A Personal Statement Rabbi Alexis Berk

I am a Jew because the faith of Israel demands no abdication of the mind. I am a Jew because the faith of Israel requires of me all the devotion of my heart. I am a Jew because the faith of Israel asks every possible sacrifice of my soul. I am a Jew because in all places where there are tears and suffering the Jew weeps. I am a Jew because in every age when the cry of despair is heard the Jew hopes. I am a Jew because the message of Israel is the most ancient and the most modern. I am a Jew because Israel’s promise is a universal promise. I am a Jew because for Israel the world is not finished; humanity will complete it.

Edmond Fleg, “Why I am a Jew,” 1927, excerpted.

I am a rabbi because I’ve always been insatiably interested in and connected with Jews and Judaism – and this is the most authentic calling for me. I started hearing this call in college, among the eucalyptus groves, when I was unexpectedly and tearfully moved by Yentl – and then visited ​ ​ HUC in Los Angeles and learned my perennial favorite melody for Eilu Devarim. ​ ​

I am a rabbi because I feel there is such a thing as a calling – yet the source of the call, and the nature of the response, is different for everyone. I think every passionate person is living a calling. I’ve always been grateful that there is a role in this world for people who feel insatiably interested in Jews and Judaism.

I am a rabbi because I see how people search deeply for the sacred, even in a world that pulls us evermore toward the secular. All of Judaism asks us to see the holy in the otherwise mundane. Sacredness is everywhere; I like finding it and savoring it.

I am a rabbi because the rhythm of Jewish life is the pace of my life – the progression of the Jewish year; the cycle of life; and, the way of the week – six days of hard work, one day of complete, sacred joy and rest. Shabbat is my favorite. Yom Kippur comes next – so deeply inspiring; I like its seriousness. Pesach is a liberation for my spirit every time, as spring unfolds and we all walk forward into the great expanse, matzah in hand.

I am a rabbi because it requires me to stand always at the intersection of courage, humility, honor, and wisdom. I don’t fear the microphone, but I prefer a gentle tone in prayer. I embrace leadership, but I also like to follow. I am a spirited teacher – mostly, though, the thinly veiled secret is that I’m a very thirsty learner.

I am a rabbi because I believe in the Covenant between God and Israel, and the partnership that Covenant inspires in us to heal one another, fix the world, and show up to the honest toil that this complicated and magnificent world deserves from us. I believe in a God who weeps alongside us, dreams and envisions our greatness, and celebrates mightily when we really get it.

I am a rabbi because I love prayer – the melodic incantation of our ancient texts, the transforming uplift of modern interpretations, trying new things, enlivening the soul, coming together, and searching inward, upward, and onward.

I am a rabbi because my heart and mind delight in the challenges of the synagogue – the venerable history contained within the walls; both the monumental and incremental changes that are possible when people act together. Rolling matzah balls or looking at budgetary pie charts – it’s all part of it. Being in relationship with others who love this effort is a compelling delight.

I am a rabbi because the wisdom of Jewish living speaks to me in more sophisticated and interesting ways as my life unfolds, and the relationship with Judaism becomes ever richer. Torah, Talmud, the Codes of Jewish writing – these are simply brilliant and their teachings live in specific chambers of my heart. I find it enriching to study on my own; add a Bat or Bar Mitzvah student to the mix, and that’s when life gets really fantastic.

And, I am a rabbi because I love to share that richness, teach that wisdom, and live that fullness with Jews looking for a way to find the same kind of enchantment and meaning. It’s so much better together. Always.

To be a rabbi of a great congregation is a privilege. A great congregation, for me, is a place of learning and growth; warmth and authenticity; curiosity and openness. I love to serve and lead in a place that tempers strength with vulnerability, dignity with candor. I seek a congregation that likes to be introspective; I think it is so important to be celebratory about successes while staying reflective upon yearnings and aspirations. I admire congregations that seek to manifest the essence of liberal Judaism – looking to insights ancient and modern to inform the journey, intellectually, spiritually, and communally – with love.