By Ayala Ben-Yehuda
Women may be able to lead religious services for the first time at the Marathon Jewish Community Center by reading ancient Hebrew texts from the altar, thanks to the synagogue's new spiritual leader.
Rabbi Gary Greene, 51, led his first Sabbath service last weekend at the Douglaston synagogue, which he describes as a traditional Conservative congregation that wants to explore “egalitarian Judaism.”
“The synagogue wants to be more mainstream in the Conservative movement,” said Greene, referring to Marathon's denomination between the most strictly traditional Orthodox and more liberal Reform movements.
Greene said 95 percent of Conservative synagogues allow women “complete and equal access” – that is, they can become rabbis and read to the congregation from the Torah, or the first five books of the Old Testament that form the basis of Jewish belief.
Currently only men are called up to the altar to read from the Torah and women can only lead English prayers at Marathon, Greene said.
The rabbi said his flock will explore egalitarianism through “open and frank discussions” and perhaps hold parallel services concurrently in the building, one egalitarian and one traditional.
“It really will be an educational process to make sure everyone is comfortable and not excluded from the deliberations,” Greene said.
The rabbi emphasized that his goal is to empower not only women, but other groups that may be disenfranchised from Jewish traditions, such as those that cannot read Hebrew.
Born and raised in Cleveland, Greene most recently led a congregation in Framingham, Mass. before coming to Marathon. The rabbi, who is married with four sons, moved to Douglaston just last week.
The Douglaston synagogue's last spiritual leader, Rabbi Steven Golden, will likely focus on Jewish education, said the congregation's president, Harvey Goodman.
Goodman, who is a columnist for the TimesLedger Newspapers, said the relationship between worshipers and their new rabbi was a good shiduch, or match.
“Rabbi Greene perceives himself first and foremost as a teacher,” said Goodman, “and you have a commitment to family.”
At last weekend's sabbath services, Greene took the unusual step of walking among the congregants and leading them in a discussion of the Torah “instead of giving a sermon that was just a monologue,” Goodman said.
Greene said he also would focus on teaching parents how to teach their children Jewish rituals, such as putting on the tallis, or prayer shawl.
Another element of educating worshipers will involve meditation combined with chanting of prayers and Torah study, Greene said.
“What you really want to do when you meditate is be in the moment,” said Greene, who also envisioned “eating meditations” on holidays in which worshipers would concentrate in silence on every chew and swallow.
“There's all different doorways into Jewish spirituality.”
Reach reporter Ayala Ben-Yehuda by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
