I have been your committed rabbi for five years –bringing education, pastoral care, Reform liturgy and Jewish concepts to all.

I am proud to have brought my excellent life-long teaching skills which have served the needs of students from elementary school through adulthood, including those with special needs. Class room control is one of those skills.

A detailed curriculum was developed for the B’nai Mitzvah class so that they might learn to chant from the Torah scroll, read their Haftarah, lead much of the Shabbat Evening and Shabbat Morning services, and write clear and concise d’vrai Torah. Some students were taught special readings for the Festival Days that fell on their Bar/Bat Mitzvah dates. Each student was able to shine on that special day within his/her abilities.

I taught adults and children from the Bema including speakers, new and old concepts of Judaism, a fresh look at weekly parashiot, films, poetry, and a beginning knowledge of our sacred rabbinic texts.

Volunteer time and energy were given to developing a curriculum for your first Confirmation class. Two young men were given the opportunity to learn about Judaism and other religions and visit other houses of worship. They studied and shared their knowledge. They shared their expertise in the first Confirmation service at MBHC.

Creative and innovative services were written for you. They included healing/meditation for Yom Kippur afternoon, Inclusivity/Open Door Services each year before SAJES and Federation put forth these ideas to temples on Long Island, and creative Shabbat Evening services. In addition, Family Services were made more joyful with the reading or telling of a story so that the younger children could participate more. Who could forget the kids dressed in costume exploring for us the Bibliodrama of the announcement that Sarah would conceive a child? The tradition of special blessings for the new board, new students, new families, special anniversaries or birthdays was renewed for you.

My sermons were most often interactive, giving everyone an opportunity to explore and react to the Torah parashah in light of modern day issues. High Holy Day and Festival Kiddush and Hallel were added to the temple’s liturgy. Music was taught to add to the joy services.

Non-Jewish members and families were encouraged to participate in meaningful ways in services within the guidelines of Reform Jewish practices.

Our special services offered a welcoming hand to our neighbors at St.Andrews and St. Judes for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Thanksgiving, Yom HaShoah, and Yom Ha Atzma’ut. Hopefully these important contacts will continue and expand to other houses of worship.

As your rabbi, I provided community contact and pastoral care to those temple members who were not able to come to services on a regular basis. Hospital visits were provided where necessary. I provided counseling, empathic care, and Rabbinic services to individuals and families in some of life’s most difficult moments.

As your spiritual leader, I brought all of my skills and learning to this congregation for five years. It is my sincere hope that the congregation will work together in order to grow and prosper in the eyes of the Jewish community on Long Island.

B’shalom u’vracha,
Rabbi Kathy Novick