By Lexi S. and Andrew S.
After 14 years of practicing optometry in Delaware, Rabbi Michele Medwin was motivated into a change of career.
While Medwin was attending a synagogue, a new rabbi was appointed, who happened to be a woman. Around that time it was unusual for a woman to be a rabbi, and seeing this “inspired” Medwin to become a rabbi.
Since then, Rabbi Medwin has expanded her responsibilities with the Jewish community. She is the Rabbi at Temple Sholom in Monticello, NY leading worship services on Friday nights, runs the religious school at her temple, and also teaches adult education classes. Since coming to The Family Foundation School about a year ago, Medwin has taken on the duties of leading Jewish services on Tuesday mornings and teaching Jewish classes on Monday nights.
With the leaving of current Jewish Studies Director, Ellen Singer, Medwin will be stepping up into her position. Medwin is in the process of bringing some new programs to the school to “make the Jewish students feel more comfortable and find a way to express their Judaism.” Mussar, the Jewish spiritual practice of self-improvement, is one of the programs in the works and expected to begin in January.
Apart from the school, over the past year Medwin has been writing a book. The book is about God and helping people to find their own way to connect with their God. It is about half done, and Medwin hopes to finish it up by June of 2009.
Rabbi Medwin is now offering time for meditation, which started on Monday, November 24 and will continue through the next couple of weeks.
Rabbi Medwin says that there are two main goals she hopes the meditation class will achieve; she is aware that students get stressed out with exams and wants students to have a chance to unwind and relax. She said, “The second goal is for students to be able to clear the mind so it is open to being receptive to God and also to connect with God.”
The group will be meditating through song and focused meditation, in which one focuses on different spiritual Hebrew words. Rabbi Medwin will be teaching the techniques of meditation and walking people through the steps of meditation.
While the meditations will be predominantly in the Jewish tradition, all students are allowed to attend with permission. Students who have attended say that they enjoyed the time.
