Shir Hadash staff

Rabbi David Brusin: Spirituality and community

At a Shir Hadash Shabbat service, you’re as likely to find Rabbi David Brusin in the congregation as on the bimah. In the participatory spirit of Reconstructionism, congregants often lead our services, and that leads our rabbi to a different role.

“My greatest reward as a Reconstructionist rabbi, committed to leading from the back of the room as it were, is to make it possible for Shir Hadash members to find ways of expressing their own unique spirituality while at the same time serving as role models for others,” Rabbi David says.

That’s not just talk. Rabbi David helped guide the founders of Shir Hadash for several years before he became our rabbi in July 1993. Being a part of the community, instead of the center of attention, fits into Rabbi David’s view of the importance of community in Jewish life.

“Without the ability to emote spiritually, to express oneself, in a religious community that cares about each of its seekers, one loses precious opportunities to celebrate, to mourn, to learn and to grow. There are too few such moments in a lifetime to let them pass unnoticed, unfulfilled,” Rabbi David says. “Our lives revolve around each other's joys and sorrows, not around any one of us. Appreciating the strengths and weaknesses, the talents and shortcomings, of others is an important step toward understanding, accepting and developing ourselves.”

If that sounds like a lesson in Jewish philosophy, it’s probably not a coincidence. Rabbi David has strong credentials in education and philosophy as well as Judaism. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Illinois-Chicago and a master’s degree in philosophy from Temple University, where he also studied for a doctorate in philosophy. He graduated in the first class of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 1974, returning 25 years later to receive a doctor of divinity degree.

After his ordination, Rabbi David served as rabbi at North Hills Jewish Community Center, and lecturer in religion at La Roche College, both in Pittsburgh; director of education at Niles Township Jewish Congregation in Skokie, Ill.; headmaster of the Hillel School of Tampa, Fla.; and assistant director and director of Jewish studies at the Milwaukee Jewish Day School. In addition to his role at Shir Hadash, he is an adjunct associate professor at Cardinal Stritch University and adjunct instructor in religion at Ripon College.

To contact Rabbi David, click here.

Ellen Blankenship: Watching the details

Keeping a congregation running involves taking care of a lot of little details. At Shir Hadash, Ellen Blankenship is the person who takes care of those details.

As our congregational assistant, she provides the voice on our voice mail. She’s the one who makes sure that our space is available for services and classes and that our onegs and potlucks run smoothly. She checks our e-mail account, visits our post office box and takes our newsletter to the printer. Her work lets the volunteer leadership focus on planning and conducting programs.

Ellen has deep roots in the Milwaukee Jewish community. Her parents helped found Congregation Shalom, where she has been a board member, committee chair and fund-raiser. She also has served on the board of the Milwaukee Jewish Day School.

She also has a diverse background. Ellen holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from the University of Cincinnati and a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has held a wide variety of positions in counseling, social work and teaching and most recently worked as a school library aide in Shorewood. She joined the Shir Hadash staff in January 2004.

To contact our congregational assistant, click here.

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