Rabbi Stephen Lewis Fuchs
Ecclesiastes, (chapter 2) reminds us there is a time for every purpose under heaven. When I turned 77 a few weeks ago, it dawned on me with stark clarity that it was time to ring down the curtain on my tenure as Spiritual Leader of Bat Yam Temple of the Islands.
It has been my great privilege the past six years to serve this remarkable congregation. I will always, of course, be a rabbi, and I will await in wonder to see what new plans the Eternal One has in store for me.
When I retired the first time in 2012 from my position as Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, Connecticut, people asked what are your plans? I honestly answered, “read more, write more and beyond that, we’ll see.”
I could never have imagined the blessings the “we’ll see” had in store for me these past 11 Years: Serving as President of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, a role in which I visited more than 65 communities on five continents teaching about and advocating for progressive Jewish values, serving as guest Rabbi in Milan and Florence, Italy, spending significant parts of five years teaching and preaching in Germany, and then serving for six years at Bat Yam Temple of the Islands.
Our tradition teaches (although most scholars doubt this is historically true) that King Solomon wrote three biblical books: Song of Songs, a book of love poetry when he was a young man, Proverbs a book of wisdom in middle age, and Ecclesiastes, with its sober look at life as an older man.
Although I hardly approach Solomon’s wisdom, I have been blessed to find true love as a young man, and the loving marriage I have shared with Vickie for nearly 49 years has sustained me through the many joys and the few disappointments of my career.
I have tried my best to share what wisdom I have gained in my sermons and lectures over the years and in the seven books I have written. Now that I am older, I look back on my 50-year rabbinical career and reach the important conclusion Ecclesiastes teaches (chapter 1):
“Vanity of vanities, everything is vanity.”
How true I find those words today.
What is truly important is not recognition or material rewards. I do not deny that I have striven for and enjoyed a measure of those things, but the joy does not last that long and looking back, they matter very little.
What I shall always cherish and what will always matter are the times when something I did or said made a real difference in someone’s life. It was in those moments or when someone reminded me of them, that I truly felt God’s pleasure.
As they did back in 2012, people are starting to ask me, “What will you do now?”
The truth is I have not given it much thought yet. For the time being I am proud to become Bat Yam’s Rabbi Emeritus.
In addition, I will add, “I’ll read more, write more, and beyond that, we’ll see.”
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Finding Ourselves In The Bible 
Rabbi – This is a beautiful letter. Thank you for sharing your feelings..
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Thank you, Edina!
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Rabbi .. I have sent you an e-mail of how you have inspired and encouraged me since 1987, when you were here in Nashville. I enclosed the song I wrote , a prayer for peace, sung by our Cantor – last week – after the horrendous shooting here; which includes the words you ALWAYS included in Your prayers…..
sooo….. Keep moving forward !!!! There’s always More … : )) xxxoo’s to you and Vickie
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Thank you, Betsy! You and Susie always had my back, and I love you both for it!
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Sunday, April 9th, (2023)
Dear Rabbi Fuchs:
Wishing for you, Wife Vickie and Family Members only the best that of which may come your way in your new journey.
If I may please quote a previous passage that of which you authored, Dear Rabbi: …,
“As a rabbi, it is my life work to teach that G-d created us human beings to be both in charge of, and responsible for, this world, … and to use our talents to create a just, caring, and compassionate society.” ~ Rabbi Stephen Fuchs
…. Thank you for welcoming me into our beautiful, life-enriching and culturally-wealthy faith, and in doing so sharing with me the warmth of your hearth, indelibly so.
Again, Dear Rabbi, wishing for you and members of your family only the best.
Best wishes always,
Mark David Loveland
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Thank you, Mark, for these beautiful and touching thoughts!
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Sunday, April 9th, (2023)
Dear Rabbi Fuchs:
Thank you, … always, … so very very much.
Genuinely and always,
Mark David Loveland
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Rabbi Fuchs, we still in CT still love and miss you! All our best!!Your friend Ed and my wife Deborah Happy Passover
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Thank you, Ed and Deborah! I have felt your support since day one!
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It’s been a long time and a very long road Rabbi from the time you appeared while I was playing catch in my driveway with Kenny. Kenny turns 60 on May 15th, so you both have major milestones. Be assured that you have had an essential role in his being the marvelous, loving, caring, and successful son, husband, father he is. He is the epitome of what they should be. I wish you above all, health, peace, contentment and nachas in this next stage of your very fruitful and accomplished life. Fondly, David
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I treasure these beautiful words, David! Thank you!
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I might add that Donna will become age 63 on June 19th and is a mother having raised four children who, each and every one, are and will continue to add benefit & value to our world. Each one is a source of great pride and comfort as are Kenny’s two. Time passes quickly as you well know and we can be content if we can look back and say “I made good use of the time I have been granted here”. Our children & grandchildren exemplify that.
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So happy David to learn of the goodness your children and grandchildren are bringing to our world!
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