The Running Rabbis

Rabbis on the Run: Rabbis Scott Weiner, left, and Benjamin David founded Running Rabbis in 2005. They have raised about $30,000 for charities from the races. Next up: The New York City Marathon. Image by COURTESY OF LISA DAVID

NEWS ITEM: “The Running Rabbis” is a group of young rabbis, cantors and rabbinical and cantorial students. They raise money for charities by participating in marathons. So far they have contributed almost $30,000 to various worthy causes.

Ten rabbis in a marathon!
A truly rare phenomenon!
They run each race with bonhomie
To raise cold cash for charity.

Tzedakah, to these off-beat Jews,
Takes place by means of running-shoes.
In breathless voice, the running ten
Occasionally say “amen.”

These rabbis go beyond the norm.
Judaic’ly they are Reform.
Distinctly, there’s a Yiddish tam.
In how they show tikkun olam.

Like pellets from a sling-shot hurled,
They forward rush, to mend the world.
They’re healthy, too, not adipose,
Or prone to colds and runny nose.

The ten comprise a minyan which
Is never seated — there’s a switch!
Their deeds provoke a thought which stuns:
That even rabbis have the runs!