The World Celebrates Rabbi Marcia Prager

Rabbi Marcia Prager, an inspirational Jewish Renewal spiritual leader, teacher, guide, and colleague, has become a model for a new generation of lay and professional leadership. Through her, many of us have forged an intimate, passionate relationship with Judaism, with the divine in all of us, and thus, with each other.

The P'nai Or Philadelphia Jewish Renewal community is grateful that in 5772 (2011) R. Marcia celebrated 18 years of serving as our Rabbi-Chaver. In her honor, friends from around the world shared these many stories, poems, and loving tributes, to show our gratitude and naches at this wonderful milestone!



Flowing Like an Underground River with Many Wells



Reb Marcia gave me the opportunity to answer the still small voice that called L’chi Lach.  She opened the gates of a Jewish Seminary and welcomed a sixty-three-year old woman in an interfaith marriage.  Acceptance is the hallmark of Reb Marcia as well as Aleph Jewish Renewal.  Age, gender, gender identification, and interfaith marital status are not barriers to her seminary.  I’m able to answer the call of the Holy One, to go to the place that G!d will show me, to go to my true self, because of a new paradigm...non-discrimination.  I am so grateful.
As I came to know Reb Marcia, I met a woman fiercely in love with Judaism, a prophet in our time, and a spiritual leader for the twenty-first century. Through word and example, she taught me the sacred art of Jewish Liturgy.    She taught me to listen with patience as she listened to me and others. 

Reb Marcia’s smile lights up the room.  But when she is listening to a person pour out her soul, Reb Marcia’s whole being is fixed on that precious individual.  When she leads us in prayer, the sparks of the divine within us flame like the burning bush and the synagogue is aglow with the fire of the Holy One.  And when Reb Marcia teaches, some of her students sit transfixed at her words. Time passes without notice. Perhaps this is what the Sages meant when they talked about the Heavenly Academy.

I am so grateful that Reb Marcia answered the still small voice when she heard L’chi Lach.  It would be easier to sit it out, take pictures of life, and observe from a distance.  The stress of teaching, preaching, counseling, leading in prayer would be gone if Marcia Prager had simply ignored the call.  But then, because of her life work  the rabbis, rabbinic pastors, spiritual directors, and cantors ordained through Aleph would not have had her influence.  Perhaps, they would not have had smicha at all. 
Nadyne Lee

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