Wise Temple celebrates Lewis Kamrass 

_{Photo credit: Phil Armstrong
The Wise Temple Evening of Dinner & Dancing Committee with the guests of honor: (L-R) Carol Kabel, Phyllis Jackson, Elissa Habib, Stephanie Kaplan, Rabbi Lewis Kamrass, Renee Kamrass, Laura Rapp, Rachel Callif, Felicia Zakem, Marcy Kanter}

Submitted by Wise Temple

What does forty years of service look like in rabbinic terms? In the case of Rabbi Lewis Kamrass at Isaac M. Wise Temple, it looks something like 2,200 sermons, 200 conversions, 1,365 adult learning classes, 150 rabbinic interns, 1,250 b’nai mitzvah, 400 baby namings & brisses, 15 congregational trips, 1,144 teens confirmed and 1,050 weddings and funerals. 

Who would have known that when he became an Assistant Rabbi at Wise Temple in 1985, and the congregation’s youngest-ever Senior Rabbi in 1989, that Rabbi Kamrass would leave such a lasting legacy on Wise Temple, the Cincinnati Jewish community, and the Reform movement? Speaking of his initial goals, Rabbi Kamrass states, “My earliest goals were many faceted: to build a congregational culture of warmth that was felt by members and guests; to shape an organization capable of planning for the future, with the finances to support innovation and responsiveness and drive our highest aspirations; to remain proud of our rich history, but also be responsive to the needs of today; and to enable Plum Street Temple to be restored and preserved with love, with a blueprint for its ongoing renewal. I feel deeply fulfilled that all of these goals were achieved, knowing that Wise Temple is stronger than ever and positioned to continue meeting these ongoing goals, as well as new ones.”

Over the month of May, Rabbi Kamrass’ final month before retiring and taking on the new title of Rabbi Emeritus, the congregation celebrated the achievement of these goals and his four decades of unwavering dedication and service through a series of unique events and activities. These events allowed congregants of all ages, friends, family and the broader Cincinnati community to show their appreciation for Rabbi Kamrass’ impact on their lives. “Our celebrations were a recognition of the impact Rabbi Kamrass has had on so many,” shares Rabbi Neil Hirsch, the congregation’s new Senior Rabbi as of June 1. “We needed that chance, communally, to come together to recognize his impact on the community, on our families, and on a personal level. What I witnessed over the course of our celebrations was a communal outpouring of love and respect for a rabbi who has served his community well.”

Highlights of a busy and celebratory “Kamrassfest” month included: “Street Fest: 40 Years on the Block,” a Sunday afternoon block party attended by 475 congregants and friends of all ages at Wise Center, featuring food from Wise Temple’s Brotherhood, snack and dessert food trucks, carnival games, music and more; celebratory food and drink events hosted by the Women of Wise (to celebrate Renee Kamrass, Rabbi Kamrass’ spouse) and Brotherhood (to honor Rabbi Kamrass); a special Shabbat service at Plum Street Temple commemorating Rabbi Kamrass, which included guest speaker, Rabbi Hara Person, Chief Executive of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and attended in person and via livestream by over 1,200 people; and finally “Honoring Rabbi Kamrass: An Evening of Dinner and Dancing at Music Hall,” a culminating celebration of Rabbi Kamrass and his whole family in grand style, attended by over 460 congregants, friends and family. Each event was developed and planned by unique committees of dedicated lay and staff leaders, highlighting the true investment of the entire Wise Temple community in celebrating its outgoing Senior Rabbi.

Speaking about the many Kamrassfest events and activities, Rabbi Kamrass comments, “I so enjoyed the various celebrations with my family and with our congregational family. Each celebration was filled with a palpable sense of joy, gratitude and appreciation, and I shared in those feelings, grateful for the congregation that nurtured me through the years. At the celebrations I shared many specific memories with people of their own journeys while reflecting on how privileged I’ve been to be with them at key moments in their lives.” And yet, Rabbi Kamrass recognizes that these events weren’t just about him: “While the events were to celebrate forty years of serving this congregation, they epitomized the special sense of community and goodness that characterizes Wise Temple. That uniqueness of our congregation is what we truly celebrated.”

With his retirement now official, Rabbi Kamrass has many goals and plans to keep him busy and active in the months and years ahead. These include indulging in favorite pastimes and exploring new hobbies such as traveling, piano lessons, volunteering at a local NICU, working on his photography skills, bird watching, and, most importantly, spending more time with his family, especially his seven grandchildren. Despite his many plans, Rabbi Kamrass’ Wise Temple family is excited to know he will remain an active congregant in his new capacity as Rabbi Emeritus. “I look forward to being in the congregation with my wife, children and grandchildren, and continuing the deep relationships and sense of community that I have been blessed to have at Wise Temple. While it could be difficult to step away after forty years, knowing that we are in outstanding hands with our new senior rabbi, our talented staff, and our dedicated lay leadership, I can do so with confidence for the future, faith in the possibilities of all that is yet to come, and a sense of fulfillment for all that we accomplished over these last four decades.”