1) The days in between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are not a break. They're a mad scramble to plan the programming for Sukkot and Simchat Torah.
2) Always wear flat shoes when officiating at a funeral, because heeled shoes sink into the soft earth as you're on way to the graveside.
3) Minhagim, customs, during services vary wildly. Congregations don't just sing at different tunes, they stand up and sit down and bow and face the ark at completely different times.
4) Writing a eulogy is exactly like writing a sermon, but the subject is the person's life.
5) Board meetings always involve food. Lots of food. At least where I am. (And to think, I had been dreading them!)
6) Telling the teenage boys in Confirmation class of one's geekiness (i.e. that we host a regular D&D game) elevates one's status immeasurably.
7) Closely related to the above, congregations mean lots of active, involved, mensch-like teenagers. This means built-in babysitters.
8) Rabbis get up earlier on weekends than they do on weekdays! I suppose this makes sense (nobody cares when you get in on Wednesday, as opposed to services/religious school), but it's still very very strange.
9) Okay, I'm tired. I can't think of a #9.
10) Yeah, this one's not coming any easier either. But "8 things I didn't learn in rabbinical school" just doesn't have that same ring...
I love your lists!
ReplyDelete1. I guess I never thought of it that way but you're absolutely right. So why are you writing this at midnight? Go! Scramble!
2. I have to say this one made my giggle a bit. Did you know that years ago when Savta lived on Monogram and had the finest lawn for miles around (really. I'm not exaggerating), she used to walk on the lawn in her high heels on purpose to make enough holes in it to allow the water to soak in slowly?
4. Is it harder when you know the person or when you don't? And if you know the person, how do you avoid getting emotional?
5. I think this might be unique to your congregation.
6. hahaha! I bet it does!
7. Only if you're doing something right and obviously you and Rabbi Alfi are!
8. And do rabbis every sleep in the month of September???!!!!
Now go to sleep. You have to be up early tomorrow! OH! So do I! I'm going too.
Love you bunches,
Mom
Short answers: Without doubt it's harder to officiate at a funeral when I know the person, because then I have real memories, as opposed to someone else's, and I don't want to tear up. In terms of writing the eulogy, that all depends on the family. If they open up and share loving memories, it writes itself.
ReplyDeleteThank GOODNESS my congregation loves food. I chose well!
And no, I don't think we do sleep. Or at least, not our first year in a pulpit!