Rabbi David Kay
Rabbi David Kay came to Orlando in August 2004, as the first Assistant Rabbi of Congregation Ohev Shalom. Ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in May 2002, he also received his MA in Jewish Education. During rabbinical school, he served as a student Rabbi for several congregations, including Shalom Independent Congregation of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Active in the Jewish Deaf community since 1990, Rabbi Kay has presented at the biennial Jewish Deaf Congress conferences, serving as one of the conference rabbis in 2003 and 2005. He also conducted High Holiday services in voice and sign language at the Rochester Institute of Technology / National Technical Institute of the Deaf for five years, and conducted services and taught for the Hebrew Association of the Deaf of New York and Congregation Bene Shalom of the Deaf in Skokie, IL.
Rabbi Kay is a founding member of the Jewish Theological Seminary’s á cappella group, Note-Nim and founding director of Kol Ram, Orlando’s community Jewish á cappella group. Between his graduation from the University of Illinois in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree from the Department of Ecology, Ethology, and Evolution and attending rabbinical school, Rabbi Kay worked for an animal welfare organization in his native Chicago while playing in an original rock band, an acoustic duo, and performing solo. Although denied fame and fortune in the music industry, Rabbi Kay can be heard as the voice of Haman in the video, audio CD, and educational software versions of Purim Rock!, a clay-mation rock-opera interpretation of the Book of Ruth.
Rabbi Kay serves on the Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando and the Executive Committee of the Interfaith Council of Central Florida. He is the father of Jonah Kay and husband of Joanne Kay.
Message from Rabbi Kay
Our Sages, of blessed memory, taught: Al tif’ros min hatzibbur – “Do not separate yourself from the community.” This advice might have originally been directed toward the religious leaders of the time, as a warning to not let their knowledge and authority go to their heads. Over the centuries, though, we’ve understood how it applies to everyone. After all, it is the unique combination of skills, experience, and personality in each individual that makes a community what it is.
The Orlando area is filled with people who came from somewhere else — my own family included. It’s hard enough to pull up stakes and move to new and unfamiliar territory . . . even if it does have theme parks. That’s where houses of worship come in: the provide a built-in community to welcome, guide, and support you.
When my family and I were looking for a congregation to serve back in 2004, we were looking for the same thing everyone looks for when they go “shul-shopping” — great staff, committed lay leadership, strong and diverse programs, meaningful services, and — most of all — warm and wonderful people. We found them all at Ohev Shalom, which is why we’ve been here ever since.
There are many opportunities for every individual to be part of the Ohev Shalom community – and we’re always interested in hearing new ideas for more. Whether you’re new to Orlando, already an Ohev Shalom member, considering relocating, or just curious, there’s a place for you in our congregational family.
Keep in touch!
L’shalom,
Rabbi David Kay
RabbiKay@OhevShalom.org