June 1, 2011: With his recent ordination from the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York, Bruce Alpert formally begins his rabbinate at Beth Israel, having served the congregation as rabbinic intern for the last four years.

Having been involved in manufacturing and sales here in Wallingford for more than twenty years prior to rabbinical school, Rabbi Alpert understands that for Judaism to be flourishing and vibrant, it has to speak to people's lives - not only in times of joy or sorrow, but every day. Yet Judaism is not like a consumer product. To engage in it is to engage in the project of making one's life a holy undertaking. For this intimate synagogue community, Rabbi Alpert seeks the close relationships with congregants that can foster the personal explorations of what holiness means in our lives individually, and as a community.

While honoring the individual needs and gifts each member brings to Beth Israel, certain things are shared by all: the need to grow in both knowledge and understanding; the need to celebrate the seasons and the passages of life as a community; the need to direct our hopes and dreams to a source beyond ourselves. Rabbi Alpert looks forward to finding both new and old ways to meet all these needs as this synagogue continues to grow in size and vibrancy.

Rabbi Alpert is blessed with a wonderful family: Terri, his wife of twenty-five years, and Sarah and Rachel, his college and high school sophomores, respectively. Each has played an active role in many aspects of congregational life.

Judaism is a precious gift bequeathed to us by our ancestors. It can sustain and ennoble our lives and those of our children - if we take that small first step necessary to engage it and pass it on. Rabbi Alpert is excited for the challenge of engaging every member of Beth Israel’s wonderful community.

CONTACT BRUCE ALPERT AT: bruce@bethisraelwallingford.org

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Bruce's comments about beginning the new cycle of Torah study on Oct. 2, 2010:

On Saturday, we begin anew the study of Torah with the opening chapters of Genesis. You need to be there. Jews are known as the people of the book. The book is Torah. To call oneself a Jew and not know Torah is to take on all the burdens of being part of a despised minority while depriving oneself of the spiritual, emotional and intellectual benefits that come with it. Torah is about who we are - how we came about, how we relate to the rest of creation, which things in life come first and which last. Torah isn't merely a Jews heritage; it is Judaism's gift to the entire world - even those who scoff at religion.

Starting this Saturday and proceeding every week until next Sukkoth, we will work our way through the Torah - story by story, chapter by chapter. We will learn in the way we all learn best - by asking questions of one another, by sharing both our insights and our frustrations. We will teach Torah to each other and we each, in the process, will become richer not only in our knowledge but in our connections to our community and to each other.

Coming to Torah study this Saturday requires no prior knowledge on your part (though reading the Torah portion below is certainly recommended) nor does it constitute a commitment to continue. But NOT coming is a commitment - it is a commitment to prolong one's distance from that which makes being a Jew such a positive, life-affirming choice.

Please come on Saturday morning at 9:30. We need you there. We need new learners with new questions and new insights. And I think you will find the rewards of study to be not a sacrifice of your time, but an enrichment of your soul.

Plus there are bagels and lox. And cookies.