Our House of Hope in our 60 plus year history has produced a mighty line of knowledgeable and values-driven Jews who are passionate about Judaism, who are kind-hearted people, and who are devoted to tikkun olam, helping to make the world a better place.
Over the years, Beth Tikvah Congregation has not only instilled Jewish knowledge and fostered Jewish practice to generations of students, our sacred community has inspired countless individuals to go on to be leaders and volunteers in the Jewish world and beyond. What makes us ever so proud are the temple members (and a few member’s grandchildren) that have studied at Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion, HUC-JIR, the Reform Jewish seminary, choosing to devote their professional career as Jewish educators, cantors and rabbis.
This past weekend, I was honored to be a guest at the online HUC-JIR Consecration Ceremony of Benjamin Altshuler, as he was bestowed the title of Rabbi, after completing five years of rabbinic study at HUC-JIR. Benj grew up at Beth Tikvah Congregation – attending Hebrew and religious school, became Bar Mitzvah and continued thru Confirmation to the completion of 12th grade graduation. He served as a teacher’s aid for our first graders too. Over many summers, Benj was a camper and counselor at URJ Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute. Benj’s experiences at OSRUI, as he told me, also had a profound influence on his Jewish identity and his decision to become a rabbi.
Rabbi Altshuler, beginning July 1, will be the rabbi at Mt. Sinai Congregation, Wausau, WI. Perhaps this is bashert, meant to be! Today, on the Jewish festival of Shavuot, Jews rejoice over the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It is Torah that has been passed down from generation to generation. But from ancient times to modern times, it is the teachers of the Torah that enlighten us as their students. So just as the Israelites received the Torah centuries ago at Mount Sinai, so too will the modern-day Israelites of Wausau, receive Torah as they welcome and learn from their newly consecrated Beth Tikvahite Rabbi.
Mazal Tov to Rabbi Benj Altshuler, son of BTC members Claudia and Barry Altshuler. Your entire Beth Tikvah community is so proud, as we celebrate the blessing you are to us all! May you go from strength to strength.
May God bless you and keep you. May you be blessed with a week of peace.
