This week, I received a message from Yeshiva University President Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, telling me he was going to be in town for two days for the International Forum of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities , under the auspices of the Templeton Foundation. Presidents and leaders of prominent Christian Universities convened to discuss issues facing faith-based institutions of higher learning, and this time, representatives from institutions of other faith traditions were invited to speak as well. My connection with Rabbi Berman extends to my days as Assistant Rabbi of the Jewish Center, where he had been the Senior Rabbi. His impending Sabbatical year resulted in a promotion for the Assistant Rabbi at the time, my friend and colleague Rabbi Yosie Levine (now Senior Rabbi at The Jewish Center) and cleared the way for me to be hired as Assistant. Over the years, Rabbi Berman and I have kept in touch, and he takes a special interest in Dallas (among other things, he is an avid Cowboys fan).
While he was here this week, he visited with students at Akiba Yavneh Academy who will be attending Yeshiva University; he was exceptionally impressed with them.He then came to Shaare. We had a terrific visit together- one that lasted longer than either of us had blocked off in our calendars. Aside from catching up, we spoke about strategic planning and direction, our visions for each of our institutions and communities and how we can work together in partnership. I hope that exciting things will come out of his visit and I’m certain it won’t be his last.
Rabbi’s Recommendations
In honor of Black History Month, I want to share with you a little-known aspect of Black and Jewish history and the relationship between these two communities. As you know, I am a lover (and connoisseur) of Chazzanut, the art of Jewish prayer. So, apparently, were over a dozen Black cantors (including at least one woman), who served congregations in Harlem and appeared on tour in many different cities. One of the best-known was Thomas LaRue, who gained such wide acclaim that his idol, Yossele Rosenblatt, was a fan of his as well. While their Jewish status was a matter of some debate, they often sounded exactly like more “conventional” Ashkenazi, white Cantors. Musicologist and discographer Henry Sapoznik has written extensively about this unique phenomenon, and even produced a film about it. Read more about ithere and hear samples of his music here . Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky
Congregation Shaare Tefilla 6131 Churchill Way Dallas, TX 75230
