Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation has a new full-time rabbi. Rabbi Melissa Crespy brings more than 30 years of rabbinical experience to this congregation, along with a lifelong love of music, language, and connecting with her community.

Rabbi Crespy's journey began in Freehold, New Jersey, where she was raised by a family she describes as "very Jewishly proud, though not so observant." Her father's side of the family are Sephardic Jews from Greece, while her mother's side helped found the Orthodox synagogue in Freehold, where Crespy attended services as a child, kickstarting her love of music and her desire to participate in her community's traditions.

"My cantor davened with sincerity," said Rabbi Crespy, "and I loved going to services and singing along with him. It did bother me, when I was becoming a bat mitzvah, that I, as a girl, would not be allowed to read from the Torah or Haftarah."

Crespy ended up having two bat mitzvah ceremonies. The first was on a Friday night in her Freehold synagogue. The second was at Shabbat minchah, in a small Philadelphia shul where her great-uncle was the rabbi. There, she was able to chant a Haftarah, which her great-uncle had helped her learn.

Judaism remained an essential part of Crespy's life, though she did not at first consider becoming a rabbi. Crespy actively participated in Hillel at McGill University while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in French Literature and Modern Languages, and she then earned a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance and International Business at New York University. Crespy went out into the working world in New York City, finding work as an international credit analyst.

She said, "I began attending a minyan on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It was filled with Jewish Theological Seminary rabbinical students, the davening was lively, the harmonies were inspiring, men and women participated equally, and the d'var torah was always good. I loved that minyan, formed many friendships there, and felt part of a community which shared Shabbat, festivals and the meals that went along with those observances. That minyan has formed a model for me, and the people in it became role models."

After about three years in the business world, Crespy realized she needed a change.

"I took a hard look at my life," she said, "and decided that I wanted to be in a profession where I could help people with their problems, where I could teach about the Judaism I loved, including the musical, spiritual services that I had been privileged to be a part of."

Crespy enrolled at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she earned a Master of Arts degree and her rabbinical ordination. In 1991, she became the assistant Rabbi at Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City, and her journey blossomed from there. Rabbi Crespy has served as rabbi at congregations in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Ontario. Her rabbinic experiences also include time spent as a staff chaplain and as a committee member of the Rabbinical Assembly. Most recently, Rabbi Crespy served as an interim rabbi at Peninsula Sinai Congregation in Foster City, California. There, in addition to leading Shabbat services, she initiated and taught adult education classes, created community programs with the Peninsula Jewish Community Center, and guided B'nei Mitzvah students along their educational journeys.

Now, her own journey has brought her to SOJC as their new full-time rabbi. Rabbi Crespy's first Shabbat services at SOJC will be July 21 and 22.

She said, "SOJC impressed me as a place where people really cared about each other, their synagogue, and Conservative Judaism, and worked hard to make sure their synagogue thrived. I was impressed with the number of children participating in services and the dedication of many of their families. Also, it wasn't humid enough for me in northern California, so I thought Orlando was the place to be!"

Rabbi Crespy prioritizes community-building and forming connections with her congregants.

"[Building a community] means reaching out to all people in the synagogue... creating an atmosphere where they feel warmly welcomed, as well as programs that meet their needs," she says. "It means connecting them to each other and to the ideals and practices of Judaism."

Crespy forms these connections in ways that clearly demonstrate her lifelong passions for language, culture, and music.

"I've had the privilege of visiting a number of countries outside the United States," she says, "and I hope to visit more! When I don't speak the language, I try to learn at least 'please' and 'thank you.' I believe those are important words in any language, and appreciated in any country... I have connected with French, Hebrew, or Spanish-speaking congregants or guests by speaking to them in their native tongue. It is always a pleasure for me.

"Music takes us to places that words can't reach," she adds. "Music is moving and inspirational... Even if one doesn't know Hebrew, one can sing along with the melody or harmonize, and potentially, be connected to God. In leading services and workshops, I will use as much beautiful music as I can to draw people into prayer services and other activities."

Along with Rabbi Crespy, SOJC welcomes her husband, Larry Kaufman, to the community. Kaufman is a software engineer. He and Rabbi Crespy have two adult children, Avi and Netanya, a daughter-in-law named Bella (married to Avi), and a granddaughter, Lina.