Mr. Robbie Russock This is Me

Education

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1. 1. Temple Staff—Congregation Beth Ahabah, Richmond, Virginia (VA)

   www.bethahabah.org/temple-staf - [Cached]

   Published on: 10/9/2007   Last Visited: 10/9/2007

   Robbie RussockSchool Administratorschool@bethahabah.org Robbie Russock has been involved in Jewish Education for the past 25 years, coming to Richmond from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in June of 2003 to join the Beth Ahabah community.Mr. Russock obtained his BA and Masters Degrees at Temple University in Philadelphia, did graduate work at UCLA, obtained his Principal's Certificate at Beaver College. and pursued Jewish studies at Gratz College in Philadelphia.Mr. Russock has been the past President of a variety of professional organizations and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Temple Educators.He also serves as the chair of the Richmond Educators' Council, and will be the co-chair of the URJ's "Symposium on Adolescence" which will immediately precede the 2005 Biennial Convention in Houston, Texas.

2. 2. TimesDispatch.com | Different faiths, common bonds

   www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/ - [Cached]

   Published on: 7/7/2006   Last Visited: 7/7/2006

   According to Robbie Russock, education director at the Congregation Beth Ahabah in downtown Richmond, about 75 percent of his synagogue consists of interfaith families.
   ...
   Russock does not agree with this theory.
   
   "Studies have shown that all that we do is confuse the child," Russock said.
   
   On the other hand, he says that among interfaith couples "statistics seem to show that most people are raising their children as Jews."
   
   Before a couple decide to have a child, they usually look for a rabbi to perform the ceremony.Orthodox rabbis will never marry an interfaith couple because it is against their view of Judaism.Reform rabbis are not quite as strict.
   
   "It's up to the rabbi and it's their own personal decision," Russock said.
   ...
   "There is no Hebrew term for 'convert,'" Russock said."Once you convert to Judaism, you're Jewish."He says intermarriage is so widely accepted that there is no rift between interfaith couples and those of the same religion at Beth Ahabah.
   ...
   While there may be religious tolerance within many faiths, Russock still hopes for Jews to marry inside their faith.
   
   "My preference is that Jews marry Jews -- or at least someone who would commit themselves to being a Jew," he said.
   
   Russock says the problem is less about intermarriage than it is committing to learning about Judaism.He stresses the significance of educating the parents about the importance of understanding Judaism, stating "it all starts with the parents."
   
   What Russock wants the most is for Jews to yearn to learn about their faith.Russock says he feels overwhelmed when he sees crowded church parking lots on Sunday mornings, and wishes that there was more participation and passion in the Jewish community.
   
   "I don't think we have the option of scaring the hell out of them -- I mean, we don't even believe in hell," Russock said, in reference to the involvement in the Christian community.

3. 3. www.nate.rj.org

   www.nate.rj.org/board.htm - [Cached]

   Published on: 8/8/2008   Last Visited: 8/8/2008

   Robert Russock