Honoring our teachers – a very personal ritual

It’s not every day that we get to thank someone who has played a critical role in our development as a person, a learner, a member of society.  We know how important it is to honor parents and teachers, but we often take it for granted. I know I do.

So it gave me great joy when I had the opportunity to honor a teacher and thank him face to face for sharing his wisdom and heart, and giving me the life skills to pursue a love of Judaica.

On October 23, I participated in an event at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York to celebrate my former professor and faculty advisor, Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, who taught Jewish history and mentored me at JTS 54 years ago. He went on to become Chancellor of JTS, the seminary of the Conservative movement for some 20 years. He lead the institution into the 21st century on many fronts, not the least of which was embracing the ordination of women into the rabbinate, and granting cantorial degrees to women.

At the event, Dr. Schorsch, 91, was celebrated at a faculty luncheon, and in a separate ceremony, I thanked him face to face after 50 years, and dedicated a mezuzah to him, affixed to the doorpost of the Chancellor’s suite.  Though he had taught and mentored thousands of students as a teacher and JTS leader, he was visibly moved as we stood and expressed our thanks to him.

We are who we are because of those who came before us.  But even the rabbis sometimes forget to prepare us for the joy we experience when we carry out the mitzvah of honoring parents and teachers. So it was fitting how much I learned on the day I thanked the teacher, rabbi and scholar who cared enough to guide and inspire this 20 year old student half a century ago.

Stephen Freed, Ritual Committee

Photo: Chancellor Schwartz, Stephen Freed and Chancellor Emeritus Schorsch