A message from Andrea Bradley, temple president.
Rabbi Gluck, who has been TBE’s spiritual leader for 33 years, will be retiring on June 30, 2024. After consulting with the CCAR (Central Conference of American Rabbis) and the URJ (Union for Reform Judaism), our leadership team and Board of Trustees decided that the best course of action would be to hire an interim rabbi for one year to support us in a successful transition to our next settled rabbi. On February 26, 2024, our congregation voted to hire Rabbi David Katz as our interim rabbi for one year to begin on July 1, 2024. Our Settled Rabbi Selection Committee has begun its work to identify a candidate to serve as our next settled rabbi, beginning July 1, 2025. While all of this work is going on, we are relishing our time with Rabbi Gluck, joining together as a community in worship, learning, inspiration and celebration. The information that follows is intended to help you understand more about TBE’s rabbinic transition. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at president@templebethelnj.org.
March 17, 2024 Email Letter from Steve Weitz, chair of Rabbi Selection Committee
On March 7, Temple Beth-El’s Settled Rabbi Selection Committee convened for the first time. We are charged with identifying a candidate to serve as our next settled rabbi, who will begin with us on July 1, 2025. The purpose of this letter is to acquaint you with the search process that will unfold over the coming year and to encourage you to register for one of the Share Your Voice – Create Our Future sessions happening this month.
We intend to search for a rabbi who is a graduate of our Reform Movement seminary, the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR). The search will be conducted according to the guidelines laid out by the Rabbinic Placement Commission, a joint instrumentality of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and the HUC-JIR. The Commission both acts as a clearinghouse for rabbinic applicants seeking a pulpit position and supports congregations wanting to hire a rabbi.
Many of the procedures governing the search process are prescribed by the Placement Commission. For example, all members of the Selection Committee are required to attend training in Racial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as well as learn how to minimize the impact of implicit bias. Matters such as those pertaining to the schedule of the search and the interview process are also determined by the Commission. Sometime in Fall, 2024 we will complete and submit the Commission’s standardized application for placement. And throughout the process, we will conform with our TBE Constitution.
The Commission is very clear about the boundaries around search process confidentiality. As stated in their Placement Handbook:
“The search committee must maintain confidentiality with regard to the names of the candidates while also advancing transparency by putting into place procedures to inform the congregation of its progress during the search.”
Therefore, our Selection Committee will endeavor to be transparent about our process but will maintain confidentiality about individual rabbinic candidates as well as our internal deliberations. Please be kind to Committee members and do not press them for information they are prohibited from disclosing.
The Selection Committee will focus on identifying a rabbinic candidate who we think can best meet our needs as we embark on the next chapter of our sacred community’s life cycle. So that we may best represent your priorities, we want and need your input. Jeff Resnick and Robin Osman have organized “Share Your Voice – Create our Future” – a series of meetings where every synagogue member will have the opportunity to make their voice heard. Because the application details our congregation’s values, wants and needs for the pool of potential candidates, your participation in “Share Your Voice – Create our Future” is critical. Please attend one of these meetings. The Selection Committee cannot represent the range of opinions about your vision for our synagogue’s future without hearing from you. To register, visit this signup page, or call the temple office (908-722-0674, x312).
Once the Committee has identified someone for hire, we will present the person’s credentials to the TBE Board of Trustees along with the reasons we recommend they be hired. With the Board’s approval, the final hiring decision will then be made by a vote of the congregation.
Watch our TBE website for periodic updates that will include additional information about our rabbi selection process, Selection Committee member bios and answers to frequently asked questions. Information will also be distributed in our weekly TBE email blasts.
We appreciate your support as we engage in the search for our next settled rabbi.
L’Shalom,
Steve Weitz (he/him)
RabbiSelectionCommittee@templebethelnj.org
On behalf of the Temple Beth-El Settled Rabbi Selection Committee
Committee members:
Caren Bateman
Frank Derby
Debbie Herman
Leigh Miller
Adriana Saipe
Brian Small
Jeff Stuart
Marci Taylor
Steve Weitz, Chair
February 26, 2024 Letter from Andrea Bradley
I am thrilled to announce, on behalf of the Board of Trustees and our Interim Rabbi Selection Committee, that Rabbi David Katz will be our interim Rabbi, beginning July 1, 2024. Rabbi Katz’s employment was approved at a special Congregational meeting earlier tonight.
Rabbi Katz brings great enthusiasm to and experience in working with congregations that are in transition following the retirement of a long-tenured, much loved rabbi like our Rabbi Gluck. Rabbi Katz is currently the interim Rabbi at Temple Sinai in Saratoga Springs. After intensive training to become an intentional interim rabbi, he has led congregations in Pleasanton, CA; Armonk, NY; Johns Creek, GA; Baltimore, MD; Albany, NY; and Syracuse, NY – to name a few. In addition to being an accomplished pulpit rabbi, Rabbi Katz has been a Jewish educator for many years serving schools in Boston, Toronto and San Diego.
At Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Rabbi Katz earned his Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters and Master of Arts in Hebrew Education, was ordained in 1981, became certified as a Reform Jewish Educator and was awarded his Doctor of Divinity in 2006. He previously received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees from Northwestern University in Theater. He has written numerous articles and is the co-editor of Reading Between the Lines: New Stories from the Bible. Rabbi Katz served on the committee that developed Mishkan T’Filah, the Reform Jewish prayer book published in 2007.
Rabbi Katz’s wife, Nancy Modlin Katz, is a painter and ceramic artist who has exhibited widely throughout the United States. They have two children. Emily is the Communications Director and movie producer for French philosopher/political journalist Bernard-Henri Levi and the Executive Director of “Justice for Kurds.” Her most recent film about the war in Ukraine, “Glory to the Heroes,” screened both at the United Nations and on Capitol Hill. Benjamin is a professional harpsichordist and early music scholar living in Brooklyn, New York. You can learn more about Rabbi Katz from this 2021 article in the “Rochester Beacon.”
Alongside Cantor Wallach, Rabbi Katz will lead services, support our Brit Mitzvah families, teach our learners, preside at our life cycle events and provide pastoral care for those in need throughout our community. He has experience in building multi-faith coalitions and in promoting greater congregational engagement. He will also support us in a successful transition to our next settled rabbi. In short, Rabbi Katz will be the perfect spiritual leader and advisor for us as we craft our TBE future.
Many thanks to our Interim Rabbi Selection Committee, ably led by Jay Lavroff, and assisted by congregants Rich Wolff and Alison Kantor, and officers Jeff Resnick, Frank Derby and me, for their dedication and commitment in selecting and recommending Rabbi Katz to be our interim rabbi.
We are excited to have Rabbi Katz as a part of our TBE family during this period of transition beginning July 1, 2024. We also respect that he has a full-time commitment to Temple Sinai until the end of June. There will be many opportunities this summer and fall for you to welcome the Katzes into our TBE family and local communities. I will be in touch with more details.
Warmly,
Andrea Bradley, President
February 2, 2024 Letter from Andrea Bradley
Since Rabbi Gluck announced his retirement, effective June 30, 2024, we have been hard at work on the many elements of our rabbinic transition. I am delighted to announce that, at its January 22, 2024 meeting, the Board of Trustees approved forming a committee to conduct the search for our next settled rabbi, who will begin serving our temple community on July 1, 2025, after the term of our interim rabbi. I hope to announce news of our choice of an interim rabbi very soon.
The Settled Rabbi Selection Committee is chaired by Steve Weitz, a TBE past president and member of the URJ North American Board and Executive Committee. The Selection Committee also includes the following TBE members, each of whom was selected for their abiding commitment to our synagogue as well as their unique talents:
Caren Bateman Frank Derby
Debbie Herman Leigh Miller
Adriana Saipe Brian Small
Jeff Stuart Marci Taylor
The search process is governed by the Central Conference of American Rabbis (the “CCAR”), the rabbinic arm of the Reform Movement. Our Selection Committee’s objective is to identify an experienced rabbi who will uphold our community’s values, maintain TBE as a vibrant home of Jewish life and lead us into the future. In the coming weeks, committee members will begin their work by becoming familiar with the details of the search process and undergoing training in DEI and implicit bias, both of which the CCAR recommends.
I am also excited to share that this winter we will be kicking off our “Share Your Voice – Create Our Future” listening effort, co-chaired by Jeff Resnick and Robin Osman. This will be an opportunity for all of us to imagine a vision for TBE that honors our traditions while preparing us to meet the future. The feedback from these gatherings will inform the Selection Committee’s work in selecting a settled rabbi who aligns with our community’s aspirations. There will be abundant opportunities for you to participate in these gatherings. Please stay tuned for more details and plan on making your voice heard.
As it has been 33 years since TBE undertook to hire a settled rabbi, I want to remind you that, per the CCAR guidelines, the content of the Selection Committee’s deliberations and the identity of any candidates under consideration are strictly confidential. Please be respectful of our Selection Committee members and understand that they will not answer questions that would require them to disclose confidential information.
Given the importance of the work of our rabbinic transition, I am committed to providing you with regular updates. The FAQs posted on our website [see below] are a terrific source of updated information. I hope you will regularly check this page for updates. Thank you for being a member of our TBE community during this exciting time.
L’Shalom,
Andrea Bradley, President
When is Rabbi Gluck retiring?
Rabbi Gluck will be retiring at the end of June 2024, at which time he will become our first Rabbi Emeritus.
At a special Congregational meeting on February 26, 2024, Rabbi David Katz was hired as our interim rabbi, beginning July 1, 2024. Please scroll up to read the February 26, 2024 letter from Andrea Bradley about the hiring of Rabbi Katz.
Please scroll down to read more about the benefits of an interim rabbi, the process we followed to select an interim rabbi and now that we have hired an interim rabbi, the process we are following to select a permanent, or “settled” rabbi to lead Temple Beth-El beginning on July 1, 2025.
Are there any retirement events being planned?
We are honoring Rabbi Gluck with a year-long series of special events, including guest speakers, musical concerts and festive parties. Mark your calendars and join us. You can find more details here.
Why is Rabbi Gluck leaving?
Please read Rabbi Gluck’s letter to our congregation dated May 31, 2023, which you will find here.
What will Rabbi Gluck’s role be at TBE after his retirement?
While he is retiring as our rabbi, Rabbi Gluck will become our first Rabbi Emeritus and will always have a connection with our congregation. The Emeritus position does not have any specific rabbinic duties attached to it and is left somewhat undefined to provide sufficient room for our new rabbi to establish their own rabbinic identity at TBE.
Why did we hire an interim rabbi for a one year contract rather than a permanent or “settled” rabbi?
Best practices, as strongly endorsed by the CCAR (Central Conference of American Rabbis) and the URJ (the Union for Reform Judaism), recommend the hiring of an interim rabbi when congregations, such as TBE, have had a long-serving rabbi, to give the congregation time to process the change of spiritual leadership before searching for a permanent, or “settled,” rabbi.
The Board agrees and approved the search for an interim rabbi. An interim rabbi has special training in transition management and collaborative organizational change and can be helpful in facilitating the conversations that will help us determine what qualities will best match the needs and interests of our community for a settled rabbi. The interim year, in part, will allow us the time and space to remember that rabbis come with a variety of approaches and styles.
The announcement of Rabbi Gluck’s retirement has prompted a wide range of responses in our community from concern and sadness to anticipation and optimism. Rabbinic transition time can be an incredible catalyst for congregational discovery and exploration. For us, Rabbi Gluck’s retirement will give us time to adapt to the idea of change. The transition will allow us time to process our wide-ranging emotions, to reflect on our vision for the future of TBE and to ensure the rabbi we ultimately select will be the best possible fit for our community. An interim rabbi, experienced in these transitions, along with our dedicated and skilled staff and lay leadership team, will help us to imagine, then lay the groundwork to realize, TBE’s direction and future.
How long will the interim Rabbi serve, and might they become the settled rabbi?
Rabbi Katz will serve for one year beginning July 1, 2024 and is not eligible for the settled rabbi position.
What was the process for selecting the interim rabbi?
The interim rabbi selection committee was appointed to select a candidate who best represents the needs and desires of TBE. Members of the interim rabbi selection committee were Jay Lavroff, chair, Andrea Bradley, Jeff Resnick, Frank Derby, Alison Kantor and Rich Wolff. The committee prepared an application which was posted with the CCAR, and and reviewed resumes and conducted interviews. The interim rabbi selection committee recommended the hiring of Rabbi David Katz to the Board, which then approved the recommendation of Rabbi Katz’ hiring to the congregation.
What will our interim rabbi do?
The interim rabbi, like all rabbis, will serve all rabbinic needs of our TBE community, including leading worship services, life cycle events, Brit Mitzvah training, teaching, weddings and funerals. The interim rabbi will also help guide us toward a smooth transition to a settled rabbi.
What about a hiring a permanent or “settled” rabbi for TBE?
Now that we have hired an interim rabbi, we have begun the process to hire a settled rabbi for TBE beginning July 1, 2025, after the term of our interim rabbi, Rabbi Katz. At its January 22, 2024 meeting, the Board of Trustees approved forming a committee to conduct the search for our next settled rabbi.
The Settled Rabbi Selection Committee is chaired by Steve Weitz, a TBE past president and member of the URJ North American Board and Executive Committee. The Selection Committee also includes the following TBE members, each of whom was selected for their abiding commitment to our synagogue as well as their unique talents:
Caren Bateman Frank Derby
Debbie Herman Leigh Miller
Adriana Saipe Brian Small
Jeff Stuart Marci Taylor
The search process is governed by the CCAR, which acts as a clearinghouse for rabbinic applicants seeking a pulpit position and supports congregations wanting to hire a rabbi. Our Selection Committee’s objective is to identify an experienced rabbi who will uphold our community’s values, maintain TBE as a vibrant home of Jewish life and lead us into the future. On March 7, 2024, the Settled Rabbi Selection Committee met for the first time and began their work, which will include becoming familiar with the details of the search process and undergoing training in DEI and implicit bias, both of which the CCAR recommends.
Please scroll up to read the March 17, 2024 letter from Steve Weitz with more details about the work of our Settled Rabbi Selection Committee.
Will I be able to share my thoughts about the search process or other ideas I have with the rabbi selection committee?
As described more fully in an email to the congregation on March 4, 2024 from Jeff Resnick and Robin Osman, we are hosting a series of listening sessions called “Share Your Voice – Create Our Future” where every synagogue member will have the opportunity to make their voice heard. The objective of this listening project is to take advantage of this opportunity in our congregational life to reimagine a future for TBE that continues to honor our traditions while preparing us to meet the future needs and desires of our community. What we learn will support the work of our Settled Rabbi Selection Committee as they craft the job application that details our congregation’s values, wants and needs. To register to participate in Share Your Voice – Create Our Future, visit this signup page, or call the temple office (908-722-0674, x312).
We want to hear from you. You can always email the selection committee at SearchCommittee@templebethelnj.org to share your thoughts directly with the selection committee.
We will be updating this page and these FAQs periodically as our work to select a settled rabbi continues. Please check back to learn more.
