Over four decades ago, Rabbi Daniel Kerman passed away suddenly. For many Temple Beth Am congregants, he was the only rabbi they had ever known. The community was devastated. He was only in his 50s. Our sanctuary is named for him and his likeness hangs right in front of our office. In his lifetime,
Rabbi Kerman was known for his generosity of spirit, a willingness to step in whenever needed, for whatever he was needed. All these years later, congregants still share stories of acts of kindness he performed for them.
In this week’s Torah portion, God tells Abraham not only that he will be blessed, but that he will be a blessing. In trying to picture what being a blessing means, Rabbi Kerman always comes to mind. He was an inspiration to so many for so long, and because of this, he is remembered fondly by the entirety of the community. What a blessing he was and how blessed we were to have had him as a rabbi.
All of us no doubt have people in our lives we consider a blessing. Some of these are in our own family or community, and some of these are role models from the larger world. What a gift they offer us through their actions and ideals. They pave the way forward toward a better world. If you have an opportunity to share your feelings with a blessing maker, please do so. Like Rabbi Kerman they are treasures, whose light will continue to sparkle long after they are gone.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Alex