{"id":229287,"date":"2017-02-17T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-02-17T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdnews.com\/beloved-rabbi-retires\/"},"modified":"2017-02-17T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-02-17T08:00:00","slug":"beloved-rabbi-retires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/beloved-rabbi-retires\/","title":{"rendered":"Beloved rabbi retires"},"content":{"rendered":"

Por Margie M. Palmer<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Leonard Rosenthal honored by city for years of service to community<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal may be retiring as the spiritual leader at the Tifereth Israel Synagogue, but wants both congregation and community members to know he\u2019s not going far.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll still be around. [My wife and I] aren\u2019t moving. If anything, I\u2019ll be busy driving my wife crazy. She\u2019s already talking about moving out after I retire,\u201d Rabbi Rosenthal said, laughing. \u201cI\u2019ll still be around for emergencies and special events.\u201d<\/p>\n

The last day of his 29-year tenure with the synagogue will be March 5; after that, he plans on doing some volunteer work and possibly taking some classes. But most importantly, he looks forward to spending more time with his children and grandchildren.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also looking forward to traveling to Israel for Passover.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been both an honor and privilege to be with the same institution for the past 29 years. It\u2019s not common to be with the same institution for so long,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m parting with many friends and affection. It\u2019s been a real privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n

Throughout his tenure, the rabbi has racked up a long list of accomplishments; in addition to leading many groups of synagogue members to Israel, he\u2019s been a longtime proponent of Israel advocacy.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s made countless visits to synagogue shut-ins and seniors through home visitations, and he\u2019s served as president of the San Diego Rabbinical Association three times. He\u2019s even been honored by the San Diego City Council.<\/p>\n

\"Beloved<\/a>
Rabbi Leonard Rosenthall poses with his wife Judy after being honored with a proclamation by the city council. (Courtesy of Leonard Rosenthal)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On Jan. 31, the council signed a proclamation declaring that the day would forever be known as \u201cRabbi Leonard Rosenthal Day in San Diego.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was touched. It is a great honor for the city to recognize me in that way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Yet despite his long list of accomplishments and accolades, what sticks out most, he said, is the sense of community he\u2019s helped create within the congregation.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone likes each other, they\u2019re friendly with one another and we\u2019ve built up the Tifereth Israel Synagogue Endowment Fund, which will guarantee the future. We have a great staff and really wonderful, loving congregants,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Kindness, inclusion and the next chapter<\/strong><\/p>\n

In his departure, especially in the current day, age and political climate, the rabbi also has messages of kindness and non-partisanship for both the congregation and community at large.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would tell people to not be so partisan and to not build these borders between countries. Political statements can wedge between people,\u201d he said. \u201cThe nice thing about my congregation, and the board of directors, is that we can disagree with each other strongly but we leave meetings as friends. People who have strong political opinions should get along with each other instead of demonizing each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also sees value in helping the less fortunate, including people who are arriving to the U.S. from another country.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout 20 years ago, the congregation was quite active in helping with Russian refugees. We adopted families, helped supply furnishings and we helped them find jobs and make connections within the community,\u201d he said \u201cThey were very grateful for that assistance and some continued to be members of the congregation after that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rabbi\u2019s final days at the Tifereth Israel Synagogue will be bittersweet; he\u2019s been well-loved by his congregants. He will be missed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe congregation was surprised, and some were saddened when I announced my retirement, but they understood,\u201d Rosenthal said. \u201cIt\u2019s just time for me to move onto the next phase of my life. Change can be good and sometimes things have to be shaken up in order to move on. I think of myself of being of the previous generation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014Margie M. Palmer is a freelance writer who has been racking up bylines for over a decade. Reach her at mmpst19@gmail.com.<\/em><\/p>\n

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