The first full week of June was a busy one for Rabbi Fred Greene and the congregation he leads, Boulder’s Har HaShem.
He called for congregants to join him for a vigil to remember the ill-fated Jewish refugees aboard the MS St. Louis during the Holocaust, an event that not only remembered those who were denied entry into the US but proclaimed support for refugees facing similar closed ports, or deportation, in 2017.
He also advised the Reform Jews of Boulder not to join those who planned to confront members of the “Proud Boys,” a right-wing activist group, during a Boulder rally, and to similarly avoid confrontations with participants in an “anti-Shariah” rally in Denver.
In an email to members, Rabbi Greene suggested that concerned Jews should consider such alternatives as contributing to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Boulder JCC or the ADL, or to write letters of friendship and solidarity to Boulder Muslims.
The activities and advisories say a lot about Har HaShem’s spiritual leader for the past two years — that he’s not hesitant to get involved in community action, obviously, but also what values he wants to forward on behalf of his congregation.
Those values are unapologetically progressive, which is not surprising for a Reform rabbi, but in a recent interview with the Intermountain Jewish News, Rabbi Greene also revealed himself to be tolerant and respectful of a wide range of political and social points of view.
Respect for the proverbial “other” seems to be a personal and rabbinical hallmark for Rabbi Greene, 47, a native of Long Island, NY, who spent eight years leading Beth Tikvah, a congregation in the Atlanta suburb of Roswell, Ga., before taking Har HaShem’s helm in July, 2015.
A graduate of Hebrew Union College, the rabbi worked with Hillel, NFTY, the American Zionist Movement, Union for Reform Judaism and New Israel Fund before deciding to devote his career to the pulpit rabbinate. His first congregational experience was in Bridgeport, Conn.
In his interview, Rabbi Greene — married to Deborah and the father of three daughters, Yael, Leora, and Noa — discussed his philosophies of congregational activism, tzedakah, the role of Torah in Reform Judaism, the Boulder Jewish community and the challenges of health issues that his family is compelled to cope with.
How did the Har HaShem connection come about?
“I was looking for my next opportunity, waiting for my next stage to grow as a rabbi and as a person. I was looking all around the country. I honestly didn’t know very much about Boulder, Colorado. The only thing I knew was ‘Mork & Mindy’ really . . . but Boulder seemed like an interesting place.
“Har HaShem’s search committee did something pretty smart in the first round of interviews: When they were flying finalists to come to the congregation, they brought our spouses with us. That typically happens a little later in the process, but my wife Deborah came right away and we did the visit together.
“We were really moved, honestly. It’s a congregation where the people are authentic. It felt like a place where my wife would have opportunities to build connections of her own, which of course has happened, and where we could see our kids building connections on their own, which has happened.
“It was really a good match. Everybody talks about finding a match. I think that rabbis . . . have a trajectory of being the assistant or associate rabbi and then going to a bigger place and maybe a bigger place. I started that way. I was an assistant and an associate rabbi in Bridgeport, Conn. and then I moved to a solo congregation in Roswell, Ga.
“Coming to Boulder was a smaller congregation. That’s a little unusual but the truth is we really found that this was an honest match. The people are kind and lovely and generous and we’re ready to go on their journey. It’s been a lot of fun so far.”
Do the feelings that you and your wife had about Har HaShem also extend to Boulder in general?
“Absolutely. We think it’s a lovely area. There are a lot of values in the conversations that are in sync and alignment with where we are. It’s beautiful. We go out on our deck and get to see the Flatirons. There’s a power about seeing G-d’s tapestry that we find to be inspiring and comforting.
“And it’s not just in the congregation. Even the other clergy that I’m meeting are people who are really salt of the earth and want to make a difference in trying to do good in this little town.”
I get the idea that you’re very big on social justice issues and social action. Is coming to a liberal campus town like Boulder very comfortable for you?
“It does feel pretty comfortable. Not everybody agrees, but there’s already a strong feeling of listening to one another and sharing space with one another.
“Not everybody in Boulder in liberal, to be sure, but there certainly is a progressive tone. My job isn’t to take sides with either Republicans or Democrats but to try to teach Torah as I understand it.
“Just the other night we joined with other congregations around the country and had a vigil for the [refugee ship] St. Louis and at the same time spoke in favor of welcoming refugees into the country and tried to communicate a message to our elected officials.
“People appreciate that we’re doing these acts of justice.”
You also advised your congregation not to show up and perhaps make a fuss at a couple of other, rather different, events recently — a right-wing rally and an anti-Shariah event.
“I agree with the leadership of the ADL that these small, tiny fringe groups are looking for media attention, so if you take out their oxygen they don’t go very far. That would be our approach to the Proud Boys group, of not giving them any oxygen to make a bigger fire.
“There are other times when we’ll be out front and center on different issues, whether it is fighting anti-Semitism or relating to homelessness.
“I’ve been talking to city council, and our congregation has been writing letters to editors, well before my arrival, and I’ve been quoted in the newspapers talking about the uptick in anti-Semitism in Colorado.
“So it’s not about shying away, it’s trying to figure out what’s going to be the best avenue for folks in the Jewish community. Different issues have different responses.”
How does a rabbi like yourself go about getting to know how the congregation approaches social justice issues?
