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October 24, 2003
Honoring Rabbi Singer
Shaarey Tefilah to hold Shabbaton for religious leader.
CIGAL SHENE SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Five years ago, I came to Shaarey Tefilah for a Passover dinner.
At that unforgettable seder, I had no idea how much Rabbi Ross Singer,
his wife, Emily, and their congregation would influence and touch
my life. Speaking to some other synagogue congregants, it seems
that this opinion is shared by many.
"I really value the haimish [homey] participatory style
and the diversity of the congregation," said Max Pinsky. "Rabbi
Singer exhibits a maturity way beyond his years and demonstrates
his tolerance and respect for all viewpoints with humility and a
deep love of our traditions."
Naomi Voss-Potter enjoys the welcoming atmosphere for women.
"Shaarey Tefilah is a special place because it is open to women
taking a more active role in Jewish rituals," she said. "The
community is friendly and warm for us and for our children. The
rabbi's sermons are often lessons I can apply to my daily life."
Randy Milner, another Shaarey Tefilah-nik, agrees.
"I like the opportunity to participate in services and that
people are accepted for what and who they are," he said. "Rabbi
Singer is successful in making Judaism relevant to our daily lives;
each day, he brings opportunity to express his Judaism, as well
as ours."
Alan Posthuma said Singer's spiritual leadership raises his level
of awareness and that, in turn, raises his level of observance.
For his part, Singer said his decision to become a rabbi stemmed
from his love of learning Torah.
"I became a pulpit rabbi because Rabbi Avi Weiss inspired me,"
he said. "In his synagogue, he provided excellent opportunities
for social action and was giving people powerful prayer experiences.
I didn't see other synagogues doing what his was [doing]. In my
own way, I wanted to bring his model to another synagogue."
Recently, Singer received a second semichah (rabbinical ordination)
from Rav Mordechai Tendler of Muncy, N.Y. His first semichah was
from the Institute for Traditional Judaism (also known as Metivta).
I wanted to go to a place that was intellectually open and as apolitical
as possible," Singer said of his choice to study at Metivta.
Singer decided to get a second ordination that would be accepted
by some parts of Orthodoxy that didn't accept his first one.
"Rabbi Weiss recommended that I get semichah with Rav Tendler,"
he explained. "I was excited about getting semichah from the
grandson of Rav Moshe Feinstein, one of the 20th century's greatest
poskim (interpreters of Jewish law)."
Singer thinks the success of Shaarey Tefilah is due in great part
to the friendly atmosphere.
"Shaarey Tefilah is an intimate, haimish community with musical
participatory prayer services," said Singer, who has been with
the synagogue since 1996. "It is a place where people from
different backgrounds can feel comfortable about learning. It uses
a halachic approach [an approach based on Jewish laws] that
confronts contemporary issues with an appreciation of the times
and an integrity to the system."
For the future, Singer would like to see Shaarey Tefilah become
a locale for social action, as well as religious learning.
"[I'd like to see] a synagogue where the song of prayer makes
the walls shake; where people feel they can come and gain insight
from Torah in all sincere human intellectual endeavor; where social
action and acts of loving-kindness are a part of the daily activities
of the synagogue; where people feel that the best way to become
a better person and make the world a better place is by being a
member [here]."
Shaarey Tefilah is hosting a Shabbaton honoring Singer's accomplishments
at Shaarey Tefilah on Friday, Nov. 7, and Saturday, Nov. 8. It will
include Friday night services and dinner, Saturday lunch and learning,
seudah shelishit (the third Shabbat meal) and a Melave
Malka (a celebration to escort out the Shabbat Queen). Special
guests attending are Rabbi Mordechai Friedfertig and Rabbi Aaron
Frank. Both rabbis are former chavrutas (study partners)
and friends of Singer's who share his religious vision. For more
information, call 604-873-2700.
Cigal Shene is a member of Shaarey Tefilah Synagogue.
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