New Mexico Jewish LinkPublished by the Jewish Federation of New Mexico

One Rabbi, Two Communities, A Shared Jewish Future

In New Mexico, Jewish life is shaped by distance, landscape, and deep personal connection. Congregations may be separated by hours of driving, while their members remain closely linked through holiday gatherings, life-cycle events, learning, and a shared commitment to Jewish continuity. For one Reform rabbi, serving two communities has become a way to build bridges across geography and tradition.

The rabbi works with a temple whose members value longstanding communal customs and a Reform congregation seeking flexible, participatory Jewish practice. Though the communities have distinct histories and personalities, both depend on the same essentials: meaningful worship, pastoral care, education, and a place where people can show up as their full selves.

In this conversation, the rabbi discusses the rewards and demands of a dual pulpit, the changing nature of synagogue life, and the ways Jewish communities across New Mexico can remain connected while honoring local identity.

A Calling Rooted in Place

What drew you to serve two congregations?

“I was drawn to the opportunity to work in a setting where community is very visible. In a large city, a congregation can sometimes feel like one institution among many. In New Mexico, a synagogue often becomes a central gathering place for Jewish life. People come together for Shabbat, but they also come for friendship, support, learning, music, and a sense of belonging.”

The two congregations are different in size and rhythm. One has a long-established temple identity, with traditions that have been passed from one generation to the next. The other identifies more explicitly as a Reform congregation, with a strong interest in experimentation, accessible worship, and shared leadership. The rabbi sees those differences as a source of vitality rather than a problem to solve.

“Each community asks me to listen carefully. I cannot assume that a practice or program that succeeds in one place will have the same meaning in another. Good leadership begins with attention to the people who are already there.”

Two Communities, One Rabbinic Presence

Serving two congregations requires careful preparation. The rabbi’s week may include pastoral visits, committee meetings, Hebrew school planning, sermon writing, hospital calls, adult education, and travel between communities. The calendar becomes a map of competing needs, with each congregation requiring both regular attention and occasional flexibility.

“There are weeks when the logistics are intense,” the rabbi says. “A funeral, a bar or bat mitzvah, a school event, and a holiday program can all arrive at once. The work is demanding, but it is also deeply personal. When you are present during a family’s moment of joy or grief, the miles between communities become less important than the relationship in front of you.”

A dual pulpit also changes the meaning of consistency. The rabbi cannot be physically present everywhere, so communication becomes essential. Email updates, livestreamed services, recorded learning sessions, lay-led gatherings, and trained volunteer leaders help maintain continuity when travel or scheduling makes in-person participation difficult.

The goal is not to make both congregations identical. It is to ensure that members of each community know what to expect: thoughtful worship, responsive pastoral care, clear communication, and opportunities to contribute.

Building Belonging Across Distance

New Mexico’s Jewish population includes lifelong synagogue members, people who are newly exploring Judaism, interfaith families, young adults, retirees, and individuals who may live far from any congregation. A rabbi serving two communities encounters this range every week.

“People often think belonging begins when someone becomes a member,” the rabbi explains. “I see it differently. Belonging may begin when someone attends a holiday service, joins a discussion group, brings a child to religious school, or receives a phone call during a difficult time. Membership can follow, but the first step is feeling welcomed.”

That welcome must be practical as well as emotional. Congregations examine whether their services are accessible to people with disabilities, whether newcomers understand the order of worship, whether interfaith families feel respected, and whether younger members can find meaningful roles. Reform Judaism’s emphasis on inclusion provides a useful framework, but the rabbi stresses that values become real through daily choices.

“People notice whether we make room for them. They notice the language we use, the assumptions we make, and whether their questions are treated with dignity. A congregation’s theology matters, but so does its hospitality.”

