01945_Winter_2019

WINTER 2019 | 29
Rabbi David Meyer has served the Temple Emanu-
El congregation for 27 years.
The motif is water — which, in and of
itself, is a symbol of life.
And the idea of space isn't just
physical.
"When God filled all time and space
he needed to withdraw to create space,"
Meyer said. "Similarly, we all need to
create space for other people."
In other words, running the temple
isn't all about him, he said.
"My leadership style is that of a
partnership," he said. "We have our
professional staff, or lay leadership, and
I seek a lot of input. We couldn't have
done our renovation without that type of
input. It is a physical example of the idea
of inclusion."
There is an element of inclusion in
almost everything Meyer does when it
comes to preaching. He makes sure his
congregation is included. The temple's
Friday evening Shabbat service is a
good example of that. It is probably 50
percent social gathering and 50 percent
religious service.
That's intentional, Meyer says.
"I want to install a sense of belonging,
rather than a sense of just membership,"
he said. "I want the synagogue to be a
partner with families in creating Jewish
lives. There are lots and lots of ways to
do that."
For example, the collation — which
usually comes after the service — comes first.
"What do you do when you go
somewhere? You want to eat," Meyer said.
Then, after the traditional Sabbath
blessing, comes more food until, from
about 6:15 to 7 p.m., it's time for the
service itself.
"We like to make it somewhat
informal," he said. "We consider it a
way for people to take a deep breath at
the end of a tough week. We do a lot of
music (Meyer and music specialist Jon
Nelson have recorded CDs together), for
example."
Prayers for the healthy are offered, he
said, followed by a time for "good news,"
because "people want to hear positive
news about their friends and neighbors.
"Only after all that, do I speak," he
said.
"I usually relate it to weekly scripture
readings, but I also include what I call a
'so what?' message, too. Like, 'What is he
trying to relate to me?'"
Ordained by the Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of Religion
in 1986, Meyer served for six years
as the associate rabbi of the historic
Congregation Sherith Israel in San
Francisco. He later received his Master of
Theology Degree from Harvard Divinity
School in 1996, and in May, 2011, he was
awarded the Doctor of Divinity.
His belief that he has to walk a
line between rooting his teachings in
scripture and keeping it real is what has
propelled him through the years.
"I have a very bright congregation," he
said. "They can read The New York Times."
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