Thursday July 5, 2012
Dear Editor:
Please pass on to Rabbi Green my compliments for his lovely article (posted June 15, 2012) on what makes a great leader of Judaism as he reflected on his 20 years here in Winnipeg. His list of past leaders and his poetic and succinct way of summing up their contributions was a pleasure to read. I particularly appreciated his acknowledgment that the Holy One works in marvelous ways, often through people who never darken the door way of a synagogue or religious institution. I have experienced this same phenomenon in my own Christian tradition, a fact captured most eloquently by St. Augustine (430 CE): “Not all those that the Lord has, the church has; and not all those that the church has, the Lord has.” As a hospital chaplain for the past 23 years, it has been my task from time to time to call upon Rabbi Green to serve the spiritual needs of our Jewish patients who were sick and dying (and their families). He has always been welcoming, open and generous with his time and wisdom. I am so glad to see that his wisdom is being spread further afield through your publication and wish him well in the next 20 years of his ministry. Hopefully this wish will be received as a blessing and not a burden to our former Californian Rabbi.
Tim Frymire
Coordinator of Spiritual care, Riverview Health Centre.