Rabbi Debora Kohn is the full time rabbi at the RCJL.
Religious services and Jewish education:
We have a traditional synagogue where Shabbat and Holy days are inclusive, participatory and joyous. Friday night Shabbat services are on Friday at 6:30 pm and Shabbat morning services on Saturday at 10 am.
Spiritual Care: Rabbi Debora meets with residents and families counseling and accompanying residents and families facing life crisis. As we age our health fails and we need to make difficult decisions about the care we need, and the therapies and medical procedures we want to have or not have. From doctors and nurses we get the medical information. Rabbi Debora provides both a Jewish perspective and the spiritual dimensions involved in this time of decision making. Rabbi Debora's door is always open to residents and families. Please, feel free to contact her with questions or when you need a "listening ear".
Creating community: Infusing our community with Jewish spirituality, providing a spiritual community for our elders, sharing life's hardships and joys are the focus of Rabbi Debora's work.
THE POWER OF SPEECH
Judaism is very aware of the power of speech and of the harm that can be done through speech. The rabbis teach that the universe itself was created through speech.
The harm done by speech is even worse than the harm done by stealing or by cheating someone financially, because amends can be made for monetary harms, but the harm done by speech can never be repaired:
" A man went about the community telling malicious lies about the Rabbi. Later he realized the wrong he had done, and began to feel remorse. He went to the rabbi and begged his forgiveness, saying he would do anything he could to make amends. The rabbi told the man "Take a feather pillow, cut it open and scatter the feathers to the winds." The man thought this was a strange request, but it was a simple enough task, and he did it gladly. When he returned to tell the rabbi that he had done it the Rabbi said "Now go and gather the feathers."
We cannot make amends for the damge our words have done the same way we cannot recollect feathers.
On the other hand the world was created by words. Words can change our reality, words can express compassion, bring solace and healing. May we use the power of our words to bring love and kindness and create a caring world for all creatures.
