After receiving a music degree from Brandeis, I settled contentedly into a career as a music teacher. Then, as my dreaded 40th birthday approached, I took on some new spiritual challenges, including a deeper commitment to Jewish ritual and immersion in Torah study. By 2006, I had earned an M. A. in Bible and rabbinic ordination from JTS, leading to a wonderful second career that included serving two major Conservative congregations. Since 2020, I have become a freelancer, officiating at life cycle events, teaching B’nai Mitzvah and some new, pandemic-era Zoom Adult Ed courses. Website: rabbishargel.com.