South Metro Congregation installs Rabbi Koch

By Paul Haist

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"You are just who this community needs," said Rabbi David Fine, speaking to a colleague in West Linn last month.

Fine is the Seattle-based director of the Pacific Northwest Council of the Union for Reform Judaism. He was here March 9 for the installation of Rabbi Annette Koch as the rabbi of South Metro Jewish Congregation in West Linn.

"You are truly a rav; you never miss an opportunity to teach," said Fine, speaking directly to the rabbi who accepted SMJC's offer last July to succeed Rabbi Larry Halpern who retired. "You reach out," he said.

Speaking to the gathered congregation, the guests and Koch, Fine added, "You remind each other what is important, that the image of God resides in this congregation and each of us."

Koch was formally confirmed in her position with SMJC during Shabbat evening services that drew about 100 people.

In a d'var Torah after the Torah reading, Koch echoed Fine's observations about the relationship between a congregation and its rabbi.

"So this evening we declare that we will live and work together in sacred partnership," she said. "I will teach and serve you as your rabbi, ordained by Hebrew Union College, but sanctified only by your love and support, by your patience and energy. You have become my community."

SMJC President Michele Beyer shared her response to Koch's first months on the job.

"Rabbi Koch is amazing to work with because she has such a wealth of knowledge," she said.

Commenting on the rabbi's d'var Torah, which began with an anecdote about being stalled in rush-hour traffic before moving into an examination of the weekly Torah portion that led back to the nature of the relationship between a congregation and its rabbi, Beyers added, "She can make a Torah study out of just about anything."

Beyers said that SMJC membership stood at about 82 when Koch was offered the post.

"We are at 94 families now, and (there's) just an incredible amount of interest," she said.

Beyer said that SMJC services are well attended.

"People enjoy hearing her speak, her passion," Beyer added.

As Koch had credited her congregants for their patience, so Beyer praised Koch for hers.

"She's been very patient with the growing pains that come with a new spiritual leader," she said.

In a symbolic passing of the mantle of leadership to Koch, past SMJC presidents passed the sefer Torah from one to another in a chain of Torah, until it ended in the embrace of Steve Bilow, who was president when Koch was offered the post of SMJC rabbi.

Bilow passed the Torah to Koch, who led a hakahfot procession around the sanctuary.

Among the many members and guests who attended SMJC services on the evening of the installation ceremony was Koch's son Aaron Koch, who came from Los Angeles for the occasion. Rabbi Koch called her son for the Torah aliyah.

Koch is a New York native who practiced asset-based finance and international commercial finance law in New York City for 18 years prior to beginning the five-year course of study at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion that led to her ordination as a rabbi in June 2006