Rabbi Raphael

Leading proponent of “big-tent” Judaism

A national leader in Reform Jewish education, Rabbi Raphael became Sherith Israel’s ninth senior rabbi in 2003 following 30 years as a faculty member and a dean at Hebrew Union College in New York (1973-2003). He was succeeded as senior rabbi on July 1, 2016, by Rabbi Jessica Zimmerman Graf. 

Rabbi Raphael, a teacher of rabbis and keen observer of the national Jewish scene, brought his commitment, vision, purpose and faith to Sherith Israel. He shepherded the congregation from strength to strength during a time of generational change in San Francisco and the American Jewish world. His lasting legacy includes creating a big tent for Judaism at our Reform congregation, building community in a city of changing demographics and culture, and committing to the challenge of bringing the historic synagogue into compliance with the city’s seismic retrofit mandate. 

Big-tent Judaism

A proponent of “big-tent Judaism,” Rabbi Raphael opened the doors and hearts of the congregation to create a spiritual home for interfaith families and Jews by choice. Early in his tenure he called non-Jewish spouses and partners up to the bimah for a blessing during Yom Kippur services. He thanked them for driving their children to Hebrew school and supporting their Jewish partners. The message, he explains, is that you don’t have to be Jewish to be part of the community. “After coming to Sherith Israel I had to rethink this matter when I saw that many couples with one Jew wanted to be married in the Jewish tradition and make a home at our synagogue,” he says. “I don’t know what the Jewish future would be like without welcoming non-Jewish family members.”

Rabbi Raphael has also worked extensively with adults who have chosen Judaism—more than 53 in his 13 years at Sherith Israel. “When I came here I had no experience working with non-Jews in a Jewish context,” he notes. “After numerous conversations with people interested in Judaism and in becoming Jewish, I realized we needed to offer an Introduction to Judaism class. It has since grown into a full-fledged conversion program with 13 volunteer mentors.” Rabbi Raphael also made a deliberate choice to include a public aspect to conversions by asking people who have chosen Judaism and have been to the mikvah (ritual bath) to share their Jewish journeys with the congregation when receiving a welcoming blessing.

This work has been very important to the future of our congregation. Many people wouldn’t join a synagogue if it didn’t offer a conversion program for themselves or their partners. He adds, “There is also a real impact on Jews-by-birth when they experience students and Jews-by-choice saying, ‘Judaism has so much to offer that I want to be part of it, and I’m willing to go through a number of hoops to accomplish that.’ I tell the students it’s like citizenship. You become part of the Jewish people. It’s a good model.”

Building community in the face of urban change 

During Rabbi Raphael’s tenure, San Francisco has been in the midst of historic transformation with its building boom and influx of a new workforce. In the meantime, finding affordable housing has been beyond difficult. Public schools have been stressed for decades. There are fewer children per capita in San Francisco than anywhere else in the country, and the city’s synagogue affiliation rate hovers around 15 percent. Given that most Reform congregations in the United States are suburban and that most people join those synagogues for their children’s Jewish education, sustaining an urban congregational community in San Francisco posed challenges. 

But building community has been Rabbi Raphael’s specialty. Leading by example, he has fashioned Sherith Israel into a community of shared meaning by fostering an atmosphere of connectivity and caring. “The great challenge—particularly with young people—is creating a community that can’t be found on a digital device. Special things happen when people come together face to face to worship, study, engage in social action or have fun together.”
Rabbi Raphael initiated changes in our worship style designed to cultivate community. He and his colleagues routinely lead services from the floor of the sanctuary rather than from the raised bimah to be closer to the congregation. He also worked with congregant architects to bring flexible seating to the sanctuary so worshipers can interact with each other more easily. In another innovation, Rabbi Raphael introduced the announcing of simchas (joyous moments) from the congregation. Congregants and guests share special dates or accomplishments big and small—including new jobs, birthdays or getting an A on a big test—before singing a Shehechiyanu thanking God for enabling us to have and share these good things in our lives. 

“One of the legacies I would like to have,” he says, “is having helped create a truly embracing congregation.”

Compliance with strict seismic retrofit requirements

The greatest challenge for Rabbi Raphael and the congregation has been the successful effort to bring our 1905 sanctuary into compliance with San Francisco’s strict seismic safety requirements. Many houses of worship in San Francisco had to close or repurpose their buildings due to lack of funds for seismic upgrades. 

“When I applied for the position, I learned the building needed retrofit work. Having grown up in Los Angeles, I assumed that when you had an old building that needed work, you tore it down and built something new,” laughs Rabbi Raphael. That changed when he walked into Sherith Israel’s majestic sanctuary with its mahogany-adorned bimah, splendid dome and inspiring stained glass that reflects Jewish history seen through California eyes. “I knew then that if I were selected, I would do everything I could to preserve the sanctuary,” he said. “It’s one of the most beautiful spaces in the Jewish world.” 

The second phase of construction began in April 2016. The work is expected to be finished in 2017. “The retrofit,” adds Rabbi Raphael, “was one of my biggest challenges, and one of my most satisfying accomplishments.”

Future plans 

Rabbi Raphael is, was, and always will be a teacher. His plans after Sherith Israel include teaching at the Fromm Institute and at Lehraus Judaica. He also will work with faith leaders on important issues affecting the lives of San Francisco residents as a board member of the San Francisco Interfaith Council. Rabbi Raphael will also volunteer with the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center.