May we rely on one another to grow and change through this year, as you re calibrate to a part-time rabbi and I grow into myself as a Rabbi. May we learn to listen to one another and be willing to acknowledge when we are at fault, and when we can add more.
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