Rabbi Gustavo, 35 and Karina Surazski, 30
'I like to tell jokes," admits Rabbi Gustavo Surazski, and tells one
about a rabbi who put his congregation to sleep.
But it's most unlikely that anyone will tell a similar story about him! His
lessons and short sermons are often enlivened by humor and include surprising,
thought-provoking messages relevant to life in Israel today.
Whether they are young couples discussing marriage plans, families with
children or mourners making funeral arrangements, people warm to his empathy and
non-judgmental approach and feel inspired, encouraged or comforted by his words
of wisdom.
"He really listens," his congregation says. "Really
listens."
BEFORE ARRIVAL
"I always intended to make aliya one day," says Karina Surazski, the
rabbi's wife. "I had been to Israel on youth programs and family visits and
wanted to return."
"I studied in Israel and intended to return on aliya after fulfilling my
obligations in Buenos Aires," says Gustavo.
Seeing that each separately had made the same decision, it is not surprising
that Rabbi Gustavo and Karina Surazski made aliya after their marriage.
"We arrived in July 2002 and our daughter, Ma'ayan, was born here - a
sabra," says her father.
The couple met at the Latin-American Rabbinical Seminary in Buenos Aires,
Argentina, where Gustavo studied and later lectured and Karina worked as a
secretary.
As a rabbinical student, Gustavo spent two years in Israel studying
scriptures and Jewish philosophy at Haifa University and continued post-graduate
studies and studies towards rabbinic ordination at the Schechter Institute in
Jerusalem. The Buenos Aires seminary requires students to spend their final year
of study in Jerusalem, after which they are expected to return and lecture at
the seminary. During his studies in Israel, Rabbi Gustavo decided that he would
back to live after doing his lecture stint. Upon his return to Buenos Aires, he
met Karina.
FAMILY HISTORY
Both come from secular Zionist families who they say were supportive of their
decision to make aliya. Gustavo's father emigrated from Poland before World War
II, but his mother and both Karina's parents were born in Argentina.
Gustavo's parents still live in Argentina. Karina's parents, brother, sister
and grandfather have lived here since 2000, so her aliya has brought her closer
to family.
UPON ARRIVAL
The young couple were met by Karina's family and went directly to the mercaz
klita in Ra'anana. Having attended Jewish day schools, both Gustavo and Karina
knew Hebrew, so neither needed to attend ulpan. In Ra'anana, a job was waiting
for Gustavo as rabbi of the local Spanish-speaking Masorti congregation. Many
former friends and acquaintances welcomed them to their new home.
The Ra'anana contract was for two years; after that, in October 2004, the
Surazski family, now including Ma'ayan, moved to Ashkelon.
ROUTINE
Gustavo is the rabbi of Netzah Israel, a Masorti congregation, and as such is
involved in many aspects of the members' lives. He visits the sick and comforts
mourners, conducts services and officiates at funerals and memorial services.
"A rabbi is a teacher," he says, and he loves teaching, whether it be
children preparing for bar/bat mitzvas or children of all ages in schools
affiliated with the Tali program.
Gustavo also meets with whole families, parents and 8-10-year-old children in
sessions that discuss subjects related to family life, such as respect for
parents, the rights of children in the family, relations between siblings and
truth in the family.
