Post on 26-Jul-2020
SACRED SEARCHES Placement in the URJ: for rabbis, cantors and educators
Presented by
Rabbi Alan Henkin, Central Conference of American Rabbis
Rabbi Stan Schickler, National Association of Temple Educators
Cantor Kay Greenwald, American Conference of Cantors
Why use the URJ Placement Services?
CCAR rabbis, ACC cantors and NATE educators are committed to Reform Judaism and the Reform Jewish Movement
Our rabbis, cantors and educators are knowledgeable about Reform Jewish practice, philosophy and music
Placement with the CCAR, the ACC and NATE is governed by placement commissions that include representatives from the URJ and HUC-JIR
The Rabbinical Placement Commission —the policy-making body
• Central Conference of American Rabbis • Hebrew Union College–Jewish Ins;tute of Religion • Union for Reform Judaism
Rabbi Randi Musnitsky, Temple Har Shalom, Warren NJ Chair, RPC
Sacred Search 3
Sacred Search: A Guide to the Rabbinic Search
The Rabbinical Placement Commission – the representatives
CCAR URJ HUC-JIR
Rabbi Randi Scheinberg Rabbi Michael White Rabbi Ronne Friedman
Shirley Gordon Susan Feldman Peter Winik Andy Goodman
Michael Bamberger Laurence Tarica Rabbi Samuel Joseph
The Joint Cantorial Placement Commission • American Conference of Cantors • Hebrew Union College–Jewish Ins;tute of Religion • Union for Reform Judaism
Cantor Chanin Rosen, Scarsdale Synagogue, Scarsdale, NY Chair, JCPC
Sacred Search 5
The Joint Cantorial Placement Commission – the representatives
ACC URJ HUC-JIR Cantor Lori Corrsin Cantor Roy Einhorn Cantor Jill Abramson Cantor Jodi Schechtman, ex officio Cantor Mark Goldman, ex officio
Dennis Gilbert, Vice Chair Helene Spring Myra Ostroff Tom Abelson Rabbi Dan Freelander, ex officio
Cantor Bruce Ruben, PhD Dana Anesi, Student Placement Director Jack Levitt
The Joint Placement Commission for Educators • Na;onal Associa;on of Temple Educators • Hebrew Union College–Jewish Ins;tute of Religion • Union for Reform Judaism
Robin Eisenberg, RJE Temple Beth El, Boca Raton, FL Chair, JPCE
Sacred Search 7
The Joint Placement Commission for Educators – the representatives
NATE URJ HUC-JIR
Joan Carr Cory Hermann Shari Isserles
Bill Blumstein Dennis Gilbert Marilynn Yentis Rabbi Dan Freelander, ex officio
Patty Beck Rabbi Samuel Joseph Dr. Michael Zeldin
A CCAR Rabbi
Receives the finest education in the world at an accredited seminary Especially the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion
Continues lifelong learning in the CCAR’s outstanding programs of Torah study, professional development and spiritual growth Through in-person seminars, webinars, teleconferences,
international conventions and regional kallot
Remains subject to the most stringent code of rabbinic ethics and the highest standards of Jewish behavior
An ACC Cantor
Has spent years of post-graduate study along with student rabbis, educators and communal service professionals, at the Hebrew Union College in New York, or someone who has been certified by the Hebrew Union College and the ACC to have the requisite skills and knowledge required to be a full clergy team member
Has studied Jewish text, Modern Jewish Thought, Hebrew, and Pastoral skills
Has knowledge of a wide range of musical traditions from the sacred melodies of our High Holy Days to the music of Jewish camping
Sings in order to lead prayer
Is bound by the ACC Code of Ethics
Has made the conscious decision to devote his or her life to serving the Jewish people.
A NATE Educator
Is familiar with and knowledgeable about the Reform Movement
Has experience in a Reform setting
Is passionate and knowledgeable about Jewish education
Generally has training in Jewish education
For CCAR Rabbis, ACC Cantors and NATE Educators
Teaching your children and your families is sacred work; standing with you through good times and bad times is a sacred honor and a privilege.
The Rabbinic Placement office offers a variety of rabbis:
Senior rabbis
Solo rabbis
Associate rabbis
Assistant rabbis
Rabbi-educators
Interim rabbis
Part-time rabbis
Similarly, the ACC Placement Office offers a variety of different cantors:
Full-time Cantors
Limited Service Cantors
Assistant or co-Cantors
Interim Cantors (from time to time)
Cantor Educators
Cantors-in-Residence
And NATE offers Educators who can comfortably wear a variety of titles
Director of Lifelong Learning Oversees virtually all education in the congregation
Director of Congregational Learning Oversees congregational school, potentially including youth
programming, adult ed, and/or early childhood
Religious School Director
Assistant Religious School Director
School Administrator
What are the most important principles to consider when undertaking a search for a new Jewish Professional for your congregation?
