JCV Blog

January 29, 2023

Dear Fellow Congregants,
I hope this message finds you doing well and that you are enjoying the beautiful weather and sunny skies. I have some exciting information to share with the congregation.

Since the departure of Rabbi Schull, there has been considerable thought and effort regarding the next steps in having spiritual leadership for the JCV. Toward that outcome, I want to share the following actions:

• Cantor Marci has very willingly agreed to take on additional clergy responsibilities and help in any fashion needed.
• A search committee has been formed that will take on the task of identifying a new rabbi.
• Our ritual committee along with several lay leaders will assist in religious events.
• We are fortunate to have reached an agreement with Rabbi Jennifer Singer, the rabbi emerita of Congregation Kol HaNeshama in Sarasota, Florida. Since retirement at the end of 2022, Rabbi Singer is concentrating on writing as SRQJew, serving as a community rabbi, and leading the Sarasota Liberal Yeshiva as dean. She was ordained as both a rabbi and spiritual director by ALEPH: The Alliance for Jewish Renewal in 2017, and earned an MA in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2006. She also holds a BA in Journalism. Rabbi Jennifer (as she likes to be called) prides herself in being a vibrant and passionate service leader, teacher, storyteller, writer, and spiritual guide. Rabbi Jennifer will conduct two services per month at the JCV with the schedule being coordinated by the ritual committee and Cantor Marci. The schedule will be posted on the JCV website.

During this transition period, we will continually keep you, our congregants, updated with relevant information concerning clergy activities and religious events. We are confident that the JCV will move forward and sustain ourselves as the religious, social, and spiritual congregation that each of us cherishes.

All the very best.

Eli Rapaport, President
Jewish Congregation of  Venice