Blog

”I am planting for those who come after me.”
-Talmud Ta-anit 23a

I joined TI at age 35, two years after moving to St. Louis with my wife and two young children. To say I had only a cursory understanding of Judaism at that time would be kind. My involvement was limited to attending High Holy Days services and hauling the kids to TI’s Religious School on Sunday mornings.

Then I began an amazing journey. While attending required Shabbat services with my oldest daughter as part of the preparation for her Bat Mitzvah, Rabbi Shook’s discussions with the B’nai Mitzvah class introduced me to a contemporary understanding of Torah and Jewish traditions. Three B’nai Mitzvahs later, my curiosity had grown to the point that I wandered into a Saturday morning Torah study class with Rabbi Shook. One class led to another until this became a regular part of my Saturday routine; I never looked at Judaism the same again. Not only was this a stimulating, wide-ranging exploration of Jewish theology, history, and traditions, it inspired self-study of Torah and Jewish philosophy, the principles of which I have tried to incorporate into my personal and professional lives.

I had always taken for granted Jewish institutions like the JCC, the Jewish Federation, and my synagogue; they were always there for me and my family. As I got older, I realized this didn’t just happen, that it required major commitments from individuals. And now, it was my turn to lead.

Favorite mantra on leadership: “One day, as Honi the Circle-Drawer was walking along the road, he saw a man planting a carob tree. Honi asked, “How long will it take for this tree to bear fruit?” The man replied, “Seventy years.” Honi asked, “Do you expect to live another seventy years to eat its fruit?” The man replied, “I did not find the world without carob trees when I entered it. As my forebears planted for me, so I am planting for those who come after me” (Talmud Ta-anit 23a).

Favorite mantra on life: Rabbi Zusya of Hanipoli before he died: “In the world-to-come, they will not ask me, ‘Why were you not Moses?’ They will ask me, ‘Why were you not Zusya?”