This is a very touching and emotional moment for me, as I look over this large assemblage of community dignitaries and Temple members and friends. For 26 years, I have had the tremendous privilege of serving Temple Beth-El, one of the great congregations of this country.

Temple Beth-El is preeminent because it has both roots and wings. It has a distinguished heritage. It is the oldest Jewish congregation in San Antonio and is also one of the 30 or so charter members of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, which Rabbi Jackofsky represents today. Beth-El is a congregation that has roots, but is not so stuck or bound to its past that it cannot move forward.

Beth-El also has wings. It is oriented to the future. It is a congregation which is unusually open to change and innovation. We have done many things that are different in the last 26 years and will continue to do many different things in the future. Rabbi Block, I know, will guide and direct you in a sensitive and caring way, in making those changes smooth and acceptable. When the great Moses, of whom Rabbi Goldstein spoke this afternoon, was contemplating the end of his active career, he thought of the future of his community. He wanted to make sure that the right leader would succeed him. The Book of Numbers records the activity that took place.

In the transmission of authority that went from Moses to his successor, Joshua, one of the key requirements was that it be done publicly, not privately, i.e., in the presence of kol ha-eidah. This Hebrew phrase means not just the congregation, but the wider community, as well, as our commentators have noted.

So in the presence of all of you, I share these words from the Book of Numbers that describe that dramatic scene, that moving moment, when authority was passed from one generation to the next:

And Moses spoke to the Lord saying, “Let the Lord, Source of the breath of all flesh, appoint a person over the community who should go out before them and come in before them, who shall take them out and bring them in, so that the Lord's community may not be like a sheep without a shepherd.” And the Lord answered Moses and said, “Single out Joshua bin Nun, an inspired man, and lay your hands upon him, have him stand before Elazar, the priest, and before the entire community, and commission him in their sight. Invest him with your authority, so that that whole congregation may obey…

Then the passage goes on to say:

Moses did as God commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before the Elazar, the priest, and before the whole community. Moses laid his hands upon Joshua and commissioned him, as the Lord had spoken had through Moses. (Numbers 27:15-23)

Barry, what a joy it is to see you at this very moment, in this very important place, in this sanctuary of Temple Beth-El! Your name first came to my attention in November, 1984, at the end of the convention of the Southwest Council of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, which we hosted here. I understand that we will host it again within a short time.

Your mother's dear friend, Linda May, who is here today, told me that she has a friend who was interested in becoming a rabbi. She then mentioned that his name is Barry Block, that he is graduating from Amherst and that he is going to be a great rabbi some day.

The next year, your father and Dottie, whose own grandfather, Morris Stern, was instrumental in building this Temple, were married on this bimah and you were present. Then I heard from my dear friend, Rabbi Goldstein, how you had transformed the entire culture of Touro Synagogue, in New Orleans, in the short time that you were there. He emphasized how you energized and invigorated that congregation as had never happened before.

Then, in 1991, I was present, with Rabbi Karff and Rabbi Goldstein, at your ordination at Temple Emanu-El in New York. You went to North Shore Congregation Israel, in Chicago, but I know that a Texan always yearns to be back in Texas. That was a very difficult time in the life our congregation, because our dear Rabbi Mark Goodman, our Associate Rabbi, was terminally ill.

Our congregation needed a vigorous new leader to succeed him. I approached you in Chicago and asked if you would consider becoming our Assistant Rabbi. You replied that you would think about it. Then, when you gave me your affirmative answer, I encouraged you to apply to the Placement Commission of the Reform Movement, so that the process could go forward.

Fortunately, you came here in the summer of 1992 and since then you have significantly enriched Temple Beth-El, with your caring and loving outreach that you have extended to so many people in need. You are a tremendous pastor, especially in moments of grief and sadness. You are a careful administrator with an eye for detail. You have imaginative program ideas, which you have instituted here. There is so much more that I could say about you.

Even more important is that your personal life was changed in a remarkable way when you met Toni Dollinger and were married on this bimah with the rabbis whose names were mentioned earlier. Then, in 1999, a child was born to you, and then another one in 2002 on New Year's Eve. We rejoice that Robert and Daniel are being raised by you and Toni, in such a loving and devoted home. In 1999, I also was pleased when I heard that the Temple committee, considering the future of our congregation after my retirement, had designated you as my successor.

Now you stand here, ready to take over. It will be my privilege to relinquish my seat to you, so that you will sit in the Senior Rabbi's chair and I will sit in yours, after I finish blessing you.

However, before I do, I want to charge you with the words God said to Joshua, as he was about ready to take command of the people of Israel. These are words that, I hope, will guide you, sustain you, enrich you, and nourish you throughout the years and decades that lie ahead: “Hazak ve-ematz, be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid, do not be anxious, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you choose to go.” (Joshua 1:9)

Barry, it is my pleasure now to lay hands upon you, as Moses did to Joshua, before the Holy Ark and ask the congregation, as able, to join us in spirit as they rise.

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