The Beginnings of Wisdom - Ordination address

"Purify our hearts to worship You in truth" (Amidah prayer for Shabbat)

As I complete my rabbinical studies, I am aware that I am only in the beginning of my journey to You, God. My years at this fine institution have only taught me to call You by Your name. I am now obligated to put this into practice in my spiritual life: to seek Your face, to speak Your language to return always to the well of life that is You, and to the pure soul of breath You gave me.

Plant in me, God, the virtues of goodwill toward every living being; the ability to see reality as it is; the deep inner truth; perseverance and self – discipline; the balance that yields bounty and capability; the constant progress toward understanding. Plant in me, God, Your pure faith, fear and devotion, Your love and Your Torah.

Solomon wrote: "The best part of wisdom is - acquire wisdom; with all your acquisitions, acquire understanding" (Proverbs 4:7). His words inspire in me a powerful and profound gratitude that I have been privileged to be an heir to the unfailing sources of our spiritual tradition. For me, this College represents the chain of transmission of study and thought, exegesis, debate and profundity that are the pride of our ancient heritage. In particular, I would like to thank my teachers Yehoyada, Meir and Levi. Blessed is He who has given wisdom to those who are devoted to Him.

In the same breath, I also owe a great debt of gratitude to my students at the Carmel Yeshiva. You enable me to be a living wellspring, innovative and renewed, together with you, in the waters of the Torah.

To my father and mother, the gift of life that pulses in me was given to me by you. My son,Kfir, and the coming generation, still no more than a promise now, embody in their bodies and memories you and all of our fathers and mothers, back to the earliest generations. In this way, through the memory of our generations and the development of our children, we carry forward our good work within the family of humanity. Above all the fabric of my life, I wish to thank you, Sharon, love of my life and Divine presence of my home, for walking with me with abounding love and faith.

May it be Your will, God, that Your name fill the entire earth. May fraternity, hope and prosperity bloom in Zion where You ordered to place Your name. with Your great mercy, grant peace for us, for Israel, for all humans and for all life. Amen, may this be Your will.

Jersalem, Cheshvan 5765.

In the photo : Ordaination by  Rabbi Professor David Ellenson, President of the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion.