Rabbi Jonathan Infeld, centre, with his wife Lissa Weinberger, and their kids, left to right, Yair, Naomi and Avishai. Congregation Beth Israel\u2019s Be the Light Gala on June 4 celebrates Infeld\u2019s 20th year as the synagogue\u2019s spiritual leader. The rabbi says he and his family have \u201cbeen very lucky to raise a family here and help build a synagogue.\u201d <\/i>(photo from Beth Israel)<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/i>At Congregation Beth Israel\u2019s Be the Light fundraising gala on June 4, the star of the show will be Rabbi Jonathan Infeld, who is celebrating his 20th anniversary as the congregation\u2019s spiritual head. Known for his warmth, charisma and approachability, the rabbi has spearheaded profound changes in the BI community, both physically and spiritually.<\/p>\n
The synagogue building itself has been completely transformed, but the heart of BI has grown exponentially, too, both in congregation numbers and in participation. Gary Averbach, a BI member since the 1970s and chair of the committee that fundraised for BI\u2019s rebuild, recalled a younger Infeld, who was 33 when he first applied for the position at Beth Israel.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was young and was anxious to live in Canada, and especially in Vancouver,\u201d he said. \u201cHe and his wife had decided on their honeymoon that, if there was one place to live other than Israel, it was Vancouver. That impressed me because we didn\u2019t want a rabbi who would see Vancouver as a steppingstone to Los Angeles or New York. We wanted someone who would see Vancouver as a home and a place to raise their family.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe total change in the physical and human structure of Beth Israel over 20 years is a testament to Rabbi Infeld,\u201d Averbach continued. \u201cAs an overseer of the community, he is humble, never arrogant. One example of this is his reluctance to sit on the bimah during services. He designed the bimah such that he could sit with the congregation because he felt the rabbi\u2019s place was with the congregation, not above the congregation. That shows his humility.\u201d<\/p>\n
Peter Lutsky, a past board member and past president at BI, spoke fondly of Infeld. \u201cHe\u2019s caring, approachable and able to blend the practical and the spiritual,\u201d said Lutsky. \u201cFor me, from a Jewish perspective, he\u2019s connected the head and the heart, truly endearing himself not just to me, but to all shul members over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Infeld is proud of what the congregation has achieved over the past two decades. \u201cThe best part of it has been the building of a community with so many people involved,\u201d he reflected. \u201cWe\u2019re the largest egalitarian, twice-daily minyan on the West Coast, and we\u2019ve been able to maintain that. When my family and I first arrived in Vancouver, BI Shabbat morning attendance averaged between 35 and 40, but today it\u2019s grown to 150 to 200. And that\u2019s on an ordinary Shabbat! Seeing that growth is fabulous.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beth Israel\u2019s \u201cculture of chesed\u201d is also a point of pride for the community, Infeld noted. For example, One Heart Dinner delivers a free monthly meal to those with food insecurity, and the Soup Troupe offers a litre of soup each month to families receiving assistance from Jewish Family Services\u2019 the Kitchen. The Vancouver Jewish Community Garden, a partnership between BI, JFS and Vancouver Talmud Torah, allows students, seniors, congregants and others to participate physically and meaningfully in the act of growing fruit and vegetables. Last year, the garden team donated 1,000 pounds of produce to families in need.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Emily Greenberg, head of school at VTT, worked closely with Infeld on the vision for the community garden. \u201cWe envisioned a place where everyone could come together to be Jewish and get their hands dirty in what it means to be Jewish and part of the community,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a tremendous project to do together alongside JFS.\u201d<\/p>\n Greenberg said VTT is deeply indebted to Infeld for the many years he has committed to actively promoting Jewish education.<\/p>\n \u201cHe truly understands how important it is that we plant the seeds of Jewish education early, and he works with our Grade 5s all year, investing in those relationships and getting them jazzed up for their b\u2019nai mitzvah. As a parent whose kids went through Beth Israel for their b\u2019nai mitzvah, I\u2019ve gotten to know him well. Rabbi Infeld just exudes so much care about what he does. His work is incredibly genuine and purposeful.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Looking back on his job acceptance 20 years ago, Infeld said it was a great decision to come to Vancouver. \u201cWe\u2019ve been very lucky to raise a family here and help build a synagogue,\u201d he said. \u201cAll our kids have gone from preschool at the JCC, to VTT and then to KDHS, so we\u2019ve been direct recipients of the excellent Jewish institutions in Vancouver.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In terms of what he\u2019s accomplished at Beth Israel, he insisted \u201cit\u2019s never about me \u2013 it\u2019s always about us. At Beth Israel, we\u2019ve built our community together, and it\u2019s taken fabulous leadership, lay and spiritual. Yes, we rebuilt the entire physical structure of the synagogue, but we\u2019ve also worked on the soul, and continue to build the soul of the congregation.\u201d<\/p>\n Infeld reflected on the growth of key Jewish organizations since 2006, including JACS, JFS and the Jewish day schools. \u201cWhen we first arrived, KDHS was just getting off the ground and now it\u2019s one of the vibrant hearts of our community,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A rabbi\u2019s job is never easy, but Infeld said he and his family are grateful to have found a warm, lovely home in Vancouver and at Beth Israel.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve found people who are extraordinary, and who are more than just congregants, but who are friends and family,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019ve been there for us in challenging times and in times of celebration, such as the gala. I\u2019m looking forward to the gala, and kudos to Jacci Sandler, the gala committee, donors and participants, who are working hard to make it a success.\u201d<\/p>\n Infeld\u2019s contract takes him through to retirement, and Averbach said he hopes that\u2019s a long way away. \u201cHe\u2019s still young,\u201d said Averbach, \u201cand I hope this 20th anniversary represents not even half of his term in Vancouver!\u201d<\/p>\n