Welcome to the Website of Rabbi Cy Stanway

Hello! Thank you for visiting my personal website.  I have been a congregational rabbi for more than 38 years serving in Hattiesburg, MS, Las Cruces, NM, and Elberon, NJ.  In July 2025 I began my official post-retirement rabbinate and began by serving Temple Shir Shalom in Gainesville, Florida for a year as an interim rabbi.  This website will give you a look into my life, experience, and services, interests and skills.

AT TORAH

Dedicated

To create meaningful moments for people, a rabbi needs to be present.  This means being present in mind, spirit as well as body.  This dedication is what creates and enhances relationships.

Smiling man wearing glasses and a suit.

Personal

Apart from being a rabbi, I am a guitarist, drummer.  I am told I have a pretty good singing voice, too but I didn't become a cantor for a reason!  I have a great sense of humor, I am creative, and I don’t hesitate to try new things.  I am always open to new things and, even though I am a decades-old experienced rabbi, keeping fresh keeps me energized and more effective to serve.

Man teaching a group of kids seated on the floor with papers.

Devoted

To serve as a congregation's rabbi is a unique honor, really a gift.  I am invited to share in people's lives at their most vulnerable and their most joyous.  I understand that gift and the responsibility it engenders.  That is why I am always available to the congregants.

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RECENT CLASSES

Man in orange shirt gestures while seated at desk with open book.To be a rabbi is to be, primarily, a teacher. I am responsive to listening to what people want to study as well as anticipating what interests people. Below is a list of what I have taught in recent years, many of which are ongoing. 

  • Sunday morning Talmud

    A line by line discovery through tractates with no goal other than learning, discussing, challenging and growing

  • Modern Jews Engage the New Testament

    A study of how modern Jews can engage the New Testament. One of the most popular classes.

  • Shabbat Morning Zoom Torah Study

    During the pandemic, everything went to Zoom and we discovered resources we never knew we had. Zoom Torah classes began on Saturday mornings and, even well after the pandemic, continue to today. 

  • Adult Hebrew

    Adults want to learn Hebrew. Today, there are great resources and all it takes is the patience of the teacher and students to slowly gain mastery of reading and, soon after, of understanding how the words are built and how grammar is structured primarily in the prayerbook.

  • Hasidic Thought

    Using well-known and unknown Hassidic texts, students delve into the celebration of Judaism that characterizes classic Hassidic thought.

  • Midrash

    Understanding midrash, its reasons for being and the processes for creating it, is one of the most fascinating studies of Jewish text and, an indispensable one. This course took students on a journey through the Midrash Rabba מדרש רבה and gave students a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the text.

  • Teen Academy

    I take every opportunity I can to teach children, younger and older. The post B'nai Mitzvah course that I teach is called 'Teen Academy' and in it, I delve into real issues with today's Jewish teens and learn a Jewish response to these issues. The issues are moral, ethical and allow the student to hear and be heard. This is young adult learning with very adult subjects.

  • Kabbalah

    Kabbalah is probably the most misunderstood branch of Jewish learning. I try to clarify its purpose and beauty with relatively simple texts of the Zohar זוהר and other volumes and take away some of the mystery of this precious inheritance.

  • Targum to the Song of Songs

    The Targum to the Song of Songs is much more than a simple translation. In this course the Targum is an ongoing midrash and how the rabbis viewed this most peculiar book.

  • Past Courses

    In decades past, other courses have included:

    • Ecclesiastes Rabbah - the midrash on Ecclesiastes
    • What's Bothering Rashi - Rashi on puzzling texts
    • Jewish Philosophy - Spinoza, Plotinus, Buber, Maimonides, among others
    • Introduction to Judaism
    • Religion in the Movies: The Poseidon Adventure (1972) as a paradigm for unconscious use of religious themes in modern culture
SERMONS AND DIVREI TORAH

Over the years, I have always sought to create deep, abiding, and positive relationships. I love preaching and take it as a great responsibility and opportunity for teaching.  Selected sermons and blogs are in podcast form, as well, just below. They are all downloadable and shareable.

Archive of Divrei Torah
PODCASTS

There are a variety of podcasts that I have done.  Use the link below and browse the podcast website.  I speak occasionally with Rabbi Steven Garten in his weekly podcast from Ottawa, Ontario on radio station CHRI.

As well, there are Rabbi Stanway's appearances talking about the portion of the week. You can use the podcast link below to listen to them, or any other of the podcasts.  Scroll down until you find the one you are interested in.

Podcast Website
WORSHIP SERVICE VIDEOS

Many services I have officiated at from my time at Beth Miriam were recorded.

