Rabbi Michael
Moskowitz on a teen
mission to Israel.
What's
Rabbi Daniel
Nevins dressed as
Spider-Man for
Purim.
Rabbi Alter
Goldstein enjoys a
basketball game
with University of
Michigan juniors
Ben Greenberg of
Miami and Oren
Pail of New York.
Many rabbis use informal titles as a way to be more accessible.
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
Staff Writer
W
hile a rabbi once was
expected to be seen only in
the classroom, the sanctuary
or at milestone events, many modern-
day spiritual leaders have shed their
formal roles, formal clothing and for-
mal titles.
Times have changed from when the
rabbi's role was to teach, guide and
answer questions of Halachah (Jewish
law) — and little more.
Nowadays, rabbis are taking posi-
tions both inside and outside the syna-
gogue, working as educators, with
youth groups and in Jewish agencies.
Many are becoming more hands-on
and available to their communities in
new ways — and sometimes doing
what once would have been unheard
of.
One of the most noticeable changes
is in the use of less formal titles.
"I'm an informal guy," said
Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg,
whose formal title is Rabbi
Arnie. "A lot of people just
call me Arnie. I think people
feel closer to me when we're on a first-
name basis."
He may have been among the first
Detroit rabbis to expect such an infor-
mal greeting, but now Rabbi Arnie is
one of many local rabbis of various
denominations who lean toward infor-
mality.
For more and more rabbis, the
choice of title is just part of the new
role they have chosen for themselves.
"I think that the trend to call young
rabbis Rabbi Lauren or Rabbi Jon
reflects a trend in religious leadership
in America across the religious spec-
trum," said Rabbi Lauren
Berkun, director of lifelong
learning at Congregation
Shaarey Zedek.
"In churches and syna-
gogues, the goal is to create an inti-
mate and participatory environment
where religious leaders are accessible
contemporaries of their lay communi-
ty, rather than formal authorities on a
pedestal. It is important for a rabbi to
be a Jewish role model and spiritual
mentor. Therefore, the title 'rabbi' is
an important honor that is earned
after much training.
ON THE
Coy ER
"However, I am always happy when
I am called Rabbi Lauren because it
signals to me that a congregant both
respects my training and leadership
and also feels comfortable and inti-
mate with me.
"Another popular way we are
addressed is simply as 'Rabbi,"' she
said. "As in, 'Hi, Rabbi, how are you?'
or 'Rabbi, I have a question for you.' I
also love that greeting. I can't quite
explain why. It feels deeply respectful
and informal at the same time."
Choosing A Name
"When I came to Temple Israel, every-
one called Rabbi [M. Robert] Syme,
WHAT'S IN A NAME? on page 18
9/15
2005
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