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HUMORIST RABBI ROSEN DECLARED "IRRELEVANT" © 2004 Jordan Margolis by our Cub Investigative Reporter, Jordan Margolis In a dramatic and unprecedented meeting, the JRC Board of Directors passed a resolution declaring their own Rabbi to be "irrelevant." "Well, let's not forget, we are a Reconstructionist Shul," deadpanned JRC President Bruce Kaskel. Kaskel expressed surprise at the news-worthiness of the unanimous vote: "Let's face it, if our movement doesn't need a God, what's the big deal about us managing just fine without a rabbi, even when we have one?" In fact, many Reconstructionist congregations or Havurot neither need nor want a rabbi. But this appears to be the first established synagogue. THAT HAS A RABBI to declare him "irrelevant." Like their President, other Board members were similarly nonplussed about their resolution. Immediate Past President Ken Ross said; Brad, I mean Brant Rosen is a nice guy, fairly knowledgeable and pretty darn good at delivering a punch line when Executive Board Meetings get boring, but come on, he's from L.A.-this decision should be a compliment to Grant, I mean Brant. Even More-Remote Past President Reese Gratch echoed the universal "nbd" (no big deal) party line. "Look, I headed the Rabbi Search Committee which hired him and, to be honest, I don't remember any of the other candidates. But since he's been here, I actually have remembered a couple of the other candidates' names." That tepid endorsement was heartily seconded by the So Distant-Almost Not Even Remembered Past President Vickie Kory who, when asked for her candid opinion of Rabbi Rosen, replied; (Who?( Then, after checking the JRC Archieves (which Korey still hides in her basement) to confirm that Arnie Rachlis is STILL on Sabbatical, Korey confessed; (I never really considered Brant Rosen to be My Rabbi when I was President.( (Editor's note: Richard Hirsh, not Brant Rosen, was JRC's rabbi during Vickie Korey's term.) Not surprisingly, the only member critical of the resolution was JRC Acting Cantor Howard Friedland. (First of all, I(m not really (acting( as a Cantor, I just play one on the Bimah. But since I(ve been his partner at services, what(s his name has only called out the wrong page number a couple of times; and, let(s face it, the prayer book do open backwards. And he knows every single word of the opening Nigun.( The Reconstructionist Federation could not be reached for comment but the Rabbinical College did issue this official statement: (After Smicha, it is our policy not to inject ourselves into the pulpit affairs of our graduates and their congregations. (Unless, of course, some past tuition is still due.)( Editor's Note: Whereas most synagogue newsletters would consider it necessary to provide Rabbi Rosen's perspective on the controversy, this Editorial Board will never be presured by any lame duck official, especially where no money changes hand! PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION |
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