Area of Congregational Life Shared Need Local Expression
Worship Prayer that feels relevant and participatory Musical services, creative liturgy, and lay leadership
Education Learning for children, adults, and mixed-background families Hebrew school, Torah study, and interfaith programs
Pastoral Care Support during illness, grief, and transition Visits, calls, meals, and life-cycle guidance
Community Connection Relationships beyond weekly services Holiday events, social gatherings, and regional partnerships
Jewish Identity A meaningful connection to tradition Ritual practice shaped by Reform values and local culture

Reform Values In Practice

How does Reform Judaism shape your work in both settings?

“For me, Reform Judaism begins with the idea that Jewish tradition is alive. We inherit texts, rituals, stories, and ethical obligations, and we have the responsibility to engage them honestly. That engagement may lead us to preserve a practice, adapt it, or create a new expression that speaks to the community today.”

This approach can be especially meaningful in a state where Jewish communities are diverse and geographically dispersed. A congregation may include people with strong synagogue backgrounds alongside those who found Judaism through a partner, a conversion journey, social justice work, or a search for spiritual community.

The rabbi also sees Reform Judaism as a commitment to informed choice. Members are encouraged to learn why a practice exists and then consider how it can shape contemporary life. Shabbat might include traditional blessings, a guitar-led service, a discussion of Jewish ethics, or a meal shared by people who would otherwise have little contact.

“Reform practice is not about doing less. It is about asking what our actions mean and how they can help us live Jewishly. That can require serious study, courage, and consistency.”

The Work Behind The Calendar

Holiday programming is among the most visible parts of a rabbi’s work, yet much of the ministry happens away from the bimah. The rabbi may help a family prepare for a conversion, guide parents through a naming ceremony, support someone after a death, or sit with a congregant who is uncertain about faith.

“People sometimes imagine that the rabbi’s job is primarily writing sermons. Sermons matter, but relationships are the foundation. A sermon becomes more powerful when people know the person offering it has listened to their lives.”

The annual cycle gives the communities a shared language. Rosh Hashanah invites reflection, Yom Kippur creates space for accountability, Sukkot connects Jewish practice to the natural world, Hanukkah brings light into winter, and Passover encourages families to tell a story of liberation. In New Mexico, these observances may also reflect regional culture through outdoor gatherings, local music, and partnerships with neighboring organizations.

The rabbi tries to balance preparation for major holidays with programs that sustain Jewish life throughout the year. Small-group learning, one-on-one conversations, volunteer projects, and informal meals can be just as important as large services.

A Wider Definition Of Community

The rabbi’s work also reaches beyond synagogue walls. Partnerships with churches, mosques, schools, cultural organizations, and civic groups create opportunities for interfaith learning and solidarity. These relationships are particularly important when antisemitism rises or when communities need to respond together to violence, discrimination, or misinformation.

“Jewish security and Jewish openness are connected. We need to protect our communities, and we also need relationships with neighbors who understand why that protection matters. Interfaith work is strongest when it is built before a crisis.”

Holocaust remembrance, education about antisemitism, and conversations about Israel and the wider Jewish world are handled with care. The rabbi encourages congregants to approach difficult subjects through study and respectful dialogue rather than slogans.

A congregation can be a place for disagreement without becoming a place of alienation. That requires skilled facilitation, a commitment to factual information, and the recognition that Jewish communities contain a range of political and religious perspectives.

Practices That Strengthen Shared Jewish Life

Serving two congregations has given the rabbi a broad view of what keeps Jewish communities strong. It is not a single program or leadership model. It is the accumulation of dependable acts: showing up, listening closely, teaching generously, making room, and helping people recognize that their presence matters.

“In both communities, I see a desire for Jewish life that is serious and joyful,” the rabbi says. “People want tradition, but they also want it to speak to the world they inhabit. They want to be challenged, welcomed, and connected. That is a remarkable foundation.”

Across New Mexico, congregations are finding new ways to gather while preserving the relationships and rituals that have sustained Jewish life for generations. Read more community stories through New Mexico Jewish Link, share this conversation with someone who cares about the future of Reform Judaism, and take part in the local Jewish life that makes those connections possible.