“I try not to take anything for granted. There’s a saying out there which all of us know, that part of the job of rabbis or pastors or priests or any member of the clergy is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. I’ve always felt that way.
“My role is to encourage people to live lives of Torah. For some people there are values that are in competition with that but for me they’re not. I believe we can stand strong as a people, be united as a people, advance Zionism and fight anti-Semitism and bigotry, and at the same time talk about how we are to welcome the refugee because we were refugees, too. The St. Louis is a perfect example of the heartbreak that can happen when people turn their backs.
“Synagogues have lots of gateways. For some, social justice and raising their voice is what connects them to their Jewish core; for others it will be through prayer and community building or Torah study.
“We do lots of amazing things in congregations — visiting the sick and burying the dead, rejoicing with the bride and groom. We also think about those who are vulnerable because we know what it’s like to be a slave in Egypt and if we keep that as our memory then we have to respond to that voice, too.
“That’s how I approach it. When we disagree, we talk and we listen to each other and create some safe space with one another so we can agree to disagree and maybe find other voices where we can find our common ground.
“This congregation has always been involved with social justice work, but it’s not the only thing we do. We teach children and share inspiration and help people get closer to G-d. How do we transform our lives to be richer, sweeter and better with G-d’s presence in them? That’s what we do. Social justice is one of those gateways.”
How has it been between you and the congregation on the subject of Israel?
“I went to Israel on a trip some time ago and hopefully we’ll be going in February with a number of people from this synagogue. There are a lot of people here, in a progressive community, who want a strong, safe, democratic Israel.
“During the High Holidays last year I gave a sermon about support for Israel and people were appreciative and grateful that the one Reform synagogue in Boulder is sharing a strong voice in support of Israel, but that also has strong concerns about religious pluralism and a democratic Israel, where its leaders are going to advance a two-state solution.”
What are Har HaShem’s strongest points from your perspective?
“I find them to be really authentic. They ask good questions. They want to be inspired. They’re folks who are looking for a message and I’m grateful and honored that they’re open to the messages I’ve been trying to share.”
A lot of new rabbis come into a congregation with a list of things they’d like to change or expand in some way. Is that the case with you?
“No, I think it’s very much a shared journey. I need to deal with responses to their needs. I need to meet them where they are but I also need to lead them to that next gateway.
“I’m not looking to re-create Har HaShem in my image. I want to be responsive to the needs of my community and to challenge them just enough so they’ll continue the journey forward.
“This is a congregation that just celebrated its 50th anniversary and wrote a new Torah scroll. We’re about to name our campus for a lovely founding family [Barbara and Don Margolis].
“All of these things are going on so it isn’t just about my vision or my synagogue. This is a partnership with me and my leadership team, our lay leaders and board, the members of our community. So far, thank G-d, it’s going quite well.”
You have used the word ‘Torah’ two or three times so far in this interview. Could you elaborate on that?
“Reform Judaism, like every other branch of the tree of the Jewish community, is steeped and rooted in Torah. That’s where we are coming from. That is the lens through which we try to see the world. To engage in the words of Torah and try to make it real and compelling and to translate its symbolic language into our day-to-day lives is what I’m trying to do as a rabbi.
“I think we have received incredible wisdom and it’s a tremendous gift. I want to pass that inheritance forward. For me and the rabbis that I know and have worked from and worked with within the Reform community, I very much feel like we’re on the same page of trying to teach and connect and inspire using words of Torah.”
Being the father of children who have had some serious health issues has to affect your role and your reality as a rabbi.
“My oldest daughter has autism. We did everything we possibly could, every intervention, and she’s going to college next year. My youngest daughter has heart defects. She’s doing great, thank G-d; she’s awesome.
“I’ve also shared with my congregation that I have multiple sclerosis. There are other challenges — both of my parents died by the time I was 35.
“When you’re helping people who are facing hardship sometimes it’s a bit more comforting . . . when their rabbi has lived a life with its own hardships. Sometimes it’s comforting to them that I’m not just reading from a book.
“All of those things and more have helped me to take better care of folks because I’ve also been in my own Egypt. I use the power of tradition to find the strength that G-d gave us to respond and grow that resilience and to live with hope. A lot of what I teach comes from those experiences for sure.”
Are you comfortable being the guy that people lean on when they’re having a hard time?
“I am comfortable in that role. I welcome that role and do my best in that role.”
Are some of your congregants also coming to you for solace in this era of Trump?
“There are definitely people who are looking for support and fellowship and need a little assistance to restore their hope when they’re feeling discouraged. My role is to try to offer that, no matter what the cause is, whether it’s about the local issues relating to health care or wider issues about terrorism and insecurity when we see attacks.
“Life has always been complicated, and while some people are feeling discouraged, there are other people who are hopeful because of this administration. My role as the rabbi for each of those folks is to try to provide a framework for Jewish living so that we can do the best we can to take care of each other.”
Is your trajectory still reaching out for the huge temples, or is Boulder maybe a place you’d like to stick around?
“I hope I’ll be sticking around. I feel valued and the things I’m trying to offer are being received and I think my congregants feel that I’m taking good care of them. I’m looking for a place that’s going to be meaningful and challenging for each of us, where I can be challenged as a rabbi and where we can all have the opportunity to grow together.
“If this is going to be the last place that I serve, I’ll be delighted.”
Chris Leppek may be reached at IJNEWS@aol.com.