The role of Adina Abramowitz, z”l, in Reconstructing Judaism - by Ruth Loew
On December
13, the Germantown Jewish Centre community was stunned and saddened by the unexpected
death of Adina Abramowitz z”l. Adina and
her wife, Naomi Klayman, were longtime members of Dorshei Derekh, the Reconstructionist
minyan within GJC. In the minyan, Adina
and Naomi often led Shabbat morning services.
Sometimes Adina presented a teaching (d’var Torah) on that week’s Torah
reading and led the discussion that followed.
She coordinated Dorshei Derekh’s High Holiday services for several years
and took turns as the coordinator for leading services or presenting divrei
Torah. Many who had worked, learned, and
worshiped with her, in GJC and in the larger world, valued her for her deep
knowledge of Judaism; her talents for organizing (whether a meeting, a project,
or a budget) and for teaching; and her honesty, generosity, humility, and dependability. She had a rare gift for clarifying issues
that others found hopelessly confusing. Her sense of humor was also
appreciated: Rabbi Micah Weiss, the Reconstructing Judaism staff Tikkun Olam
Specialist, valued Adina’s “ability to
lovingly roll her eyes.”
Her entire career, both professional
and volunteer, was driven by her values: she was dedicated to creating a better
life for those who were disadvantaged.
Professionally, she worked with CDFIs (Community Development Financial Institutions), which offer financial resources to underdeveloped communities. In her private life, among the many organizations that benefited from her time and talents was the Reconstructionist movement. Most of her work with it was related to one of three projects: the Prayerbook Commission of the 1990’s, the Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World) Commission, and change management support for the Board of Governors.
The Prayerbook
Commission created guides to Reconstructionist worship, including a siddur (prayerbook)
for Shabbat and holidays; a mahzor (prayerbook for the High Holy Days); a
weekday prayerbook; and one for houses of mourning. Her excellent command of Hebrew and of Jewish
liturgy were great assets. Also
importantly, she presented a perspective from the LGBTQ community. Rabbi David Teutsch, who worked with her on
this venture, describes her as “judicious, thoughtful, and capable of working
with grace and good will.”
Adina was more recently active in the movement’s Tikkun Olam Commission, which addresses social justice issues. She was passionate about its work, particularly its commitment to racial justice, including reparations. She and Naomi were among the first to sign up for Reconstructing Judaism’s civil rights pilgrimage last spring. She was first a commission member, then became the transitional lay co-chair of the commission. When the new chair was on-boarded and ready to take on leadership, Adina, with characteristic humility, intended to step back into her role as a member.
As part of the Tikkun Olam Commission, she led a qualitative research project on racial justice work in member congregations. What initiatives had the congregations tried? What were they accomplishing? What feedback were they hearing from members of color? This project concluded with recommendations for congregational action. Adina helped make racial justice a primary role of the Commission.
A third area in which Adina took a
leading role in Reconstructing Judaism was change management: helping the
movement assess its organizational and financial future, particularly in the
wake of Covid and, more recently, of October 7, 2023 and its aftermath. She served as a pro bono consultant to the Reconstructing
Judaism Board and movement leadership in evaluating what products and services Reconstructing
Judaism offers and how it does its work. That meant working closely with its president, Rabbi
Deborah Waxman; its executive vice president, Rabbi Amber Powers; and the
senior leadership team. She offered individual coaching and led a pivotal
discussion at their retreat this past fall. She quickly became a trusted
advisor, confidante, and coach to many with whom she worked. As Rabbi Deborah Waxman
said, “All of this was in a volunteer capacity and all with generosity,
creativity and effectiveness.”
Adina quietly went about being helpful
whenever she could, without calling attention to herself. She didn’t care whether she was praised for
her work; she just cared that the work was done and done well. As Rabbi Teutsch said, “I never asked for
help with anything that she didn’t say yes.”
Zichronah liv’rachah – זיכרונה לברכה - May
her memory be for a blessing.
Thank you to
those who agreed to be interviewed for this article: Mark Pinsky, Rabbi David
Teutsch, Rabbi Deborah Waxman, and Rabbi Micah Weiss.
~Ruth Loew
