For two hours on the morning of Aug. 31, at a table outside the Second Cup on Greene Avenue, Rabbi Adam Scheier set up shop as “the pop-up rabbi.” It was quite a departure from his more austere role as senior clergy at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim.
His idea was to meet people in a public place in a relaxed, approachable way. Anyone could come up to him, sit down and, as the sign in front of him beckoned, ask him anything.
And they did. Rabbi Scheier saw a steady stream of people, some Shaar members, but many who were not – Jews and non-Jews among them.
“Synagogues are always thinking of ways to outreach to the community,” he said. “As beautiful as our synagogues are, they often serve as a barrier. People are hesitant about entering them.
“This was a direct way of sharing our beautiful tradition and wisdom in an accessible, loving fashion.”
Rabbi Scheier is using social media to inform the public about what he’s doing, using the hashtag #popuprabbiMtl on Twitter to keep the conversation going beyond the coffee date.
His second outing was held at the Starbucks café, on Sherbrooke Street at the corner of Claremont Avenue on Sept. 9, and he will be back at Second Cup on Sept. 17 from 4-5:30 p.m.
He chose the High Holiday period because he felt it is a time people have questions or are reflecting on their faith or life’s direction.
The first outing was entirely positive, he said.
“People asked real questions about prayer and liturgy, and they raised personal and family issues,” he said. He didn’t ask anyone their religion.
“One woman – a non-member – told me about her hardships, and how difficult it was for her to pay for seats at the High Holidays. I invited her to join us at the Shaar.”
Many more were simply curious or offered an amicable greeting and encouraged Rabbi Scheier for “holding office” where the people are.
The café owners welcomed the “pop-up rabbi” most graciously, said Rabbi Scheier, who got their permission beforehand.
Rabbi Scheier has been senior spiritual leader of Shaar Hashomayim since 2004. The Westmount synagogue has some 1,600 member families.