blogs/brentspodek

It was such a blessing to be back in our communal home this past Friday, celebrating Shabbat together again!

My sabbatical in New Zealand for the first few months of this year was wonderful and rejuvenating, both for me and my whole family. 

We spent about half of our time traveling around a truly incredible country, and half of our time in the capital, Wellington, which is a wonderful small city. 

Both of our children were in New Zealand public schools, Alison was a visiting scholar at Zealandia, an extraordinary ecosanctuary with an 500-year vision to restore thousands of acres as closely as possible to pre-human state.

For my part, I spent a lot of time outdoors - hiking some of the most incredible landscapes I have ever seen, and taking part in a weeklong intensive through Outward Bound New Zealand. I also launched Good Jewish Lover: The Torah of Relationships, through the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem, where I was a student 23 years ago and where I now serve as a faculty fellow, in addition, of course, to continuing to serve as the rabbi here at BHA. 

I look forward to seeing everyone at our summer programming and the Days of Awe this fall. I know that many folks are traveling over the summer, but if you are around, I’d love to reconnect; if you’d like to make time to talk or get a cup of coffee, the easiest way to do that is through my scheduling link on the BHA Members Only Page. 

I am incredibly grateful to the board for facilitating this sabbatical, our Administrator, Faith Adams and our new Executive Director, Jane Young, for all they do to strengthen our community. Most of all, I’m excited to dive into this new chapter of life at BHA!

With blessings,
 

Rabbi Brent