This week, the Jewish community lost a giant. Rabbi Roy Walter was a rabbi at Congregation Emanu El in Houston since his ordination in 1970, spending 33 years as senior rabbi before becoming Rabbi Emeritus upon his retirement in 2011. He was also one of the founding rabbis of URJ Greene Family Camp. This summer, he recounted his efforts to get Camp up and running to our staff at our GFC50 Celebration. They listened with rapt attention as he described those early years, so different from what they experience today, but clearly the foundation for all that has been built.
Rabbi Walter received our Etz Chayim (tree of life) award this summer in honor of his lifetime of support for GFC. This award is given to those who have supported GFC throughout their lifetime, making sure that GFC will continue to be part of the lives of Jews in Texas, Oklahoma, and beyond.
Rabbi Walter was my childhood rabbi. I started coming to GFC as a camper because my congregation, Rabbi Walter’s congregation, made sure that camp was an important part of our learning. I won a scholarship from Congregation Emanu El to attend my first summer at camp, and camp has been the fabric of my life ever since. I was able to attend GFC summer after summer due to his support. When it was time for me to travel to Israel for the first time with Greene, he was instrumental in ensuring that it was financially possible.
At Rabbi Walter’s memorial service earlier this week, the packed sanctuary heard from person after person how he impacted their lives. Each story was relatable because we all felt ourselves in those stories. My family moved away from Houston, but he was still my rabbi. When I was ordained as a rabbi in 2010 in Los Angeles, he flew out to my ordination ceremony and celebrated with my family. Rabbi Walter made each of us feel special and seen.
His legacy will continue to live on at GFC. Our next 50 years will be built on the foundation that Rabbi Walter helped lay. This weekend, we welcome 80 campers for our Fall Camp, many of whom are experiencing GFC for the first time. As we play, pray, and create our kehillah kedosha (holy community) this weekend, I am remembering my rabbi, our rabbi. I can imagine the light shining in his eyes as we welcome the next generation of campers to GFC. We couldn’t have done it without him.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Erin