|
ASSISTANT RABBI
DAVID KAY
 Rabbi
David Kay came to Orlando in August 2004, as
the first Assistant Rabbi of Congregation Ohev
Shalom. Ordained by the Jewish Theological
Seminary of America in May 2002, he also received
his MA in Jewish Education. During rabbinical
school, he served as a student Rabbi for several
congregations, including Shalom Independent
Congregation of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Active in the Jewish Deaf community since
1990, Rabbi Kay is a regular presenter at the
biennial Jewish Deaf Congress conferences,
serving as one of the conference rabbis in
2003 and 2005. He also conducted High Holiday
services in voice and sign language at the
Rochester Institute of Technology / National
Technical Institute of the Deaf for five years,
and conducted services and taught for the Hebrew
Association of the Deaf of New York and Congregation
Bene Shalom of the Deaf in Skokie, IL.
Rabbi Kay is was a founding member of the
Jewish Theological Seminary’s a cappella
group, Note-Nim. Between his graduation from
the University of Illinois in 1978 with a Bachelor
of Science degree from the Department of Ecology,
Ethology, and Evolution and attending rabbinical
school, Rabbi Kay worked for an animal welfare
organization in his native Chicago while playing
in an original rock band, an acoustic duo,
and performing solo. Although denied fame and
fortune in the music industry, Rabbi Kay can
be heard as the voice of Haman in the video,
audio CD, and educational software versions
of Purim Rock!, a clay-mation rock-opera interpretation
of the Book of Ruth.
Rabbi Kay, his wife Joanne, and their son
Jonah are delighted to be part of the Ohev
Shalom family, and continue to believe with
a perfect faith that this is a rebuilding year
for their beloved Cubs . . . just wait ‘til
next year!
Message
from Rabbi Kay
Whenever friends and family from up north
start to feel a little bit jealous that Joanne,
Jonah, and I live in sunny Orlando, they usually
say, “Well – I would miss the change
of seasons.” That’s what we thought,
too, when we first moved to Florida . . . but
we’ve since changed our minds.
Floridians like to joke that there are only
two seasons here: “tourist” and “off.” We’ve
discovered, though, that central Florida is
much more than theme parks and coastal beaches
and the Kennedy Space Center. We have come
to realize that the milder weather has two
remarkable and positive effects.
First, it makes you pay closer attention to
the world around you. The seasons do change
here, but the changes are much more gradual
and subtle than farther north. Second, since
you can be out and about all year ‘round,
there’s much more opportunity to meet
people in the community.
Our Sages, of blessed memory, taught: Al tif’ros
min hatzibbur – “Do not separate
yourself from the community.” This advice
might have originally been directed toward
the religious leaders of the time, as a warning
to not let their knowledge and authority go
to their heads. Over the centuries, though,
we’ve understood how it applies to everyone.
After all, it is the unique combination of
skills, experience, and personality in each
individual that makes a community what it is.
There are many opportunities for every individual
to be part of the Ohev Shalom community – and
we’re always interested in hearing new
ideas for more. Whether you’re new to
Orlando, already an Ohev Shalom member, considering
relocating, or just “shul-shopping,” there’s
a place for you in our congregational family.
Keep in touch!
L’shalom,
David E. Kay
Assistant Rabbi
 |
