Rabbi Jenn Mangold’s Personal Statement
Watching the sunrise at the St. Petersburg Pier is a ritual for me and my family.
Every morning God reveals a unique work of creation, a glorious painting across the sky.
Holding my children in my arms, I sing a prayer, expressing gratitude for the gift of life.
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel taught, “Our goal should be to live life in radical
amazement...get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for
granted. Everything is phenomenal...to be spiritual is to be amazed.”
Striving to live my life in radical amazement, I am eager to discover entrances to
holiness that fill me with awe and connect me to an energy greater than myself. What a
blessing it is to accompany individuals on their journeys, as they discover their own
entrances to holiness.
Providing pastoral care to congregants is one of my most meaningful entrances to
holiness. Pastoral care does not only happen in a hospital room. It happens at the oneg
when a loving husband shares how painful his partner’s medical treatments have been for
their family. It happens on a youth group field trip, when a student shares her feelings of
anxiety. In these spontaneous moments, I strive to be a warm, empathetic rabbi, ready to
listen.
One of my most transformative pastoral experiences was supporting a man who
had been robbed at gunpoint. After listening to this man’s trauma and confirming he had
the necessary support, I invited him to services where he and our community prayed the
Birkat HaGomel, a prayer recited after one survives a dangerous situation. Speaking
directly to him from the bimah, I gave him and his partner a blessing. As I prayed to God
to surround them with comfort, I felt the sacred presence of community embracing him as
he began the healing process.
Building community is an entrance to holiness that continually fills me with awe.
Experiencing the Divine in my relationships with others, I feel tremendous joy in helping
people create their own meaningful relationships within our community. Building
community starts with honoring and respecting all individuals and meeting them exactly
where they are on their unique path. I strive to help members of the LGBTQIA+
community and interfaith families feel cherished. My goal is for each person to know that
our synagogue is a place where they matter, a place where they belong, a place where they
will be embraced for their authentic self.
Another entrance to holiness is teaching. Education is an opportunity for
individuals to learn, grow, and form meaningful friendships; I delight in witnessing Jewish
teachings inspire people and enrich their lives. Jewish tradition contains gems of wisdom
and spirit for every generation. Whether I am playing guitar and sharing stories with
toddlers, acting out Torah skits with fourth graders, helping teens prepare to become b’nei
mitzvah, teaching adults Talmud, or studying Mussar with nursing home residents, I relish
the opportunity to teach Judaism to individuals of all ages.
Creating innovative and relevant Jewish experiences allows me to invite
individuals to enter new and exciting entrances to holiness. I believe in engaging
community inside and outside the walls of the synagogue in an effort to bring them
comfort, joy, and inspiration. I enjoy leading special services, classes, and events at parks,
beaches, restaurants, and homes. I enjoy engaging in social justice projects with
congregants, as we work together with the greater community, living out our Jewish value
of tikkun olam, repairing the world.
Radical amazement is not only about enjoying the sunrises, the extraordinary
moments that take place under the chuppah, in the hospital, or on the bimah. Radical
amazement is about discovering holiness in everyday tasks and challenges. Radical
amazement is about remaining present, patient, and flexible, even on those cloudy days
when the sun is hidden.
No matter the weather, I strive to experience holiness in the rhythm of
congregational life. Collaborating with staff and lay leaders, making critical decisions,
reflecting on the synagogue’s finances, providing supervision, fostering camaraderie
among my team, resolving differences among volunteers, listening and addressing a
member’s concern, these experiences are all part of the sacred work that I feel blessed to
take part in as a rabbi.
I am eager to learn about the possibility of serving as your rabbi and collaborating
with your team. I am thankful for the holy moments I have experienced throughout my
rabbinate, and I look forward to exploring the opportunity to experience life’s blessings
with your community.
Rabbi Jenn Mangold
Thu, May 2 2024 24 Nisan 5784