When Rabbi Sheryl Lewart joined the Kehillat Israel congregation a dozen years ago, she was excited although not quite certain how she would fit in with two strong, charismatic men’Rabbi Steven Carr Reuben and Cantor Chayim Frenkel’let alone the Jewish patriarchal foundation. ‘Right from the beginning,’ Lewart recalls, ‘Steven was open and generous of heart and even though I was the associate, he was eager to have it be more of partnership, and to keep it from being hierarchical.’ Lewart did carve out a vital role in service to the KI community for which she will be honored with a tribute featuring keynote speaker Gloria Steinem on February 21 at the Skirball Cultural Center. One of the first female Reconstructionist rabbis to be ordained, Lewart plans to retire in May to pursue more study and teaching. KI was the first full-time position for Lewart, who came to the rabbinate in mid-life, following a traditional path, with marriage, raising two children and operating an antique store. She returned to school in 1988 to study at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia. She was ordained in 1994. The Reconstructionist movement, primarily an American form of Judaism, emphasizes a more modern approach to Jewish custom, aiming toward communal decision-making through a process of education and distillation of values from traditional Jewish sources. The Reconstructionist movement is the newest movement in Judaism, and the school, founded in 1967, has always admitted women. ‘Thank goodness for that,’ Lewart says. ‘It was hard enough in every other area.’ Lewart did encounter skeptics within her adopted congregation, especially among some of the older members. ‘They wanted the father figure, especially around issues of death and dying,’ Lewart recalls. ‘They were not willing to know me. Older gentlemen would come up to me and say ‘Honey, so nice to see you,’ not having a clue. It was always surprising where patriarchy would rise up. But I was always respectful, and over time one’s reputation becomes the best way to be seen as a caring human being.’ For Lewart, it was the call to spirituality that not only led her to study Jewish theology, but also motivated her ministry. ‘My focus was bringing a sense of increased spirituality to the congregation.’ One of the first things she did when she arrived in California in the summer of 1998 to join KI staff was to get involved with the Institute of Jewish Spirituality, a national gathering of rabbis who look at esoteric, meditative and Eastern traditions. Lewart pursued her studies further with the Sisters of Mercy’s Mercy Center Burlingame, known worldwide for its pioneering work in spiritual direction. Over the two-year program, Lewart would fly to the Bay Area once a month for two days of study and prayer. For the KI community, Lewart taught the growth of spirituality through social responsibility. ‘People who are affluent have a responsibility not only to give back, but also to train and expose our children to walk in that path,’ she says. ‘The challenge is to find a place of humility and gratitude and from there comes generosity.’ Lewart also felt it important for Jews to deepen their knowledge of their religion through a course of adult education. ‘We are always learning to realize our lives, to grow our souls, our hearts and friendship community. That comes out of study and learning and leads to action.’ In the years since she started the Jewish primer, participation has been steadily growing, she says. ‘Over the years, it has been gratifying to see the numbers reach more than a couple of hundred for this course,’ she says. A typical week for Rabbi Lewart is awe-inspiring. It begins with preparatory work on the Torah portion that will be read and discussed at the Friday evening and Saturday morning Shabbat services. There are baby namings, marriages, funerals and new-home blessings. There are visits to the hospital, counseling and even meeting with young women who are working for their Gold Level in Girl Scouts. Lewart’s respect for and engagement with women has certainly been another keystone of her ministry at KI. ’The focus comes back to expanding and deepening the Jewish practice by considering different voices, not just male voices, but women’s stories, as well as other traditions perhaps more subtle, mystical traditions, contemplative traditions both in Judaism and Christianity and finding God’s presence and holiness in nature, silence, a baby’s cry.’ Last year, Lewart published her first book, ‘Change Happens: Owning the Jewish Holidays in a Reconstructionist Tradition,’ which offers understanding Judaism in a Reconstructionist context. She is currently working on a second book in which she is taking the weekly blessings from the Bible and the book of Psalms and organizing them around people’s lives as an aid in times of loss, celebration and gratitude. As she looks over the past 12 years, Lewart points to several high points. ‘What is still vivid in my memory is the way the community came together after 9/11 and this remains a moving part of my life. It is very intensely spiritual to heal together as a community.’ She is also proud of the success of the Jewish Learning Initiative at KI, the adult education programs that provides an umbrella for a living, breathing entity. When Lewart arrived at KI, the congregation numbered 550; now it is over 1,000. ‘Often people approach me who want to learn and ask questions. I don’t know if they are Jewish or not,’ she says. ‘These new members are singles who are looking to understand this really ancient tradition, people in mixed marriages, and empty nesters who now have time to approach their own spirituality. They want to figure out questions like ‘Why am I here? What is life all about?” ’This is the most open and welcoming community,’ Lewart says. ‘What I hold in my heart is getting to be a part of families’ lives and offering support.’ Lewart and her husband of 10 years, Bob Auerbach (‘the gift of my life’), live in the Sunset Mesa neighborhood (near the Getty Villa), so she will not be going away. She will spend time on her studies and teaching, and also with her son Mark Shulewitz and his wife Sarah in the Bay Area, as well as her daughter Judy Amidor and son-in-law Boaz and their two children, Ohr and Eitan, who live in Israel. ‘I am so grateful for this amazing, wonderful ride,’ Lewart says. ‘It has been a great part of my life.’
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