Rabbi Yael B. Ridberg: Personal Statement

I am a rabbi because I believe in Jews and Judaism. I am a rabbi because I believe it is not inevitable that Jews become disenfranchised from their heritage or uninterested in their future. I believe that the interrelationship between study, prayer, and action in community is central to Jewish struggle and celebration, because each area represents entrances to synagogue life that are holy and profound.

Becoming the rabbi of a community presents both challenges and opportunities. Every day there are voices to listen to, questions to be asked and answered - all l'shem shamayim - all for the sake of heaven. I am committed to creating and being a part of a synagogue community that is passionate about its Judaism, open to the tension between tradition and innovation, and invested in the search for meaning and spirituality. It continues to be my prayer that I am able to be a part of the woven tapestry of Jewish life that is deeply committed to learning about and celebrating the ongoing transformation of Judaism as the religious civilization of the Jewish people.