A conversation with Rabbi Sally Shore-Wittenberg upon her retirement

Let go, let G-d, a conversation with Rabbi Sally Shore-Wittenberg upon her retirement

How are you doing with all the excitement, from recently receiving the lifetime achievement award from the Jewish Federation of Ulster County, to leading your final Shabbat service earlier this month, to the thought of your official retirement from the Kerhonkson Synagogue, to, how about those Knicks winning their first NBA championship since 1973?! Lots going on. Lots to be excited about. Your thoughts?

First of course, as this is erev the ticker tape parade… the Knicks! As someone who is old enough to remember the last NBA championship team of 1973, I loved this Nova [former Villanova University basketball teammates] Knicks team's play and spirit. While a 2-peat would be amazing, I am quite content with the glow of right now!

As I mentioned at my last service, a lifetime achievement award is really the right and inheritance of every single human who has managed to survive with some grace, the challenges we are given. I was fortunate to be given one in public. Please give one to someone you love!

But seriously though, you mentioned that the decision to retire was not an easy one. How much has it meant to be the spiritual leader of the Kerhonkson Synagogue? What will you miss the most? And what has been the most challenging?

Being the Rabbi of the KS has been one of the greatest honors of my life. To hold space for the most challenging moments; illness and death, terror in the wake of mass violence, as well as the most joyous; baby naming, wedding, b’nei mitzvah. This is an honor and privilege. I will most miss leading musical and prayerful services and engaging Torah study in person. And challenge? Donna, people in general are both unbelievably rewarding and challenging. 

So many of us will miss you very much. Your kindness, patience, understanding and especially your acceptance of all of us, as we strive to do our best in life, you let us know and assure us that no one is perfect, we all make mistakes, and that's ok. That is how we learn and grow. What will we do without you?

I will be missing all of you too and I am so happy and content to be leaving the congregation in the capable leadership hands of President Laura Goldstein and the Board of Trustees. They conducted a thorough rabbinic search and found just the right person; Rabbi Michael Joseph! Rabbi Joseph has years of congregation experience and a most warm and gracious way of relating.

And how did you spend the first day of retirement?

The first day of my retirement was spent online with the Jewish mindfulness meditation group and in person with three of our grandchildren. I am delighted to be their “Sivvy.”

Any words of wisdom on how to handle all that is going on in the world? How to keep the love and faith when things seem to be tearing us apart?

Ahh, that is a wonderfully worded question. How lucky for each of us that we are not actually in charge of handling everything that is going on in this world. Most of us have to figure out how to sleep enough, exercise, work and get dinner on the table. To quote Aly Halpert, “Loosen, loosen baby, you don’t have to carry the weight of the world in your muscles and bones, let go, let go, let go,” and if I might add, “Let G-d.” Keeping love and faith? Not easy. And what is your alternative, hate and despair? Will choosing those serve you or me or any of us well?

And finally, after your 14 years, Kaynahorah, as the Kerhonkson Synagogue Rabbi, what have you learned about life, love and not sweating the small stuff? Let go, let go. 

If anyone would like to reach out to you to wish you well, how can they contact you?

I will continue to teach Torah, Jewish mindfulness meditation and Mussar online.

I would love to be reached with questions or thoughts at rebyedidyah@gmail.com.

Mazel Tov on your retirement Rabbi Sally. We love you.

Many thanks to you Donna for many wonderful years of emailing questions and answers, and even a couple of in-person hugs. I will miss you very much, you have been a wonderful part of my time in Kerhonkson. I wish you and your beloved all the blessings that count; love, joy, good health and enough of what you need.

~compiled by Donna Cohn Viertel, a nice Jewish girl from Long Island and BSP calendar editor.