About Rabbi Cy Stanway

In order to create a perfect atmosphere for a wedding, bar/bat mitzvah, or even a funeral, I create liturgy if the family requests it.

As well, I have created a Healing Service (Service of Spiritual Renewal), Community Shiva siddur, Social Action Service, Family Shabbat siddur, Community Services for Rosh Hashanna and Yom Kippur, Summer Outdoor Worship, Beach Service, Tashlich, and created new liturgy for Friday Night Live production (a rock service)

I am committed to the full exploration of all things Jewish and sharing them and teaching and inspiring students and pupils of all ages. Services and worship are a joy to me and I seek to share that joy and invite those I lead to find their own holy space. 

A holy space can be found anywhere: in the chat in the hallway or the supermarket, in a class on Talmud or Torah study, from the bima, and over a bagel and coffee on a Sunday morning.  My rabbinate is all-encompassing and each relationship has the potential to change a life.  I am ever-mindful of this truth.

I am a hands-on rabbi. Being committed to a community means being committed whole-heartedly. I am available 24/7/365. My rabbinate is one of presence, scholarship and joy. My vision is to inspire others to explore their own paths to Judaism and Jewish practice. 

To this end, I make each life-cycle ceremony unique and meaningful to every family.  I am sensitive to the unique needs and challenges of many families and tailor the ceremony especially for them.  This includes B'nai Mitzvah students and their family, funerals, weddings and even special blessings on Shabbat.  Each person is an individual deserving of my best effort.

The essence of the rabbinate is,of course, teaching.  Every moment is what we call a 'teachable moment.'  I am as comfortable in a Kindergarten class sitting the floor with the children as I am teaching adults in Talmud study - a project I started in Las Cruces, NM and which continues to this day.  I have taught everything from Chassidic thought to Jewish philosophy and theology, Hebrew, Jewish poetry, Israeli history and thought, and a myriad of other subjects.  My favorite is expression is that if I don't know something, 'I will find out for you!'