Working for the Future

Eric Imley & Gale Swartz, Co-Presidents

eimley@yahoo.com  swartzplace@gmail.com

The Rabbinic Transition Committee, led by Andy Kauffman, continued working on the next phase of our multi-year process to find and welcome our new “Settled Rabbi.” The process is generally the same as the one used for the “Interim Rabbi,” with a few changes based on lessons learned and with your feedback. This phase has 5 parts: 1) Submission of our open position with the CCAR, 2) receipt, review, and screening of the applicants’ resumes and personal statements, 3) video-teleconference initial interviews, 4) on-site interviews and recommendation to the Board of Directors (BOD) of the top candidate for approval, 5) negotiation and signing of the final contract. The work doesn’t stop there, for this committee, as well as all of TBE, will be saying goodbye to Rabbi Kohn, saying hello to the new rabbi, and providing continued support during the first year.

In early October, the ‘“Application Sub-Committee,” led by Marc Kaiser, completed the first step. Our application provided who we are as a congregation and community, as well as the necessary credentials, qualities, hopes, and dreams that we are looking for in our next spiritual leader.

The second step of the process screened all of the applicant’s resumes for the right “fit” with us by the “Resume Review Sub-Committee,” chaired by Andrea Lawrence. Applications arrived during October and through November. After many conversations and meetings in consideration of the applicants, the committee selected three of the fifteen to continue in the process.

Step three, under the purview of the “Interview and Logistics Sub- Committee,” chaired by Eliot Swartz, conducted initial interviews via video-teleconference, which determined the candidate(s) to be brought out for an extensive on-site interview process. All three of the candidates were selected for the in-person interviews.

The fourth step consisted of a “meet and greet” and D’var Torah sample teaching followed by a formal structured interview. The entire Transition Committee, the three Sisterhood Co-Presidents and the BOD were invited to participate and provide feedback. The finalist was selected on December 20, 2018 by the entire Transition Committee and presented on December 30 to the BOD for final approval. We expect to be able to announce the name of our new rabbi by the middle of January 2019.

John F. Kennedy wrote, “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” Our beloved TBE is strong and vibrant, forward looking and thinking, yet honoring our past and where we’ve come from these last 96 years. The entire TBE leadership, along with members of our beloved community, is planning for the future. A future that is secure, full of love and strength.