Scott Hertzberg: A Profile in Jewish Life
Name and Current Locale:
Scott Hertzberg (50), wife Tanya (49), children Shira (11) and Ezra (13). West Haven VT
What you are doing now?
Like many people in Vermont, I wear a few hats. I am a librarian and have two part-time library jobs, one at Castleton University and another I do from home. I also run a small vegetable farm together with Tanya. We grow a mix of vegetables on the flat, sandy fields right outside the house. We also import olive oil from a farm in Israel called Makura which we sell to stores in the region. It’s enough hats to wear. We have learned our limits and find a balance.
What you do or enjoy beyond your work?
In summer, we enjoy canoeing and stream-walking in the Poultney River which runs near the farm. The kids have learned to sail Sunfishes on Lake Bomoseen, and to ski at Killington. Lots to do in the Vermont outdoors.
What was your upbringing like?
I grew up in the large Jewish community in Baltimore. I mixed things up by going to Catholic high school. I wanted to be on their wrestling team. We belonged to a Reform synagogue and observed all the major holidays. That part of Baltimore (Pikesville) is a whole Jewish world so being Jewish is central even if your family is not very observant. All our neighbors were either Jewish or African-American. The closest neighborhood with more than a few white Christian people was miles away.
How would you describe your connection to Jewish life now?
I had no interest as a teen and I mean no interest. I started to go to services as a young adult. Two big influences were living briefly in Israel after college and back in Maryland taking an introduction to prayer class led by an outstanding volunteer teacher. The class was offered by Fabrangen, one of the first havurahs in America. I attended Shabbat services at Fabrangen for several years. Sitting in the back row and watching lay people lead services and engage in long, passionate Torah discussions inspired me to take initiative to develop a connection to Judaism. Today it is hard to imagine dropping Jewish practice. Shabbat and celebrating the holidays and learning Hebrew for the fun of it are big parts of my life.
Share one interesting Jewish insight in your life:
I’m not positive yet but I think that being Jewish today is more a practice than an identity. Sure, people can identify you as Jewish, you can identify yourself, yet there is little substance without meaningful practice. I’m not saying you have to attend services every week. I sleep in some Shabbats and miss services.
How has your Jewish identity made a difference in your current life?
Vermont is a place where you got to work at being Jewish. It is not like where I grew up and even if your family did not put up a Sukkah, you knew it was Sukkot because your more observant neighbors invited you over. If you don’t build your own in Vermont, you miss the holiday.
What do you think is special or unique about Jewish life in Vermont?:.
What’s unique is the many members of the Ben and Jerry’s cohort. You got Jewish hippies elsewhere but not such a large share of the community. There’s also a greater diversity of occupations in the Jewish community here than where we were in Maryland. Most people there were white collar employees or professionals. Here there are more small business owners, the type more common in my grandparent's generation.
What you value most about your Jewish experiences or identity:
I like how Jewish prayer reinforces gratitude and Shabbat ensures rest and fun. That a lot of the holidays have agricultural roots is cool too. I would not pick another religion if I could.
Anything else you want to communicate to people in the JCVT community who may read our website?
To get involved because we really need you. Join the closest synagogue or if that is not your cup of tea, participate in events announced on the JCVT website that are. With everything online these days, it's easy to attend a lecture or concert.