{"id":31342,"date":"2016-07-29T06:16:30","date_gmt":"2016-07-29T12:16:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=31342"},"modified":"2016-07-29T06:20:20","modified_gmt":"2016-07-29T12:20:20","slug":"rabbi-reimer-begins-tenure-at-temple-sinai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/rabbi-reimer-begins-tenure-at-temple-sinai\/","title":{"rendered":"Rabbi Reimer begins tenure at Temple Sinai"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>By DEAN M. SHAPIRO, Exclusive to the CCJN<\/p>\n<p>On Friday evening, August 5, when Matthew A. Reimer ascends the bimah at Temple Sinai, it will be the first Shabbat service over which he will officiate as the synagogue\u2019s new Senior Rabbi.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_31343\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2773.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31343\" class=\"wp-image-31343 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2773-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2773\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2773-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2773-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/225;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31343\" class=\"wp-image-31343 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2773-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2773\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2773-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2773-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-31343\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rabbi Matthew Reimer in the historic sanctuary of Temple Sinai, over which he serves as its eight rabbi. (Photo by Alan Smason)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Reimer, who was unanimously selected by the congregation after a yearlong nationwide search, officially assumed his duties on July 1. He is the eighth Senior Rabbi in the 146-year history of Louisiana\u2019s largest Jewish congregation, succeeding Rabbi Edward Paul Cohn, who led Temple Sinai for the past 29 years.<\/p>\n<p>Ordained in 2007, Reimer, who was still unpacking boxes and settling into his office at the time of this interview, freely discussed his impressions about taking the helm of the city\u2019s oldest Reform congregation, the largest Jewish house of worship in the state of Louisiana and his vision for the future.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy impressions [of Temple Sinai] started at the very beginning of the interview process and they continue to be confirmed and reaffirmed,\u201d Reimer began. \u201cNow that I\u2019ve started I have a strong sense of just how proud our members are of, not only Temple Sinai, but of the Jewish community of New Orleans.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Referring to his earlier tenure as an Associate Rabbi at Congregation B\u2019nai Jeshurun in Short Hills, New Jersey, the largest and one of the oldest synagogues in that state, Reimer said, \u201cI know what it means to go back over a hundred years. Great stories are told about the families that started the congregation when it first had its home in Newark. Congregants were and are proud of knowing that their grandparents and great-grandparents built their synagogue.&#8221; He paused to emphasize &#8220;I\u2019m hearing similar stories here in New Orleans. These stories resonate with me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Born and raised in West Orange, NJ., Reimer is a graduate of Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. and New York\u2019s Hebrew Union College \u2013 Jewish Institute of Religion. He also studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, during which time he sang in a professional choir and \u201cplayed a lot of flag football.\u201d In addition, he worked for the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra as an archivist and assisted guest artists and conductors on their scores.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_31344\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2768.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31344\" class=\"wp-image-31344 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2768-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2768\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2768-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2768-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/225;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31344\" class=\"wp-image-31344 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2768-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2768\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2768-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2768-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-31344\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rabbi Reimer in his study at Temple Sinai. (Photo by Alan Smason)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Before finishing his rabbinical studies in New York City, he did Internet sales and worked in the litigation department of a large law firm. He also worked in public relations and marketing for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra during the tenure of artistic director Kurt Masur. While preparing for his eventual career, he worked in various capacities with several shuls and Jewish educational facilities in the Greater New York region.<\/p>\n<p>Immediately prior to his selection as Senior Rabbi for Temple Sinai, Reimer headed the Shul of New York on the city\u2019s Lower East Side, which he termed an \u201cunaffiliated synagogue.\u201d When asked to elaborate as to where that definition falls in relation to the various Judaic sects, he replied, \u201cIt essentially falls anywhere people want it to be.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>He continued: \u201cIt opens its doors to everyone, and so we had people of all backgrounds. Some were raised Conservative; others were raised in more traditional homes but found different paths in their Jewish journeys. And there were plenty of identified Reform Jews who were not interested in joining a brick and mortar synagogue. The Shul didn\u2019t have a building and we rented space for various events, programs and services.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Unlike most of the other synagogues in and around the New York metropolitan area, the Shul of New York had no official membership rolls and no set dues schedule. As the newly-minted senior rabbi explained, \u201cPeople gave what they could, when they could and for whatever reason they wanted to. That presented its challenges from year to year, from a fiduciary standpoint. It was a very different model and it was successful, but with some obvious challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_31346\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2767.