Archived Videos

FEEDBACK

I also wanted to write you a reflection of all my time (practically my whole life hehe)...Knowing you since I was a kid, you have held this image of the “fun Rabbi,” someone who really gets one involved in the temple community, encouraging them to try new things and make new connections. I would always (and still do) marvel at your presence, a combination of “go-with-the flow” humor, encapsulated in years of wisdom. I admire these traits, among many others: your drive to motivate people, your guitar playing skills, your goofy “win a trip to Belmar” jokes, your dedication to teaching– simply the impact you have made on hundreds of lives.

This email cannot even reach the level of gratitude I feel for having met someone so one-of-a-kind, who I have laughed with and learned many things from. Condensing the almost 20 years (oh wow) that I have known you into a run-on sentence, I recall the time you and Stella selflessly let my mom and I stay at your home during Hurricane Sandy, all the times you would pop into one of my Hebrew classes just to see how we were doing, my bat-mitzvah, the time you let me interview you for a middle school project about who my hero was, all of our enriching Teen Academy sessions, and most recently, when the two of us led a Shabbat service together over my winter break, during January.

To add on to this last point, when I walked into the sanctuary and you immediately called me up to say the Kiddush, I was like “okay, sure,” but I was caught by surprise when I ended up standing and singing alongside you for the rest of the service. Though I was initially reluctant to stay on the bima because I doubted my stage presence and wanted to simply blend in with the audience, you made it such a beyond fun experience, that made me feel like I was truly capable of doing anything– one of my all-time favorite memories.

All these highlights in my life prove why beyond a Rabbi, you are such an incredible human being. Besides your own family, you have also raised the community like an extension of it, watching so many of us grow up and become young adults, pursue college degrees, get married, have kids, and turn into dust. You have played a huge part in every one of life’s stages, and continue through the values you have ingrained in our hearts, souls, and strength, which we pass down to each generation. Your רוח, compassion towards others and passion to contribute to the Jewish community on both a local and international scale is extremely commendable. When I recall my times at Temple Beth Miriam, I will always be sure to remember and cherish your impact on my life. Again, thank you for everything. ~

Lia Bram

Dear Rabbi Cy

It was difficult for Jeff and I to first choose a synagogue. We are both private people who shy away from joining organizations, but it was important to us to educate our children and raise them to understand Judaism. I was brought up conservative where both Rabbi and Cantor wore imposing liturgical robes, female cantors were considered scandalous and Hebrew prayers were memorized, their meanings never taught.

When I trepidatiously walked into TBM, you greeted me, In sneakers! I’ll always remember that.

You toured me around the entire building right then and there, I didn’t even have an appointment. Afterward I called Jeff and told him I just found a home for our family.We watched the children learn and grow during their time at TBM. And Jeff and I learned. What other spiritual leader shaves his head to raise money for cancer? Flies to the Ukraine in their time of need?  Whose family takes in refugees?  

I wanted you to know the impact you have left on our family, Bobby in particular. We believe you (and Stella) were the reason Bobby joined Hillel at Rulgers (took his friends - and Indian girlfriend to Shabbat dinners), studied Arab/Israeli Relations and made Birthright with friends from Hebrew school class. 

I mentioned to you previously, because of the donor program you set up at the Temple, Bobby became part of the registry and actually matched, helping a 70 year man with Leukemia.

... I’m wishing you and Stella joy, health and ease as you settle into your new community.

Alissa Reisler

Rabbi, My name is Jacquelyn Watson (Jackie) and I have attended Shir Shalom Temple in Gainesville for several years, occasionally in person before the pandemic and regularly online since then.

I never became a member but give small donations on a regular basis. I live in Live Oak, FL (about 60+ miles north of Gainesville) and try to drive there as little as possible and not at all after dark anymore (I’m old).

I just want to tell you how much I enjoyed the three services this week. They were great! Your sermons, the music and the sound (over Zoom) were perfect. Thank you so much!

Also, thank you for being so friendly and down to earth (funny, too) and having the members participate in the service. Same goes for Friday night/ Saturday morning services, too! I am very much looking forward to Yom Kippur services (and thank you, again).

Sincerely, Jackie Watson

Rabbi and Stella,

The High Holidays were truly amazing. Other than soap missing from the bathroom, I heard no complaints. Everyone was in a state of euphoria. That is because of the two of you. I think you came to our temple not recognizing how important you might become. New leaders helping a small Jewish congregation in Gainesville, Florida not only survive but to help move the transformation. Although I was recently chastised (in a very nice way) for using the term, transformation, I believe that is what’s occurring. I also recognize that I need to believe that for me to continue my efforts on behalf of our temple. The two of you help me remember what we’re doing, and the two of you act as strong leaders in that regard.

On a personal basis, this was probably the most rewarding High Holiday service in which I have participated. It just felt right! I reflect on all the days leading up to the services and all of the services. Yes, there were a few flaws here and there, but we were all in celebration of our congregation, for what we stand for and what we want to become.

Thanks again.

Yale
Temple Shir Shalom President