The installing rabbi, any former rabbis, past presidents, the current president, one or more representative teenagers, one or more recent b'nai mitzvah.
Take Torah out of the ark
The most senior rabbi or the installing rabbi removes a Torah scroll from the ark. Then passes it to any former rabbis present, then to past presidents, the current president, to teenager(s), to recent b'nai mitzvah(s), and then to rabbi being installed, who then places it back into the ark as the song (noted below) come to a conclusion.
- Etz Chayim Hi (from Torah Service)
(א) משֶׁה קִבֵּל תּוֹרָה מִסִּינַי, וּמְסָרָהּ לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ, וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ לִזְקֵנִים, וּזְקֵנִים לִנְבִיאִים, וּנְבִיאִים מְסָרוּהָ לְאַנְשֵׁי כְנֶסֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה. הֵם אָמְרוּ שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים, הֱווּ מְתוּנִים בַּדִּין, וְהַעֲמִידוּ תַלְמִידִים הַרְבֵּה, וַעֲשׂוּ סְיָג לַתּוֹרָה:
(1) Moses received Torah at Sinai
and transmitted it to Joshua,
Joshua to the elders,
and the elders to the prophets,
and the prophets to the Men of the Great Assembly.
They said three things:
Be patient in [the administration of] justice, raise many disciples
and make a fence round the Torah.
lador vador, from generation to generation,
links Sinai to this very moment
and continues now as it has in every generation,
as we have placed this Torah scroll in your arms.
Our God and God of our ancestors,
bestow Your blessings on Rabbi [NAME] and this holy congregation.
Instill in him wisdom and righteousness,
steadfastness and devotion,
as he has assumed the position of
Rabbi of [CONGREGATION NAME].
Grant Rabbi [NAME HERE} a wise heart, candor, and courage.
May he respond to every challenge with dignity, patience and lovingkindness.
Implant within him a full measure of Your love and compassion
that he might embody the words of our tradition, and inspire others to do the same.
May this teaching on the Great Sage Hillel always be on the forefront of his heart, mind and soul:
(יב) הִלֵּל וְשַׁמַּאי קִבְּלוּ מֵהֶם. הִלֵּל אוֹמֵר, הֱוֵי מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן, אוֹהֵב שָׁלוֹם וְרוֹדֵף שָׁלוֹם, אוֹהֵב אֶת הַבְּרִיּוֹת וּמְקָרְבָן לַתּוֹרָה:
Be one of the disciples of Aaron,
loving peace,
and pursuing peace,
loving all of humanity
and drawing them close to the Torah.
My God, God of my ancestors,
I pray that You will be my guide
as I humbly embark upon the task of leading this holy community.
May we work together as sacred partners
to fulfill the vision and mission of this sacred community.
May I never lead them astray, knowingly or inadvertently,
and may my hands and heart be ever faithful in serving You.
(ד) דְּרָכֶ֣יךָ ה׳ הוֹדִיעֵ֑נִי
אֹ֖רְחוֹתֶ֣יךָ לַמְּדֵֽנִי׃
(ה) הַדְרִ֘יכֵ֤נִי בַאֲמִתֶּ֨ךָ ׀ וְֽלַמְּדֵ֗נִי
כִּֽי־אַ֭תָּה אֱלֹקֵ֣י יִשְׁעִ֑י
אוֹתְךָ֥ קִ֝וִּ֗יתִי כׇּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃
(4) Let me know Your paths, Eternal One;
teach me Your ways;
5) guide me in Your true way and teach me,
for You are God, my deliverer;
it is You I look to at all times.
As a congregation, we ask for God's blessings to be upon you, Rabbi [NAME HERE}, with the words from this week's Torah portion, which contain the Birkat Kohanim, the priestly blessing. Let us all offer these words of blessing together, as colleagues and as your new community:
יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ ה׳ וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃
יָאֵ֨ר ה׳ ׀ פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃
יִ
שָּׂ֨א ה׳ ׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃
May God bless you and keep you.
May God’s light shine upon you, and may God be gracious to you.
May you feel God’s Presence within you always, and may you find peace.
Rabbi [NAME HERE], we, the members of [Congregation], stand before you to officially welcome you as our Rabbi.
We have come to know you as a teacher of Torah, a leader in our services, as a spiritual guide in our life cycle events, and, with your family, as a member of our community.
You have articulated a vision of a dynamic, inclusive congregation committed to Jewish values and learning.
We promise to work with you to help all feel welcome and respected in our community.
We look forward to continuing the journey that we have begun together.