Dear MMAE Family,
I hope all of you and your families are happy and healthy. As I mark my 15th year at our shul, I am filled with gratitude for being given the opportunity to be your rabbi. I was once told that the rabbi business is “not a job for a good Jewish boy”. It is certainly a strange job and I deal with hundreds of different kinds of tasks in my role. From the most happy- celebrating a wedding or making the gomel prayer with someone who has been saved from serious danger, to the most sad- last prayers, funerals for people way too young, and pastoral healing conversations with the heartbroken. From the most holy- dancing and singing the beautiful prayers of Yom Kippur Neilah, to the most mundane- going to the quarry to buy a bottle of whisky for the kiddush. I blow rams horns, oversee converts dipping in mikvas, boil silverware in giant pots, light bonfires, sing in talent shows, and lead seders. I also answer a ton of emails, text messages, voicemails, and facebook messenger contacts.
My goal is to make everyone feel loved and important, seen and heard. I don’t always succeed, but I always try and I never give up. My goal is to make Judaism, Torah, and spirituality sweet in the mouths of everyone I interact with. I try to inspire. But sometimes I give speeches that don’t go anywhere and my biggest critic, my son Avi, says, “your drasha made no sense today.” Thanks Avi.
Often I am tough on myself, but most of the time I accept myself for who I am with all my strengths and limitations. I am a powerful healer. I am often full of joy that is infectious. But I also experience burn out, depression, and need to take the time to heal and recover.
I love Torah. I love Israel. I love the Jewish people. I love all people. I love Hashem. I think being a rabbi was the right choice for this “good Jewish boy”.
I am very proud of our shul. I am proud that the seats are filled week after week on Shabbos. I’m proud that we are kind and friendly to one another. We are truly a non-judgmental and welcoming congregation. We have a Hebrew School to educate and connect the children to our beautiful traditions. We have adult education classes each week which create holy learning spaces for those who choose to partake. We have daily minyanim for meditation, prayer, and those who need to say Kaddish for loved ones. We have the only Orthodox conversion ministry in all of Baltimore led by our Rabbinic Resident- Rabbi Yaacov Kubach. We are THE address for those looking to join the Jewish people. We have a music center with the goal of creating an intimate community of Jewish music lovers in Baltimore. We throw great parties to celebrate all the Jewish holidays, and we have a hell of a kiddush lunch week after week.
Supporting our shul not only enables all these amazing programs which further Judaism and kindness, but it directly supports me in the mission I was sent into this world to do. Im Ein Kemach, Ein Torah- Without your generosity there would be no Torah.
Thank you for making me your rabbi and for making MMAE your Jewish home. And thank you for your continued generous financial support.
With great love and respect,
Rabbi Yerachmiel Shapiro
