Rabbi Israel and his wife Abbey Frank and their youngest son celebrate as the congregation surrounds them (Photo by Larry M. Levine)
The installation ceremony for Rabbi Marc Israel on Sunday, Nov. 3, began with a “parade” led by Cantor Rochelle Helzner on guitar and Jerry Schuchman on clarinet. They and the congregation’s officers and members of the board of directors escorted Rabbi Israel from Tikvat Israel’s Flax Library through the school and administrative wings of the building into the lobby, which was packed to capacity. Nonetheless, space was made for some impromptu dancing, before the procession continued into the sanctuary, where a standing-room-only crowd attended the hour-long ceremony. Many local rabbis and Jewish educators were in attendance and led the Kaddish D’Rabbanan. Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, the Rabbinical Assembly’s Chief Executive, a long time friend and colleague of Rabbi Israel’s was on hand to lead the congregants in blessing Rabbi Israel.
