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Reprinted from the Stamford Advocate, in its entirety. 
NORWALK: Joseph Ron Fish was l7, and had already lived in five U.S. states, when he first went to Israel. Still, he considers Israel his place of origin. "Probably more than any other place, I can say that is where I come from," Fish said. His origins aside, the energetic, 32 year old rabbi -- who gestures as he talks about a variety of topics such as the Torah, his education, Thursday's bombing in Jerusalem -- is now a Norwalk resident. A little more than a week ago, Fish started his work as the rabbi of Congregation Beth El, whose synagogue stands on East Avenue. "I have never been happier being in a synagogue: He's not only bright and vibrant, but he's warm. The guy is dynamite," said Leonard Shwartz, a member of the Beth El since his father and uncle founded the congregation in l935. Shwartz was a member of the search committee that interviewed Fish. Of the many issues to interest and worry a 2lst century rabbi in America, Fish is especially intrigued by the question of how Jews should interact with society. "Only the Jews who close themselves off can survive in America, people say. But I am optimistic. We have something sacred to transmit to the world Ð that is the exciting thing about Conservative Judaism," Fish said. Still, he said that despite his optimism, the world continues to be a dangerous place for Jews. "There are numerous moments of horror and inhumanity," he said. "The gasp of violence in the Middle East is unfortunately more the rule than the exception in much of Jewish history. "Ironically, today when Jews are more secure in Israel, they are less secure in America because of assimilation," Fish said. His goal at Beth El, he said, is to foster a congregation where Jews of all backgrounds, including those who have non-Jewish spouses or have drifted away from the faith, can learn. "Across the country, and across religious backgrounds, there are seekers out there, and suddenly they say, "I never checked out my own heritage," he said,. As rabbi of Beth El, Fish plans to reach out to Jews interested in exploring Judaism. "They have felt disconnected from synagogues, but I think they can be places where people can be comfortable. I sort of work on a camp model," he added. In that spirit, Fish will hold "Shabbat Under the Stars," on Friday, Aug. 24, to celebrate services outdoors at a member's Westport home. Until recently, Fish served as rabbi at Congregation Tikvoh Chadoshoh in Bloomfield. While there, he organized congregation project to repair two Torah scrolls. One of the scrolls was saved by Alma Bodenheimer, the wife of the congregation's founder Rabbi Hans Bodenistallnacht, or "Night of Broken Glass," the l938 pogrom that helped usher in the Holocaust. Beth El members were so impressed with Fish, the first candidate they interviewed for the position, that he also was the last. What tipped the balance in his favor? "His energy, and his philosophy of involving the family in the religious education of the children," said Karen Schwam, a congregation member of 21 years and a congregation board member. "I'm a Jewish learner like everybody else. There is such a world of knowledge that there is no end to the knowledge you can engage in," Fish said. |
Congregation Beth El 109 East Ave Norwalk, CT 06851 203.838.2710 office@congbethel.org