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31346\" class=\"wp-image-31346 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2767-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2767\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2767-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2767-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/225;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31346\" class=\"wp-image-31346 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2767-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2767\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2767-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_2767-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-31346\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Still adjusting to his new office space, Senior Rabbi Matthew Reimer looks over a Hebrew and English Torah program. (Photo by Alan Smason)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>As for his plans for his tenure at Temple Sinai, Reimer expressed both reverence for the congregation\u2019s history and traditions and optimism for the future.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis congregation has been around since 1870. In order for it to be around that long obviously it\u2019s doing a lot of good things and I want to continue in that history,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to build on the past and on some very sturdy, firm roots that have already been planted.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He added, \u201cI also think it\u2019s ripe for some new things as a way of bringing in younger families. Perhaps younger families that haven\u2019t yet sought out Judaism as a way of experiencing their Jewish journeys.\u201d<br \/>\nAmong some of the \u201cnew things\u201d suggested by Reimer are \u201cexperimenting with new programs and trying different things in Shabbat services. Let\u2019s look and see what might work outside the walls of our synagogue. New Orleans is an incredible city, rich with culture. I want to take advantage of all it has to offer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He also spoke of partnering with outside groups on programming; expanding on initiatives begun by his predecessor who is now Temple Sinai\u2019s rabbi emeritus.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRabbi Cohn did some incredible things for nearly 30 years and the synagogue loves him as they should and will miss him as they should,\u201d Reimer said. \u201cBut I also think the Temple is interested in seeing what comes next. What are my congregants interested in doing to continue the Temple Sinai tradition?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Further elaborating on his relationship with Cohn, he added, \u201dHe is going to be an active emeritus rabbi, which I am very fortunate to have. He and I will both be on the <em>bimah<\/em> for the High Holidays &#8211; at least some of them &#8211; and he and I are already developing a nice partnership, which I look forward to strengthening.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Reimer also confides he is looking forward to sharing the bimah with Temple Sinai\u2019s resident cantor, Joel Colman. An avid singer himself, Reimer noted, \u201cCantor Coleman and I are looking forward to doing some good stuff together. We\u2019re already doing some great collaborations.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_31348\" style=\"width: 277px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Reimer_head.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31348\" class=\"wp-image-31348 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Reimer_head-267x300.jpg\" alt=\"Reimer_head\" width=\"267\" height=\"300\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Reimer_head-267x300.jpg 267w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Reimer_head-913x1024.jpg 913w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 267px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 267\/300;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31348\" class=\"wp-image-31348 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Reimer_head-267x300.jpg\" alt=\"Reimer_head\" width=\"267\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Reimer_head-267x300.jpg 267w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Reimer_head-913x1024.jpg 913w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-31348\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rabbi Matthew Reimer (Photo by Alan Smason)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>In addition to singing, the rabbi also noted that he plays trumpet and piano and has a wide range of musical tastes from Beethoven to the Grateful Dead, Phish, Bob Marley, A Tribe Called Quest, Clifford Brown, Sam Cooke, Eva Cassidy, Stravinsky \u201cand everything in between.\u201d He has already begun taking in the New Orleans music scene, making forays onto Frenchmen Street and commenting, \u201cThere\u2019s no shortage of good music here, both in and out of the clubs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He and his wife, Leah, an anesthesiologist, have four daughters ranging in age from 2- to 7-years old.<\/p>\n<p>Concluding the interview, Reimer said, \u201cEveryone has welcomed me to this temple and to this great city. One thing I can say very confidently is that this congregation wants me to succeed. I feel a great amount of support from our lay leadership and our board, all the way across to all of our membership.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Holding aloft a gift-wrapped box of confectionary, Reimer beamed, \u201cWhether I\u2019m getting emails or phone calls or sweets from the Maple Street Patisserie, everyone wants their new rabbi to succeed, which is a great feeling. It puts me under a little bit of pressure but I don\u2019t mind it a bit. I\u2019m eagerly looking forward to what lies ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Editor&#8217;s note: As usual, Shabbat services have been rotating at the three Greater New Orleans area Reform synagogues throughout the summer. The URJ joint services return to Temple Sinai for the month of August and Rabbi Reimer will officiate. For more information contact the Temple Sinai office at 504-861-3693.<\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:20px; padding-top:10px;\" class=\"hupso-share-buttons\"><!-- Hupso Share Buttons - https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/ --><a class=\"hupso_toolbar\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-medium.png\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top: 5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-medium.png\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top: 5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\"\/><\/noscript><\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var hupso_services_t=new Array(\"Twitter\",\"Facebook\",\"Google Plus\",\"Pinterest\",\"Linkedin\",\"Tumblr\",\"Email\");var hupso_background_t=\"#EAF4FF\";var hupso_border_t=\"#66CCFF\";var hupso_toolbar_size_t=\"medium\";var hupso_image_folder_url = \"\";var hupso_url_t=\"\";var hupso_title_t=\"Rabbi%20Reimer%20begins%20tenure%20at%20Temple%20Sinai\";<\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/js\/share_toolbar.js\"><\/script><!-- Hupso Share Buttons --><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":31343,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[8790,8795,7986,8788,8802],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31342"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31342"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31342\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31350,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31342\/revisions\/31350"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31342"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31342"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}