Rabbi* Dr Lisa Lynn Vendeland
*…to be, as of January 9, 2022
Pieces of My Story
My father told me that our family had the G-d gene while I was sitting next to him, playing with the Tzitzit of his Tallit. It became my daughter Logan’s at her naming.
My cousin Leah asked Logan at her Bat Mitzvah, “Do you know how we are related?” adding quickly, “by DNA!” The G-d gene! By the same DNA, we have traced our family back 15 generations. 900 years of scholars and sages including our 14th great Grandfather, Mordechi ben Avraham Yoffe, the author of Levush Malkhus. My ancestors were wonderful story tellers, yet we learned only mysterious pieces of our story, while playing in their Tallitot, wrapped in DNA, our connection to our lineage.
My Daughter played with these during prayers. She added knots, braided them, wrapped them tightly around her fingers, binding herself to me, them and our traditions; curled up, cuddled next to me.
When I pray, I feel perfectly connected while wrapped in my Tallit. In it I have a different feeling than that of praying without one. Author Steven Lewis said: "The tallit surrounds me perfectly in prayer, naked, vulnerable, grateful, euphoric, amazing, helpless, desperate and joyful. These feelings can arise at any moment, yet here they are different. I feel them as a praying Jew, connected with other Jews praying alongside me, around the world, back and forth through time. For me prayer is a portal of connection .I don't need my tallit to pray, it helps. All wrapped up, with my eyes closed, I breathe slowly. I feel the texture on my skin; the warmth, and I smell the fabric that contains all my struggles and potentials, disappointments and longings, everything that G-d understands about me.” Wrapped in my tallit, I feel closer to understanding myself. It is my prayer that we all find this connection.
My Cup of Blessings: So Much to be Thankful For
I want to first thank my beloved and our daughter for their ongoing love and support.
Next, My parents who instilled in me their love of Judaism.
Our Holy Teachers for their investment in us on this journey and all of my Classmates, Chavruta (study) partners, and treasured friends of DLTI-10.
To my Rebbe, Rabbi Marcia Prager, Todah is just not adequate to thank you for all the amazing gifts that you have shared.
Me wrapped in the ‘Rainbow Tallit’ and Davenning by the water both with credit to Caroline Batten Photography.
I want to thank Rabbi Gary Klein, Rabbi Emeritus of Ahavat Shalom in Palm Harbor, FL for having faith in my abilities and allowing me to teach his adult education classes during his medical leave.
Cantor Deborah Jacobson, friend, confidant and facilitator of the best , 6 year long Torah study group. I would also like to thank the ladies of Ahavat Shalom’s Thursday Torah Study, and Rev Bill Magee, who week after week and year after year, remained committed to the study of Torah from the Women’s Commentary together: I miss you all so very much.
Mrs Gayle Maller-Ahavat Shalom’s Religious School Principal for her mentoring and supervision as I Interned with her to learn what running a Religious School was really about.
Rabbi Josh Gutoff, Rabbi Ruth Sandberg, and Dr Joseph Davis who challenged me and guided me at Gratz while in Graduate School.
I am also grateful for my one year Internship under the guidance of Hazzan Dr. Saul Wachs. Just before graduation, Saul and I shared a video-conference and he asked whether he should recommend me to the Doctoral program at Gratz, or to Rabbinical School. That was in 2015. Today Henani, Here I am. I think we made the right choice.
Caroline Batten Photography
To the Wexner Foundation for honoring me as a Legacy Heritage Mid-Career Fellow.
To my clergy partner of the last 18 months, Cantor Karen Kumin, for always being there and for encouraging and supporting our community Davenning and experimenting over Zoom. We have all learned so much together.
Rabbi Raachel Jurovics and our friends at Yavneh (Raleigh’s Renewal Community) for welcoming us into their community so warmly; Yavneh’s Community administrator Lewis Copulsky for keeping it all together when we are together and even when we aren’t.
Hazzon Abbe Lyons for spending an entire summer tutoring me one-on-one to learn all of the High Holiday Nusach.
Rabbi Ori Har, my dear friend, teacher and Spiritual Director for ongoing guidance and support.
Rabbi Leila Gal- Berner, my DOS (Director of Studies,) for teaching me about Contemplative Torah which I absolutely LOVE.
Dr Faith Daggs for providing practice coverage for weeks of practicum, leadership training, seminars and seminary related travel over the past 3 years. I appreciate you and your help.
Evangelist Dr Catherine Jackson-Evans for friendship , support and chaplaincy supervision; For teaching me through our holy work together in the clinic what deep ecumenism is, while we pray using our feet, hands and hearts daily.
Mr Jonas Woodruff for helping with scheduling that allowed me to attend weekly classes over the past year.
Rev Catherine Wilcox and Rev Susan Liguori from the JED Center along with
Father Patrick Besel, Ms Dawn Marie Goins,Esq, and Deacon Michael Montelione of my CPE Cohort.
Rabbi Deb Smith, for her amazing work, Every Tallit Tells a Tale.
Rabbi Dr. SaraLaya (Susan) Schley for hours of editing, suggestions, support and friendship and much gratitude for guiding my Senior T’Shuvah writing process. As one of the other few “OB/GYN- Rabbis” in the world, you were the best “Chief Resident” for me.
My best friend Debbie McKinney for saying just the right thing all the time, hours of coffee and being my person, even though we are now miles apart.
My first Chavruta partner at Gratz, Angela Deece- Theobold, (Hebrew Mechina all the way through Hebrew level 2) who has become a lifelong family friend sharing many Simchot with us and even being a signer of our Ketubah. We look forward with joy to your Smicha.
My first Talmud Chavruta partner, Benjamin Wolfe Teluskin,Z’l, without whose unique perspective, I would not have appreciated the subtleties of the teachings. Holidays are not the same without sharing recipes. May your memory always be for a blessing.
For anyone that I may have forgotten to pour into this cup, my apologies.
L’Chaim
If you would like to honor my ordination with a donation to ALEPH,
I invite you to visit this page.
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