Rabbi Michal Morris Kamil
Rabbi Michal envisages a community that welcomes all and sees people in their full identities and light, and celebrates each person’s unique contribution to our holy community.
Why Congregation Beth El-Ner Tamid for your family?
I can think of multiple reasons as your new Rabbi.
The beauty of Judaism and community is in its stories of the Torah that highlight heroes, role models, sources of inspiration coming from diverse backgrounds, multiple tribes, multiple allies, who all stood at Mount Sinai to receive our beautiful legacy and ‘one-ness’ of identity, made up of our many parts.
When we speak of ‘Am Yisrael’, we celebrate diversity. But what does that sort of space really mean? Let me share my vision:
I see individuals from multiple backgrounds, ethnicities, varying genders and sexual identities, interfaith couples and people across the gamut of abilities, age, languages, economic backgrounds, traditions, politics (as long as they believe in democracy and pluralism) and more. I envisage a community that welcomes all and sees people in their full identities and light, and celebrates our membership for each person’s unique contribution to our holy community, our Kehillah kdosha! Where inclusion is a dynamic imperative for action to welcome all with respect, openness, involvement and engagement in our full community life.
Our school, as an educational identity investment center for the future, is one of giving every child the opportunity to shine so that they will evolve into fully active members and leaders of our Jewish community one day as adults, proud of their Jewish heritage and versed in its values and the walk we talk as a proud and caring people engaged and active both in the world beyond, and in our community’s continuity!
As a child I grew up internationally (India, Sweden, New Zealand, the USA, just to name a few countries) and had the privilege of living in communities rich in their diversity of cultures, languages, foods, faiths, and traditions.
I worked in environments with families with Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds. The joy, the love of our way of life and values, and the eagerness to learn and contribute of both partners always blew me away and together we were responsible for some of the most beautiful educational initiatives and events in the community!
So welcome all and please, call, reach out, and come and see for yourselves our school and our community which reflects what is described in the opening morning prayer,
“The goodness of the tents of Jacob, and the sanctums of Israel”, the multiple names for that ‘one-ness’ made up of the many unique members!
Welcome!