Have you ever considered what it would be like to be a rabbi? Depending on your religiosity, there are different rules for who can be a rabbi and what that process entails. The first female rabbi ordained in America was not until 1972. Since then, nearly 400 women have been ordained in the United States. It is possible for women to be ordained as a Rabbi in the Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist movements. Becoming a rabbi is one of the many professions I have considered.
Later today I am going to a presentation and dinner given by the Director of Admissions of the Jewish Theological Seminary at my Hillel. This school is where students go to become a Conservative rabbi; while I am Reform, I still think this will be an informative session.
As I still am rather young, I know I do not have to decide what I want to do with my life right away. However, the profession of a rabbi seems to really have its benefits. Besides being able to embrace Judaism and to practice and to teach its principles for a living, there seems to be much more to being a rabbi.
Just on the outset, one of the most notable benefits seems to be the flexibility. As a rabbi, it seems you always get to interact with different people in different settings. Whether you are officiating a wedding or a funeral, it seems like you are always helping someone. Being able to teach and to give sermons also makes the profession look intriguing.
While every year a rabbi gives sermons on the same passages of the Torah, they are always reading it within a different context. As Holden Caulfield mentions in The Catcher in the Rye, the wax figures at The Museum of Natural History are always the same but he is always different each visit; I feel like no matter how many times you read a Torah passage you are always going to interpret it and apply it differently to your life based on your context.
Also, I know that through Hebrew Union College the rabbis-in-training need to live in Israel for ten months—what an opportunity! I feel like this would really enhance one’s connection to Judaism and reassure them even more that they are in the right career path.
Clearly, all rabbis are respected and admired by their congregants. Therefore, it only makes sense that the application and selection process is so selective.
This meeting tonight with the director of JTS is just one of the many career-related meetings I have attended this year. Though I am only a sophomore in college, it is never too early to consider what direction I want to go in with my life. Additionally, it is unfortunate to mention, but with the poor economy and lack of jobs, I am even more concerned about my future after college. So, a bit of advice—don’t hesitate to be open to attending similar meetings that your campus offers, you may just stumble upon an unknown appealing career!
