Every Torah portion is named for its first significant opening word. The first Torah portion Bereshit is called that because the first word of the entire Torah is Bereshit – in the beginning. Noach is called that because the third word of the portion after words meaning ‘this is the story’ is Noach – Noah. Lech L’cha, last week’s portion and the one which we read at Rabbi Debbie’s induction some years ago, is named for its fifth and sixth words after words meaning ‘God said to Avram’ – lech l’cha – get up and get going – which were appropriate words for Rabbi Debbie’s induction.
This Shabbat Our portion is vayera, which is its very first word. Abraham opens his eyes and God appears to him, Vayera. What is actually right in front of Abraham is three people, visitors whom he doesn’t know – but Abraham sees God in them. He opens his eyes to amazing potential.
Throughout the now nearly two decades that I known Rabbi Tanya, I have experienced her as a woman whose eyes are truly open to possibilities that others cannot necessarily see. Through her vision she brings great life to the Jewish community.
As she became an adult in Belarus her eyes were open to Judaism as the Soviet Union’s restrictions were lifted and she created a Jewish path in Minsk that led to her Rabbinate, soon bringing her wonderful son Artur with her. Like Abraham and Isaac in our portion whose eyes were open to the Jewish future the two of them walked on together – and now Artur is a much valued teacher here in our Orot Cheder and an integral member of the EHRS Security Team.
Becoming Rabbi at Nottingham Progressive Synagogue in 2009, Rabbi Tanya’s eyes were open to the potential for this now thriving Liberal Jewish community, and her leadership helped it to grow and become a true Jewish community centre for the city over her twelve years there. Through her, the families of the city were blessed.
Like Hagar in our portion today, Tanya saw the wellspring of interfaith co-operation in the city. She became the first Rabbi ever to join the Shrievalty committee, advising the Sheriff of Nottingham, and she worked with members of the Jewish and Muslim communities in Nottingham to set up the Shalom Salaam Kitchen to provide nutritious food to the homeless and hungry for the city.
Just as the tears of the angel who stayed Abraham’s hand are in Midrash said to have dropped into the eyes of Isaac giving him the power to be the next generation of the Jewish people, so Rabbi Tanya has been the Rabbi who co-ordinates the placements of student Rabbis in Leo Baeck College. She ensures they can gain experience and learn to be the best in themselves as leaders. In her Rabbinic career she follows the advice of the sages of the Great Assembly in the earliest years of Rabbinic Judaism and is raising up many disciples who will benefit Reform and Liberal Synagogues nationwide.
Abraham’s eyes opened to the anonymous guests at the opening of his tent and he knew that there was the appearance of God in them. His hospitality, together with Sarah was immediate. He invited them in, fed them and enabled them to feel comfortable with him. That is Rabbi Tanya all over. When you learn with Rabbi Tanya you are fed, when you pray with Rabbi Tanya there is breakfast prepared by her, this year, her first High Holydays at EHRS, Rabbi Tanya ensured that there was food to break the fast with together, and when refugees were streaming out of Ukraine last year she went to Warsaw to help the Ec Chaim Synagogue there feed them and clothe them for their onward journey. This was actually EHRS’s first encounter with Rabbi Tanya on our Walk for Ukraine march when she spoke to us from Warsaw, having recently escaped from Kyiv herself.
Rabbi Tanya’s open eyes to people, to potential to possibility will help drive us forwards as a community in years to come. She challenges us to be an ever more effective house of meeting, house of study and house of prayer. She will bring us innovations, she will bring us care, she will bring us expertise, as leader of our Eco Action Team she will enable us to open our eyes to the challenges of the world around us. We wish you great strength and offer you every support in your Rabbinate with us Tanya. Hizki Hizki v nithazek. May you be strong and through you may we strengthen each other.
