CARLSBAD, California (Press Release) — The Jewish Collaborative of San Diego (JCo) has announced the formation of a new North San Diego County synagogue describing itself as “multi-generational, post denominational, democratic and highly participatory.”
It will be led by the husband and wife team of Rabbi Josh Burrows and Rabbi/ Cantor Gabi Arad starting this month with the congregation’s inaugural High Holy Day services, which are free to anyone who desires to participate.
Rabbi Josh and Cantor Gabi both received their training at Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion, which is an arm of the Reform movement. Before moving to San Diego County, Rabbi Josh served as assistant rabbi at the Washington Hebrew Congregation in the nation’s capital, while Gabi completed rabbinical school and caring for their first daughter Noa.
Subsequently, the married clergy members reversed roles. Gabi took a job as the cantor at Temple Sinai in Roslyn, New York, and Josh stayed at home taking care of Noa and working on a novel, which still is being completed.
Temple Solel in Cardiff by the Sea brought the family to California when Josh became its associate rabbi .
Describing the mission of an alternative congregation, Josh and Gabi write on the JCo website: “The traditional model calls for synagogues in America is to organize along demographic lines. Brotherhood is for men, Sisterhood is for women. The JCoSD organizes along lines of interest and inspiration. If art is your thing, we want you to join our art group, if meditation is what calls you, we want you to join our meditation group, and if you’re inspired to create your own group, we want to help you to do that.”
They add: “We have already begun to organize these initial interest groups, which we call cohort groups or cohorts. Our initial cohort groups are being organized around the following themes: The Arts, Scholarly Pursuits, Social Action, Meditation / Mindfulness / Prayer Healing,”
More information about High Holy Day services and JCo membership may be obtained by visiting the website at www.jcosd.com, or phoning (760) 707-7111.
*
Preceding provided by the Jewish Collaborative of San Diego
Pingback: JCo in the San Diego Jewish World | The Jewish Collaborative of San Diego