Vision for the future – where will your congregation be in 5 years? In 10 years?
What are your congregation’s core values?
What are your congregation’s key strengths?
What are your congregation’s areas of weakness? Where do you want/need to grow?
How do the professional team and the lay leadership interact with each other?
How Does Placement work for Congregations? Each Placement Commission has an “application” for
congregations to fill out Placement services are free to URJ congregations – the
application contains information about your congregation and the position for which you are hiring
The application is submitted to the Placement Office of the respective organization (contact info to follow)
The Placement Director is available for consultation, advice, on-site visits, and any questions along the way
Congregations choose their own professionals – their choices are not dictated by the Placement Commission A certain number of years of applicant experience may be
required, however, depending on congregational size
Search Committees
A good search committee has 9-12 members Small enough to be nimble, large enough to be a good cross-
section of the congregation
Search Committee members should be smart, open-minded, mature, good listeners, have no special agendas to pursue and have the ability to work well in a committee
Search Committee members must be able to keep confidences
First tasks Put yourself on a timeline
Jan., Year I
Search CommiCee formed
January to June Self-study conducted and rabbinic profile created
June to August Self-study conducted and rabbinic profile created
August to November Resumes received, first round of telephone/ Skype interviews conducted
November to December On-site visits by final candidates
January to February, Year Recommendations made, brit clearly articulated, negotiations occur, contract signed
July, Year II
First Day for new rabbi!
Timeline: the Rabbinic Search
Timeline: the Cantorial Search
Oct-Jan Dec-March
Jan-March
Feb/March – April
March-May
March/April – May
March/April – May
July
Form Committee Focus Groups Prepare Application
Review Resumes
Phone or Skype Interviews
In-Person Interviews
Second In-Person Interviews (optional)
Decision/Offer
Negotiation/Closure
New Cantor Starts
Timeline: The Educator Search
Revolving Process – continues year round A congregation can list at any time
Busiest time of year is early Jan-March/April
“Peak” of season is mid-Feb – mid-March
Resources to help you in your search – CCAR website
Book suggestions and guidelines
Handbook on rabbinic placement process
Timeline suggestions
Self-study in congregations
Questions for rabbinic interviews
Letters for use after interviews
Available Resources – CCAR cont.
Questions for the reference check
Experts in the field of rabbinic placement
Covenant for search committee
Resources to help you in your search – ACC website
Phone or Skype Interview Guide
Human Resources questions
In-Person Interview Feedback Questionnaire
Sample Intake Forms
Sample Interview Questions
Sample Schedule for a Cantor Visit
Available Resources - ACC cont.
Sample Questions for References
Tips for Search Committees
Tips for High Holy Day Search Committees
Travel Expenses – how to share them and when
Transition Team Tasks
Resources to help you in your search – NATE Placement Kit for the Institution
Contract Sampler
Sample Job Descriptions
Guidelines for Educator Congregational Relations (Blue Book)
Educator Evaluation Tools
Important Things to Remember
Just as you are interviewing, you are also being interviewed
Sell your community – what makes your position unique and distinctive?
Ongoing Communication with your candidates is very important!
Don’t “settle” – be prepared to wait for the right person, even if it means an interim or taking an extra year for your search
Contact Information
Rabbi Alan Henkin, CCAR
Cantor Kay Greenwald, ACC
Rabbi Stan Schickler, RJE NATE
355 Lexington Avenue, 18th Floor New York NY 10017 212.972.3636 ext. 234 ahenkin@ccarnet.org
650.963.9722 kgreenwald@accantors.org
633 Third Avenue New York, NY 10017 212.452.6510 sschickler@natenet.org
ADDENDUM: CANTORIAL AUDITIONS – What to expect
Don’t ask cantors to sing during a Skype interview
Kol Nidrei is not an audition piece
There must be time to rehearse with the accompanist
The accompanist should be good Provide the cantor with the accompanist’s contact info
Have a glass of water available
Have a stand, podium or amud available for music and text notes
CANTORIAL AUDITIONS – CONT.
Let the cantor make her/his own musical choices
According to JCPC guidelines, auditioning and interviewing cantors may not lead Shabbat or Festival services for your congregation