So a couple of weeks ago, the publicist for Rabbi Sherre Hirsch’s first book, We Plan, God Laughs, invited me to email in questions for the rabbi.
I did.
Five days later, the publicist emails me to say that the rabbi will not be doing any more interviews because of family stuff.
I was able to derive a sublime spiritual lesson from the experience, more profound than any I read in Rabbi Hirsch’s book on Shabbos.
So here are my questions that the rabbi won’t be answering:
For Rabbi Hirsch. Please only answer the questions you find interesting.
* So why did you leave Temple Sinai? Do you prefer what you are doing now, being a media superstar et al?
* How has being a wife and mother affected your work as a rabbi, counselor and writer?
* What inspires you and what depresses you about the state of Conservative Judaism today?
* If you could change one or two things about Conservative Judaism, what would you change? Why aren’t you Orthodox? Do you get religiously lonely as a Conservative rabbi (as there aren’t many observant Conservative laity)?
* I suspect that you’re not able to help everyone you counsel etc… How do you deal with that?
* How do you reconcile your desire to be compassionate with your religion’s stringent standards? Do you tell people, ‘You can’t do that. It’s a sin."
* Do you believe in and talk about sin and divine punishment for sins?
* Do you think there’s life after death?
* What are the advantages and disadvantages of having women in the rabbinate?
* What have you learned about the news media from your first-hand experiences?
* How has your interfaith work affected your Judaism? Is it easier or more difficult to spiritually counsel Gentiles? How do you counsel someone who believes Jesus is G-d?
