Rabbis DO sweat

Rabbi Marc Sack takes his new recumbent bike on its Maiden Voyage, including a stop at Taylor Park in Largo. Some Tampa Bay area rabbis and cantors are on the run — or on the treadmill, the bicycle, or the yoga mat. What these members of this active group seem to share, whatever their preferred form of exercise, is the need to bring mind, body and spirit into balance and, in so doing, find relief from some of the pressures of the job.

Among those responding to Jewish Press queries were two Tampa rabbis, Rabbi Marc Sack of Congregation Rodeph Sholom and Rabbi Jason Rosenberg of Congregation Beth Am, both committed to daily exercise.

Rabbi Sack spoke of the stress that is part of the rabbinate:

“In this job you deal with a lot of sorrow and a lot of pain,” he said. “You need to leave that and recharge.”

He added that the job of a rabbi can be physically tiring as well and requires building stamina.

Cantor Deborah Jacobson, husband Jordan and children competing in the Athletes Who Care Mini-Triathlon in 2008. The money raised goes to help children with cancer. “I’m at minyan at 7:30 a.m.,” he said, “and sometimes I don’t get home until 8 at night.”

Biking is one of his favorite outlets, he said. For years he was an avid long distance biker.

With a small group of friends the rabbi once rode 50 miles a day through Colorado and logged some 465 miles in six days, riding from Montreal through upstate New York and across upper New England.

“Our longest day was 90 miles,” he said.

Following several bad spills resulting in concussions, Rabbi Sack said he decided enough was enough on a standard bicycle.

“I promised my wife,” he said.

His compromise was the purchase of a three-wheel recumbent, which is low to the ground and affords little opportunity to fall. He has begun riding on his day off and Sunday afternoons.

Rabbi Rosenberg, a native of Toronto, came on board as spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Am three years ago. He said that exercise was a natural part of his day back in Canada, but not here.

“Being in a big city you can walk to restaurants and stores,” he said. “Here everything is car based.”

He said being sedentary had begun to have an impact on his health.

“Your mental capacity and spiritual health depends on your physical health,” he said.

To that end he recently started running for the first time.

“Running is convenient,” he said. “You just put on your shoes and you can do it any time.”

For motivation Rabbi Rosenberg follows a program he discovered online called “Couch Potato to 5K Runner in Two Months,” one of the many programs that provides guidelines to daily training.

In addition to running, the rabbi said he has been walking daily and going to the gym when he can squeeze it into his week.

Other Tampa Bay area rabbis exercise for specific purposes.

In Clearwater, Rabbi Daniel Treiser of Temple B’nai Israel began an exercise regimen last January. He started his program for practical reasons.

“I wanted to be healthier for the congregational trip to Israel,” he said of the then pending April trip, “and healthier overall.”

“I try to make it to the gym every day,” the rabbi said. “It’s enjoyable.”

And in Tarpon Springs, Rabbi Cyrus Arfa of Congregation B’nai Emmunah said he goes to the gym three times a week.

At least three local members of the clergy have worked yoga into their week with what they said are notable benefits.

Cantor Deborah Jacobson of Temple Ahavat Shalom in Palm Harbor is an enthusiastic yoga practitioner and the practice is beneficial to her role as cantor.

“It is great for breathing,” she said. “Connecting my breath to my body is wonderful for my singing.”

Jacobson said the deep breathing, stretching and relaxation techniques taught in yoga keep stress levels in check.

Rabbi Danielle Upbin of Congregation Beth Shalom in Clearwater and Tampa’s Rabbi Sack also practice yoga regularly.

Rabbi Sack said he takes a 90-minute bikram yoga (hot yoga) class once a week. “I love it. It’s done indoors at 105 degrees,” he said. “It involves 26 postures. It keeps my mind and body limber.”

Some members of the clergy spoke of a strong spiritual connection to their physical exercise.

“The Torah obligates us to take care of our bodies,” said Rabbi Sack, who works out in the gym before morning minyan in addition to the yoga and riding the recumbent.

“Judaism does not separate the body and soul — it’s all connected,” he said.

The rabbi added that exercise helps him connect more strongly to congregants.

“Exercise helps me gain focus,” he added, “so when I am with someone I can be fully present.”

As parents of three young children, Rabbi Upbin and her husband, Rabbi David Weizman, both of Congregation Beth Shalom in Clearwater, said they have to work hard to find the time to exercise.

Rabbi Upbin has a weekly routine. In addition to yoga classes, she runs and works out in the gym. Rabbi Weizman said his schedule makes an exercise routine difficult.

“My main exercise is picking up the kids,” he said.

Yet he has managed to work in other forms of physical exercise and seems to value its connection to his spiritual side.

What works best for him, he said, is taking a run on the beach and then a swim in the Gulf of Mexico.

“It’s a form of thanksgiving,” he said of the experience. “When I run I’m acutely aware of my body and my ability to be able to do that.”

Taking care of the body, he said, is a way of recognizing God.

He referred to the great Jewish sage and physician of the 12th century, Maimonides, who also linked the body and the spirit.

“Maimonides suggested exercising before morning prayer,” said Rabbi Weizman.

Some clergy appear passionate about their exercise regime. Cantor Jacobson is one of those.

“I do some sort of physical exercise five times a week,” she said. “We incorporate physical activity into our lives as much as we can.”

The Jacobson family, including the cantor’s husband, Jordan, and their two daughters, Maya and Shira, annually train for a mini triathalon called “Athletes Who Care,” held in August.

“Every year as a family we do this mini triathalon for children with cancer,” she said. “We train for it by biking, running and swimming.”

Gym work, daily walks and yoga all play a significant role in her daily workouts.

“Exercise can do so much for mind-body-spirit,” she said. “I get energy to go on with the rest of my day.”

The cantor makes committing to exercise sound easy.

“If you can find the time to read the paper or chat on the phone you can find the time to exercise,” she said. “If the president of the United States can find the time, anyone can.”