Dear Valley Beth Shalom Community,
I have derived great meaning and inspiration from God’s charge to Abraham and Sarah to go — Lech Lecha. In Genesis 12, Abraham and Sarah journey without a certain destiny for a promising future. In many ways, I feel like I have endeavored to chart a similar path with my wife Blair and our family. It is a privilege to finally know that my destination is Valley Beth Shalom. It is an incredible honor to be named as the next Senior Rabbi at VBS, and also humbling to follow in the footsteps of Rabbi Schulweis (z”l) and Rabbi Feinstein and build upon their inspiring accomplishments.
With tremendous excitement, my family plans to move to the valley and join VBS this Summer. I’d like to offer thanks to the Search Committee, the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, the Board of Trustees, and all of the lay leaders and staff who helped welcome me into the community. I enthusiastically await July, when I will join an all-star team of clergy and staff, and create a partnership with outstanding lay leadership. Since attending the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at AJU, I have respected Rabbi Feinstein and viewed him as a mentor. Rabbi Feinstein is and always will be a tremendous resource for the VBS community, and it is an incredible opportunity to begin my tenure by collaborating with him and drawing upon his wealth of wisdom and experience.
I’d also like to thank Adat Shalom for the past seven years in which I’ve grown as a Rabbi and as a person. My seven years there will always remain an integral part of my personal and professional journey. Although my office will now move, I recognize that I forged lifelong relationships there.
Abraham and Sarah’s decision to begin walking set down a Jewish tradition for all of us to pursue a better future. It is an optimistic outlook that we have maintained for thousands of years as a people. It is a perspective that we teach our children to continue. Along with my wife Blair, and our children Shelby, Simon, and Maddy, we look forward to meeting all of you. Most of all, my family and I look forward to walking with all of you throughout our journeys and crafting a robust, bright future together.
B’Shalom,
Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz
