Rabbinic Transition

 Transition Update: June 5th, 2023                                                                                            

Join us in a discussion as we prepare for the search for our new Senior Rabbi.  We want to hear from you! The program will be facilitated by our Search Committee Chairs, Karen Whitman and Jeff Goldstein, and by our Interim Rabbi, Rabbi Crystal.

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 Transition Update: December 26th, 2022                                                                                            

The Send-Off committee of the Transition team continues to work on all the details around the four Send-Off events planned for Spring 2023 to thank and honor Rabbi Meyer. The first event will be A Night of Music at the Cabot Theater on March 29th. In the last month, the committee has also been busy putting together materials for event sponsorships and giving opportunities to be sent both inside and outside of our Temple community.

Search
The Search committee has been busy reviewing resumes and interviewing candidates for the Interim Rabbi position. One candidate was invited to Temple Emanu-El to meet with the Search Committee and staff. An offer has been made and it is our expectation that the candidate will sign a contract of employment for July 2023-June2024. As soon as this happens, we will provide the congregation with further details.

 Transition Update: October 27th, 2022                                                                                            

The Search committee is currently reviewing several resumes that have been submitted in application for the Interim Rabbi position. The team will review, discuss and subsequently set up initial interviews with the best suited candidates.

We are anticipating receipt of additional resumes over the coming months. In the meantime, if we identify a suitable Rabbi after our first round of interviews, we will proceed with subsequent rounds of interviews as necessary.

The Send-Off committee is busy planning four different events for the Spring of 2023 to honor and say thank you to Rabbi Meyer.  The goal is to create events that are reflective of who Rabbi Meyer is along with providing a variety of events that appeal to our diverse Temple community. 

Currently, there are plans in the works for a musical event, a family-fun event, a scholar-in-residence weekend, plus a Send-Off Gala!

A Save the Date postcard will be sent in November with dates and a bit of information so members can mark their calendars now.  Additionally, a sponsorship/advertising package is being put together for use beginning in December.   

 If you would like to be involved in the planning or a part in the execution of one of these events, email claudiakaufman@comcast.net.

 Transition Update: August 31st, 2022                                                                                            

August was a busy month for both the Transition and Search teams.  For the Transition team, chaired by Claudia Kaufman, the online congregational survey (sent to approximately 850 Temple members) came to a close in July with a strong response received from Temple members. Here are some of the survey findings:

When asked what members loved about Temple Emanu-El, the strongest responses were around the culture of our community 

• The Temple is warm, welcoming, friendly, compassionate
• The community is inclusive, tolerant, not pressured, and supportive 
• There is a strong love of music in our meaningful, worship services
• Universal love for Rabbi Meyer, his leadership, sermons, empathy, and kindness
• The breadth of programming, the Neighborhoods, social action and the progressive nature of the Temple were also listed

As many of the above were mentioned as the Temple’s strengths, survey responses also included several challenges facing the Temple today, including:

• Continuing to grow membership, especially bringing in younger families
• Re-engaging our community after Covid
• Remaining financially sound as well as safe and secure
• Recognizing that change and the rabbinic transition will be difficult for many

When asked what were the most important personal qualities they were looking for in our new rabbi:

  From our Temple President: July 25, 2022                                                                                          

Dear Temple Family

As I settle in to my presidency, I wanted to provide you with an update on our Rabbi search.

Changes in rabbinic leadership are a natural cycle in all congregations. Rabbi Meyer has shared his spirit and wisdom with the Temple Emanu-El community for more than 30 years, and now we have the opportunity to learn and grow with new leadership. FAQs regarding Rabbi Meyer’s departure and our search can be found here on this site, and  will be updated as things progress.

Our Transition Discovery team has just wrapped up their congregational outreach through listen and learn sessions and an online survey. Their findings have been thoughtfully organized and are being handed over to the Search Committee for use in the Interim and Settled Rabbi applications.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Transition Discovery team for their due diligence and commitment to understanding our congregation’s concerns and desires as we move forward. This team has spent countless hours on their mission.

Transition Discovery Team
Claudia Kaufman, Chair
Dan Rosen
Judith Emanuel
Ann Laaff
Deahn Leblang
Nicole Sherf
Eric Reines
Andrea Liftman

The Search Committee is composed entirely of members of the congregation. Qualities that were of the utmost importance when choosing Search members were: diligence, commitment to inclusion, discretion, community-mindedness, professionalism, collaboration, relevant experience and the flexibility to commit the time required to complete an effective search.

Search Committee
Sharon Orfaly, Chair
Erin Cullen
Bob Goldman
Jeff Goldstein
Nate Goldstein
Lisa Nagel
Terra Samuels
Jerry Somers
Jamie Yomtov

Over the coming weeks, the Search Committee will be working to complete the Interim Rabbi’s application which will be submitted to Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) in early September.

There may be members who are questioning why we have chosen the Interim Rabbi model. I can assure you, this is common practice among synagogues that are replacing long-serving rabbis. The Interim Rabbi will serve as a bridge between Rabbi Meyer’s departure and our next Settled Rabbi. The Interim Rabbi guides the congregation and the Board, fostering change and transition after a long-standing rabbi leaves. The Interim Rabbi will perform all duties of the regular congregational Rabbi.

An Interim Rabbi affords us the opportunity to thoughtfully conduct our search for a Settled Rabbi without the immediate pressure of a deadline. We want to ensure that Temple Emanu-El puts our best foot forward in not only our search for our next Rabbi, but also in how we present our congregation to potential candidates.

Please check our website for updates on the process and always feel free to reach out to me at president@emanu-el.org should you have questions, concerns or comments.

Wishing you all a relaxing and enjoyable Summer.

Gail New

  Frequently Asked Questions about the Search/Transition Process                                                                                            

Who are Temple Emanu-El’s professional partners in the search process?
The Placement Office of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), the Reform rabbinic professional leadership organization, helps guide congregations in the many aspects of their rabbinic search process. The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) provides confidential search and transition support with a keen eye to the needs of each individual congregation.

Why are we looking for an Interim Rabbi?
Especially in cases of successors to long-serving rabbis (like Rabbi Meyer), the CCAR (the Central Conference of American Rabbis) recommends that congregations follow the Interim Rabbi model. An Interim Rabbi is specifically trained as a transitional rabbi. Their purpose is to help a congregation positively, successfully, and thoughtfully transition to a new Settled Rabbi. They are specially trained to help a congregation clarify its goals and objectives for a Settled Rabbi while performing the rabbinic duties for the synagogue. Since Interim Rabbis are not eligible to become permanent rabbis, they are in a unique position to work with the congregational leadership to help the congregation prepare for the next spiritual leader.

What is the process to select our next rabbi? (both Interim and Settled Rabbis)
There are several phases in the rabbinic selection process handled by different teams and spread over many months.

Discovery:  May, June 2022
The Discovery Subcommittee of the Transition team is charged with developing a process of reflection for congregants to determine the most important attributes and qualifications of our next rabbi, along with documenting our Temple’s strengths, challenges, and where we want to be in the next five years. These reflections will be a result of:

• A series of member focus groups (called Listen and Learn sessions) to gather information on specific questions and open discussion about the process, members’ aspirations, and the vision for Emanu-El’s future.
• A congregation-wide survey sent to all adult Temple members to understand the important attributes of and hopes for the next rabbi.

Application: August - September 2022
The Search Committee completes and submits a detailed application to the CCAR that comprises the results of the focus groups and online survey as well as details about Temple Emanu-El (history, finances, governance structure, etc.).

Review: October 2022 - March 2023
The Search Committee receives and reviews candidate applications, determines which candidates to contact and conducts virtual interviews. Based on the virtual interviews, it is determined which candidates should be invited for subsequent interviews or an in-person visit to Marblehead.

In-person Visit – Spring 2023
Candidate(s) is invited to travel to Marblehead to meet with lay leaders, senior staff, and committee members and to visit our local community.  

Due Diligence and Recommendation: - Spring 2023
The Search Committee begins due diligence on each candidate still being considered and if necessary, the final candidate(s)will be invited back to tour areas of the community, ask pertinent questions, and meet with other leaders.

The Search Committee, after the process delineated above, will decide by discussion and ultimate vote as to their recommendation of which candidate they feel will be the optimal candidate to serve our congregation. That recommendation is presented at the Board of Trustees meeting, and the Board votes on the said recommendation.

Further questions can be directed to:
Sharon Orfaly, Search Chair search@emanu-el.org
Claudia Kaufman, Transition Chair transition@emanu-el.org
Gail New, President president@emanu-el.org

What does the  Transition Team Send-Off Subcommittee do?
Although there is much attention on the search activity for the Interim and Settled Rabbi,  the Send-Off Subcommittee of the Transition Team will be busy in the fall of 2022 planning the celebrations and our ways to honor and say thank you to Rabbi Meyer for his three decades of service to Temple Emanu-El.  Still in the beginning stages, if you are interested in helping with any of the activities to be held next spring 2023, please reach out to transition@emanu-el.org.

  From our Temple President:  April 25, 2022                                                                                                                                    

Dear fellow congregants,

As you know, our beloved Rabbi Meyer has announced his upcoming retirement in June 2023. Change can be challenging but we are excited for the next chapter, both for Rabbi Meyer and for Temple Emanu-El. 

Today, I want to give you an update on the progress we have already made in the search process.

Leadership has put together both a Search Committee and a Transition Committee whose members represent all aspects of Temple life. Each of these committees have met and been given specific responsibilities including: fact-finding from our congregation, staff and community, and completing an application for a new Rabbi.

• Fact-finding: We will be welcoming input from the entire congregation shortly as we begin the search process for our next Rabbi. There will be opportunities to gather all of your feedback in the very near future through a variety of means including a congregational online survey and focus groups. Everyone will have a voice in this process.

• Application Process: The first application to be completed and submitted by the Search Committee will be for an Interim Rabbi.  This Rabbi will serve a one-year term as a bridge between Rabbi Meyer and our new Senior Rabbi. An Interim Rabbi is highly recommended by CCAR (Central Conference of American Rabbis) and URJ (Union for Reform Judaism) to provide some emotional space as our congregation makes the change from a long-term, beloved Rabbi to a new spiritual leader. We will all need the time to adjust and to conduct an effective search for our new Senior Rabbi.

Please be assured that all Interim Rabbis are trained to “step right in” as a traditional Rabbi while also looking at a Temple objectively, giving feedback on daily operations, staffing and programming. By hiring an Interim Rabbi, our congregation will have the time and means to create a neutral and welcoming environment in which the incoming Senior Rabbi will have an opportunity for success on their own terms.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I will continue to keep you updated on all aspects of the search process.

With my gratitude,

Lisa A. Nagel
President, Temple Emanu-El
lanagel18@gmail.com