“That was a game changer,” Rabbi Elisha Wolfin shared.

“In order to pay the bills for most of my career as the rabbi of our congregation I had to work several jobs. I was on the road 5-6 days a week and only in the late afternoon or evenings did I make it back to our community.”

“I describe myself during those 12 years as a “rushed rabbi.’”

“But that all changed with the help of the Honey Foundation.” Because of the Honey Foundation’s investment in his rabbinic leadership, Rabbi Wolfin is now able to focus solely on his community.

“I know this sounds surprising, but I don’t think I realized just how important presence is for rabbinic work because it was never a true option for me… But that all changed with the help of the Honey Foundation.”

“What a difference that made! I was finally fully present. And the life of the community radically changed: many more classes, more one-on-one meetings with congregants and prospective members, more counselling, more visiting the sick, more vision, more lifecycle events, more time to represent our community on the municipal level, more time to speak with teen groups…more presence.”

“I know this sounds surprising, but I don’t think I realized just how important presence is for rabbinic work because it was never a true option for me.”

After founding this congregation seventeen years ago, Rabbi Wolfin is finally living his dream of being a full-time community rabbi.

With about one-hundred and twenty bar mitzvah ceremonies every year, Kehilat Ve’ahavta is a vibrant part of the religious and social life of Zichron Yaakov.

“Our community is experiencing wonderful growth and is entering the next stage of its development. Recently, I had the sweetest privilege of officiating at the twelfth wedding of a young person who grew up in our congregation and whose bar or bat mitzvah I performed. I only hope to make it to their children’s B-Mitzvah!”