Farewell Memory Kerry Bron

“We are planning to get married next Sunday, and we would like you to perform the ceremony,” was the greeting my fiancé and I gave to Rabbi Gibson the week before Mother’s Day eight years ago. I had not seen Rabbi Jamie for about 10 years; at least my husband–to-be, Robert Levin, was a member of Temple Sinai. Rabbi Gibson was taken aback by the immediacy of our request, but in his typical, inimitable, compassionate way, he agreed to marry us after we explained that the urgency was due to family illness and after we promised to go to his office for counseling post marriage (which we did.) We are so grateful that Rabbi Gibson was the rabbi who launched us on our journey of marriage. (And special thanks to Barbara who was kind enough to change the time of her Mother’s Day brunch that year!)

This incident is a typical example of Rabbi Gibson’s kindness, compassion, and understanding in dealing with all of his congregants. I had first met Rabbi Gibson in 1993 when he welcomed my family on a Temple Sinai trip to Israel I believe his first as a congregational rabbi) even though we were not members of the congregation. I had the good fortune to experience Israel for the first time with Jamie’s guidance and wisdom. I will never forget how meaningful it was to celebrate Shabbat in Israel with him.

My husband Robert had joined Temple Sinai shortly after 9/11/2001. He had not been a synagogue member during the previous eight years while living in Pittsburgh. Robert has expressed to me that the profound devastation of 9/11 made him feel the need for community, and Rabbi Gibson’s moving and powerful sermon regarding the tragedy made him want to be a part of the Temple Sinai community.

Since we have been members of Temple Sinai, we have been continuously inspired by Rabbi Gibson’s sermons, which always seem to strike the right chord, impressed by his endurance in his pursuit of social justice and his outreach to other faith communities, and have very much enjoyed his services, especially the musical ones, incorporating his delightful guitar playing. We feel lucky to have been the recipients of the wise counsel of this erudite, insightful rabbi. I have always learned much from his Saturday morning Torah study groups. Finally, we have to comment on how amazed we always are at Jamie’s stamina and energy, particularly during the High Holidays, when he displays his incredible shofar blowing skills.

We have so much enjoyed being a part of the inclusive, caring community that Rabbi Jamie Gibson has created at Temple Sinai. We will miss him very much and wish him luck in all of his future endeavors.