From the Rabbi's Desk
THE RED HEIFER:
NEW MEANING FOR ANCIENT TRADITIONS
On
Shabbat we will read about the heifer out of context; as a
special/additional reading which follows the weekly portion.
Why such prominence for an obscure ceremony?
I like to think that some things are left to our
imagination. It is our challenge to find personal
meaning in sections of the Torah which seem to be anathema
to our own generation. Rather than rejecting outright,
we have an opportunity to create new interpretations and
meaning for ancient 'traditions.' The red heifer, may
be an obscure subject, but it has symbolic value. For
example: Over many generations, the Shabbat morning
service has been a cornerstone of Jewish ritual and communal
experience. Yet, the service today does not seem to
resonate with our younger generations. That service is often
defined as a service for elders alone. Redefining and
reinterpreting that service for a contemporary audience
constitutes one of the most important challenges we face
over the next generation. Rather than abandoning the
tradition which has survived and evolved over centuries, our
generation can use its imagination and creativity to insure
that the Shabbat am service will have meaning for
generations to come.
We read
about this ceremony as one of the pre-Passover ‘specials.
Passover is a festival for us to both retell the exodus
experience and to imbue it with new meaning, in light of our
own contemporary experiences.
As with Passover, the heifer ritual challenges us to
find new meaning for ancient traditions.
As the Jewish community struggles to re-affirm (or
even to maintain) our strong cultural, social and religious
heritage, interpreting our past in a serious and meaningful
way, is a responsibility we cannot abdicate.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Michael Klayman
About Rabbi Klayman
Rabbi Michael Klayman has served congregations in Florida, New York and New Jersey. As the first full time Rabbi in Bradenton Florida, Rabbi Klayman not only oversaw the spiritual and cultural needs of the Synagogue, but developed a strong interfaith dialogue with the entire community. Throughout his career, Rabbi Klayman has focused on education-particular the education of young people. As a dedicated pulpit rabbi, he doubled as Hebrew School principal at Temple Beth Israel in Port Washington and at the Lake Success Jewish Center.
Rabbis Klayman has introduced many exciting and innovative programs for students and their families; always eager to make Jewish living accessible to the greatest number of people. For seven years Rabbi Klayman served as Associate Rabbi of Temple Israel in Great Neck. During that time he continued to work with students and their families-from Nursery School through High School. He worked extensively with B’nai Mitzvah students, developed unique family and adult education programs , and created an award winning Saturday morning service for pre-Bnai Mitzvah families.
As Rabbi of the Lake Success Jewish Center, Rabbi Klayman has already introduced new cultural and ritual programs for the congregation and for the Hebrew School community-including many new family-oriented programs for the Jewish holidays. Under his leadership, our growing Hebrew School is undertaking a new, out of the box approach to Hebrew School and family learning.
Rabbi Klayman has been active in various Jewish organizations. For years, he served as an officer in the Nassau Suffolk Rabbinical Assembly; he twice served as Chair of the International Rabbinical Assembly Convention. Presently, Rabbi Klayman is a member of the Board of Governors, New York Board of Rabbis.
He has taught Rabbinical School/Cantorial School classes at the Academy of the Jewish Religion, while teaching High School at the Solomon Schechter Day School. Rabbi Klayman’s hobbies include sports (especially running, swimming and Wii golf), Israeli folk dancing and playing the accordion. He is the co-author of Sharing Blessings, a book (published by Jewish Lights) for families about the spiritual value of Jewish holidays.