Rabbi Lederman Brings Fresh Perspective to First Year at Micah

In her first year as Temple Micah's assistant rabbi, one thing really surprised Rabbi Esther Lederman: meeting Washington lawyer Scott Gant. "That was unexpected," she said.

In her first year as Temple Micah's assistant rabbi, one thing really surprised Rabbi Esther Lederman: meeting Washington lawyer Scott Gant.

"That was unexpected," she said.

She met Gant, a partner in the firm of Boies, Schiller and Flexner, LLP, and author (We're All Journalists Now: The Transformation of the Press and Reshaping of the Law in the Internet Age), on a blind date arranged by a mutual friend--a rabbi for whom she interned when she was in rabbinical school. She had put off going out on the date, she said, but they finally met "and things took off from there." The wedding is set for Oct. 16.

Otherwise, Micah has turned out to be pretty much what Rabbi Lederman expected. "Micah advertised itself so well that I came prepared for the great experience I've had so far," she said.

Nor has she surprised the Micah board, staff or membership. "I've not been surprised, I've been delighted," Rabbi Zemel said. "During the application process, she presented herself so strongly that I knew totally she would be a great fit for us."

Larry Cooley, board president and a member of the search committee, agreed: "We knew from moment one that she would be a splendid fit. She's smart, funny, engaging, prayerful, accessible and free-thinking. The whole package. That was evident on first meeting and it's now clear that it stands the test of time."

Rabbi Lederman demonstrated both her quick learning ability and pastoral skills with a difficult assignment shortly after she arrived at Micah last summer. David Booth, the adult son of Sid and Elka Booth, died unexpectedly in July, when Rabbi Zemel was in New York for a wedding. Rabbi Lederman met with the family

and then briefed Rabbi Zemel, who arrived back in Washington in time to conduct the funeral.

"For almost three hours, Rabbi Lederman gently guided a conversation in which our extended family recalled David as father, husband, son and brother," recalled Sid Booth. "All of us were touched and impressed with Rabbi L's compassion and sensitive listening skills. She helped us to speak frankly while acknowledging our pain and loss."

Over the year, she worked to become an integral part of the Micah community. "I see myself as part of a team," she said. The general assessment is that she has fit in very well.

"She always says ‘we' and ‘our'. She talks about Temple Micah as if she's been here many years. Already, it is her congregation," said Cantor Meryl Weiner.

Part of being a team player is taking unexpected upsets in stride. "I'll never forget her leading Friday night services for a hardy band of Micah worshippers following the [February] snowstorms when the heat in the temple had gone out entirely," recalled board member Sharon Davis. "So we improvised. We gathered in the upstairs library, the warmest room in the building, and she led us in a meaningful worship service."

At the same time, Rabbi Lederman said she is mindful of the benefits of being a newcomer with a different background and a new perspective on worship, education and community building. "There is something to be gained from being an outsider," she said, citing, for example, her Canadian heritage.

"She brings fresh eyes and ears to worship and to the whole community," said Music Director Teddy Klaus. "She comes from such a deep place when she thinks of worship and has a deep understanding of what prayer is about and the wisdom to back up what she says."

Rabbi Lederman and Rabbi Zemel often don't see eye to eye on certain aspects of worship-- something the senior rabbi sees as a plus.

"I love the fact that we disagree," Rabbi Zemel said. "The disagreements are all really, really good. We learn from each other, see each other's perspective. I'm rethinking worship because of her insights."

Cooley endorsed the advantage of different perspectives: "There is a multiplier effect of having a second person on the pulpit who clearly complements Rabbi Zemel. Duets have a different charm than solos, and numerous congregants have noted the chemistry the two of them bring to the bima and the community."

Rabbi Lederman said she particularly likes two unique aspects of Micah's Shabbat services: the practice of inviting people observing Yahrzeits to tell the congregation about their loved ones and sermons in which the rabbi answers a question posed by a student becoming a bar or bat mitzvah.

When she f irs t heard about the b'nai mi t zvah s e rmon, she said, "I worried whether adults would get anything out of it. But the questions are quite profound and I think having the sermons addressed to the kids makes them more comfortable in the synagogue. I really like that."

Rabbi Lederman's sermons have received high marks from congregants. "She gives good sermons, well thought out and presented," said Michelle Sender, a longtime temple member.

She quickly made her mark on music, which has always been central to Micah services. B'nai Jeshurun, the congregation she served before coming to Micah, is well known for lively, spontaneous music and dance during its worship, and Rabbi Lederman brought some of that with her. "Clearly the way she likes to worship is through music," Weiner said. "She puts her whole body into it, stamping and pounding and swaying."

Congregants say this helps them get more involved in the service. "The music, which is always great, has even more ruach [spirit] when she is on the bima," Judith Rosen, a Shabbat morning regular, said.

Rabbi Lederman's special assignment is to reach out to people in their 20s and 30s, age cohorts frequently detached from organized Judaism. She exudes enthusiasm about the undertaking, but admits it is turning out to be a more challenging task than contemplated.

"It's going slowly, one foot in front of the other," she said. She has had the most success organizing Shabbat dinners, which have become quite popular. Also, involving the 20- and 30-somethings in social action projects. "The next challenge is to get them into the synagogue," she said.

Harold Sharlin, a senior member of the congregation, illustrated both the toughness of the assignment and Rabbi Lederman's response to it with an anecdote about his granddaughters.

"I told her about my two granddaughters, Jenny [23] and Rachel [29] who are unaffiliated and uncommitted to Judaism. Esther said, ‘Let's have dinner,'" Sharlin said. When they all met, he continued, "Esther was the model of a good rabbi. She drew the women out on their beliefs and attitudes. She also suggested what they might find if they came to Micah. Rachel and Jenny were impressed and had some attitude changes. No hearts were won, however, but I enjoyed the meeting and am very grateful to Esther."

Something else is going slowly--her conversion to baseball. "She's taking baby steps in learning to love baseball," Rabbi Zemel said. "I'm going to have to take her to another game soon."

She's only been at Micah one year. "I do feel part of the family, but I'm still learning the language," she acknowledged. "And that takes time and work."

[By Shelley Grossman; from June-July-August 2010 Vine]