Ritual Art and Items

The Rabbi’s Chair and bookstand located to the left of the ark were commissioned by Ed Guzovsky, a devoted and longtime member of Temple Shalom of Milton.  It was given as a gift to the congregation in honor of Rabbi Alfred Benjamin.  With input from Rabbi Benjamin, the chair and stand were designed and made by David Strauss.

The gift of a chair reflects both the deep pride Ed had about his family’s connection to the great Hassidic Rabbi, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, who had his own special Rabbi’s Chair, and his respect for the rabbi’s role as leader of the Jewish community.  To learn more about the Rebbe’s Chair click here.

Our Rabbi’s Chair was designed to complement the tree motif found on the Ark’s Parochet and the view of the trees visible from the sanctuary.  Thematically the five branched trees located on either side of the chair-back highlight the idea that the Torah, the Five Books of Moses, is the Jewish People’s “Tree of Life”.  The English translation of the Hebrew quote located on either side of the chair is “Make for yourself a Rabbi and acquire for yourself a companion/friend” (Perkei Avot 1:6).  It was chosen not only to reflect the profound friendships that can develop between rabbis and congregants but also that people who choose the same rabbi often become lifelong friends with one another.  The two Hebrew words engraved in gold at the top of the chair are pronounced “Kiseh HaRav” and mean “Rabbi’s Chair”.