How have you been enjoying Kingston since you’ve been here?

I have been having an incredible time. Kingston is a dynamic city and there have been lots of new people to meet. Jamaicans have been very friendly and I am deeply appreciative of their warm welcome. As the only rabbi in the country, a lot of people have wanted to talk to me about what I do. The natural environment in the immediate vicinity has been wonderful as well. It is terrific to be in touch with nature. I have been able to do some hiking recently in the Blue Mountains; although I have not yet climbed the peak.

What’s been your most memorable meal in Kingston thus far?

I have struggled to enjoy ackee with saltfish but have found that roasted ackee on its own is delicious. I had a similar experience with breadfruit. I did not originally like it but since discovering how it can be roasted, it has become one of my favourite snacks. Pumpkin rice is delicious and is something I had never heard of before. What really impresses me is how there have been flavours brought in from so many sources, making Jamaican food truly international. Unfortunately, I have been gaining weight, possibly as a result. That is one reason I am now hiking, swimming, and planning to scuba dive in Portland next week when we will be celebrating the Jewish holiday of Purim at Great Huts.

What is your preferred beverage?

Blue Mountain coffee. I can vividly remember the first time my mother served me coffee many years ago. She handed me a mug, I took one sip, and I was hooked. I have found Jamaican coffee to be of excellent quality and drink it non-stop. My lift has not yet arrived so I do not have a coffee grinder but I have been drinking pre-ground coffee which is not nearly as good as the whole-bean variety. I am looking forward to drinking whole-bean, freshly ground Blue Mountain coffee, black with no sugar.

Share with us the title of the last book you read.

I am now reading Fierce Invalids Home From Warm Climates by Tom Robbins. The novel follows Switters, a wheelchair-bound CIA agent. I am enjoying the descriptions of his travels a lot, although some of his journeys are for rather exotic purposes such as to free his grandmother’s elderly parrot into the Peruvian jungle.

What cologne are you splashing?

Burberry Weekend for men.

What was your last bit of retail therapy?

I was chosen to be a fellow in a programme called Rabbis Without Borders in New York, so I have had a chance to do a little bit of shopping on these short trips. On my last visit to New York, I bought a new laptop with an i7 processor. Since a lot of my work depends on a computer, that may not be regarded as a splurge. So maybe buying a short-sleeved wet suit would be my splurge. I swim periodically at the Pegasus and have been wearing the wet suit to stay nice and warm.

Which three persons, living or dead, would you want to be stuck with in an elevator?

Since I am in Jamaica, I would want to choose mainly local personalities. My first personality would be Michael Manley. I have heard so much about his legacy and feel like I almost need to talk to him in order to understand contemporary Jamaica. The second person would be Bob Marley. I have enjoyed his music so much and would have liked to have chatted with him. The third personality would be Samuel Palache, the pirate rabbi who sent a flotilla of privateers to operate against Spain.

Which religious figure do you most admire and why?

Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise. Rabbi Wise was charismatic and energetic, founding the three most important organisations in American Judaism at the time — the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Hebrew Union College, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis. I also admire some of my predecessors who led the Kingston synagogue over the past few hundred years. I would love to learn more about Rabbi Bernard Hooker, who was truly a rabbi for all Jamaicans.

Is being a rabbi a full-time job?

Absolutely. My current assignment is particularly challenging because I am the first ordained rabbi to lead the Jamaican community in 33 years. While there have been two devoted lay readers, Ernest de Souza and Stephen Henriques, there is a tremendous amount to do. A rabbi needs to be a religious leader, a teacher, a scholar, a community activist, a journalist, a social worker, a psychologist, and many other things. It is challenging in any environment, and all the more so in Jamaica.

Why did you want to become a rabbi?

My father was a dentist specialising in removable prosthodontics and my mother was a researcher in linguistics, so I didn’t follow anyone in my immediate family. I attended a Jewish school from a young age in New York and was always intensely interested. I wanted to reconcile rational thought with religious devotion and have found that synthesis through my study of Progressive Judaism. I love people and I enjoy the interaction with all types of different personalities in the synagogue. I also believe in the importance of scholarship and have worked hard to do research and publish books and articles on Judaism. In Jamaica, I have been able to combine my leadership of the synagogue with teaching at the United Theological College.

Share some places in your black book.

I scuba dive, so some of my most memorable visits revolve around that activity. For example, Indonesia has some incredible diving in Sulawesi. Strong currents bring nutrientrich water from the ocean depths, creating a beautiful coral environment that was filled with unusual-looking fish. The highlight of my stay was muck diving in Lembeh Strait.

What would be your advice to a first-time visitor to Kingston?

I urge all of my friends to come visit me in Kingston, which is a remarkably diverse and vibrant city. There are many interesting sights to see, of course, including the National Gallery which I just visited for the first time this past week. I would encourage not only tourists but also locals to come visit us at the synagogue. We are one of four existing synagogues with a sand floor. The building is a beautiful historic landmark and we have a great Heritage Centre, thanks to the dedication of Ainsley Henriques.

What is your philosophy?

My personal philosophy is to study wisdom wherever I find it. Jews do not believe that we have a monopoly on the truth and so we are obligated to learn from all sorts of different sources. I have learned a tremendous amount from Jamaicans in my five months in the country, which has enriched me tremendously. I hope that I can make a positive contribution to this country over the coming years, while continuing to learn from Jamaicans of all backgrounds.