This week’s Rabbi2Rabbi column (see page 4) is a timely dialogue on the future of Conservative and Orthodox Judaism, and a fine example of the sort of frank and candid discussion readers have come to expect from this marquee feature of the new CJN. 

As Rabbis Avi Finegold and Philip Scheim admit, centrist Judaism faces a number of tough challenges in the years and decades to come, but both are cautiously optimistic that their denominations will find the way forward. I think that’s an appropriate message for this time of year, when we’re all looking back, looking ahead and considering how we might improve ourselves.

Over the last few months, the nine rabbis who comprise the Rabbi2Rabbi roster – Rabbis Daniel Korobkin, Lisa Grushcow, Adam Cutler, Adam Scheier, Yael Splansky, Mark Fishman, Ari Isenberg, Avi Finegold and Philip Scheim  – have offered unparalleled access into the minds of rabbinical leaders. Each rabbi is unique is his or her own way, be it because of the denomination they affiliate with, their age and experience in the rabbinate, or even which part of Canada they call home. But perhaps the most gratifying part of their weekly exchanges is how much they have in common.

Rabbis Finegold and Scheim come at their shared byline from very different parts of the religious spectrum – the former is a young, up-and-coming Orthodox rabbi in Montreal, the latter a seasoned leader of the Conservative movement with a national profile. (In fact, each of the four rabbinical pairings – with Rabbi Isenberg acting in the position of first rabbi off the bench – presents a degree of generational, religious and/or geographic disparity.) And yet, when the rabbis start talking, it becomes clear they agree on many key points. There’s a lesson there for all of us.

Of course, rabbinical participation in The CJN is not reserved to the -Rabbi2Rabbi column. Each week, our Parshah page (see page 94) features rabbis and religious leaders offering three very different takes on the Torah portion. Rabbis Dow Marmur and Jay Kelman are mainstays on our op-ed pages. And lest you think rabbis don’t know how to let loose, I’ll remind you of the cover story for our Purim edition, “Sermons for Dummies,” penned by a certain Rabbi Hershel Ostropolier. The name was fake, of course, but the professional designation was not.

It’s clear the job of being a religious leader is evolving, just like the Jewish community. Rabbis today need to be more accessible, and at the same time face more skepticism, than ever before. They are challenged by emptier sanctuaries and charged with finding ways to reverse the trend. It’s a tough job that requires an extraordinary amount of courage, compassion and conviction. The rabbi is always on call.

The Days of Awe produce a sort of tension that’s hard to shake – after all, we are talking about who will live and who will die in the new year. Our souls are in a beleaguered state, but rabbis offer a distinct tonic. Approaching the bimah, they radiate intensity and sensitivity. The synagogue goes silent, and all eyes turn to centre stage. For rabbis, it’s showtime.

Shanah tovah to all.  — YONI