Congregation Emeth, South Valley’s Jewish Community that was
founded more than 30 years ago, has reached important milestones
recently.
After meeting for worship services in many different rented
facilities in Morgan Hill and Gilroy, in September they dedicated a
synagogue in Morgan Hill at 17835 Monterey St, a long-sought
permanent site for worship, education and social activities.
Congregation Emeth, South Valley’s Jewish Community that was founded more than 30 years ago, has reached important milestones recently.
After meeting for worship services in many different rented facilities in Morgan Hill and Gilroy, in September they dedicated a synagogue in Morgan Hill at 17835 Monterey St, a long-sought permanent site for worship, education and social activities.
Then on May 25, Debbie Israel, who had served at first as student rabbi and then acting rabbi at Congregation Emeth, received her official ordination as rabbi by the Academy for Jewish Religion/CA (AJR/CA), a rabbinical, cantorial (Jewish music) and chaplaincy school. The ceremony was held at the Stephen S. Wise Synagogue in Los Angeles.
Present to witness this important occasion were 16 members of Congregation Emeth, friends from Israel’s former home in Houston and family members from around the country.
Rabbi Israel is the eighth known generation of her family who has dedicated her life in Jewish service to God. In addition to seven rabbis in her ancestry, her father was the director of the Zionist Organization of America, Southwest Region and her son is Vanderbilt University’s Executive Director of Hillel, the Center for Jewish Life on campus.
From 1994 to 2000 she was the director of the Western Region of Jewish Women International, a nonprofit charitable organization that empowers women and girls through economic literacy, community training and healthy relationships education.
Earlier she was managing editor and co-publisher of Noah’s Ark, an award-winning international newspaper for Jewish children with more than one million readers. Her first career was in public relations.
Five years ago she began her rabbinical studies at AJR/CA in Los Angeles, a transdenominational school which is not affiliated with any particular branch of Judaism.
This required a weekly commute from Texas to Southern California, with “morning to night studies from Sunday through Tuesday.”
Three years ago, she moved to Northern California to accept a position as student rabbi at Congregation Emeth, shortening her commute but not the long hours of study.
Her course work was extensive. She took classes in rabbinical and medieval Hebrew, Talmud, Jewish law and history. She had much practical work in rabbinic leadership and family and crisis counseling. Her goal was to “make applications of all this to contemporary Jewish life.”
“Because AJR/CA is not affiliated with any particular branch of Judaism, my teachers represented all branches of Judaism, from Orthodox to Renewal,” Rabbi Israel said. “I was able to expand my ability to meet Jews wherever they are on their spiritual path, and I hope to bring this gift to the South County community.”
In April, the Board of Directors of Congregation Emeth offered Rabbi Israel a contract as its permanent rabbi, and on Sept. 4, she will be officially and ceremoniously installed.
New officers and board members will also be installed during the Sabbath service. Rabbi Stan Levy, co-founder of AJR/CA and one of Rabbi Israel’s mentors, will install her.
The congregation is affiliated with Reform Judaism through membership in the Union for Reform Judaism, the largest denomination of American Jews today with more than 1.1 million members. This group tends to emphasize the ethical aspects of Judaism and believes that ancient customs can be adapted to modern life. Congregation Emeth has seen almost a 50 percent increase in membership in the past three years, particularly welcoming interfaith families.
In addition to worship and social activities, the congregation has education programs for all ages: adult classes on many topics; Sunday Religious School to teach children about Jewish holidays, customs and ceremonies; and Wednesday Hebrew School to teach children the language of Jewish scripture and prayer.
Rabbi Israel has enjoyed her time in South County, characterizing residents she has met here as “loving and caring people who are open, responsive and non-judgmental.” She looks forward to not only serving the Emeth membership but also “working on important social justice issues with local clergy.”
She offers a warm welcome to Congregation Emeth for anyone “who is looking for God or an extended Jewish Community.”
For more information, call 778-8200 or visit www.emeth.net.
