RABBI SEARCH
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RABBI SEARCH TIMELINE
June, 2010
From Larry Katzovitz
Chair, Rabbi Search Committee
Dear Fellow Congregants,
The rabbi search committee is pleased to announce that Rabbi Robin Damsky will be our congregation’s new rabbi next month as Rabbi Mirelman retires and becomes Rabbi Emeritus. The temple board approved the hiring of Rabbi Damsky at their May 2010 meeting following her recommendation by the rabbi search committee. Many of you had the opportunity to meet Rabbi Damsky during her Shabbat weekend visit. The support from temple members for our new rabbi after her visit was overwhelming. She comes to us after serving as the senior rabbi at Congregation Or Chadash Synagogue in Scottsdale, Arizona.
We started our rabbi search about 16 months ago. The committee followed a well defined process throughout the search and we were fortunate to receive enthusiastic support from our membership. The open forum meetings, congregational survey, and candidate interviews allowed us to learn about our temple community and its needs.
I personally wish to thank the temple members that embraced our search process for their support. Our temple professionals including: Rabbi Mirelman, Cantor Figa, Principal Alicia Gejman, Preschool Director Beth Chiet, and Executive Director Carol Serber each played an important part in the search by providing valuable feedback about the candidates.
The work of the search committee is winding down, but there is still much work to do to prepare for our rabbi transition. Please take an opportunity to welcome Rabbi Damsky as she settles in to her new role in our fantastic congregation. She is eager to get to know each member as soon as possible. Lisa Browdy will be chairing our transition team. To find out more about how you can help with our rabbi transition please contact Lisa at lisabrowdy@gmail.com or 708-524-9226.
On behalf of the search committee, thank you for your trust and support as we mark this exciting time in our temple’s history.
B'Shalom,
Larry Katzovitz, Chair
Rabbi Search Committee
WATCH: A Video Message from Rabbi Robin Damsky
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February, 2010
From Larry Katzovitz
Chair, Rabbi Search Committee
Dear Fellow Congregants,
I am pleased to report that our search continues to progress within the parameters of our planned process and timeline.
The difficult economic times in the U.S. have forced many congregations to make tough financial decisions including eliminating associate rabbi positions. We have been fortunate to receive resumes from candidates through the Rabbinical Assembly. We expect to continue to receive resumes later this winter and in to the spring. To date, we have conducted teleconference interviews with 6 rabbis and met personally with three of those candidates at WSTHZ. The in-person visits by candidates gave our search committee an opportunity to learn more about the candidate and see him/her “in action”. The visits also give the candidates an opportunity to learn more about our congregation, our temple professional staff, and the OPRF area.
While our committee has been impressed by many of the candidates; narrowing the field is a demanding proposition. We must do our best to select the ideal candidate to meet the needs of our congregational family; however we are also competing with synagogues throughout the U.S. and internationally for the top candidates. Throughout the search process the search committee has and will welcome input from the entire congregation. We were able to learn about the needs of our community from the forums and surveys completed last summer.
Later this year we plan to introduce the most viable candidate to the members of WSTHZ during a weekend visit. All congregants are encouraged to participate in the weekend candidate visit.
Please be an active participant in the search process. If you have questions or comments you can reach the search committee at rabbisearch@wsthz.org.
B'Shalom,
Larry Katzovitz, Chair
Rabbi Search Committee
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December, 2009
From Larry Katzovitz
Chair, Rabbi Search Committee
Dear Fellow Congregants,
Our search committee has been working hard this fall evaluating the candidates sent to us from the Rabbinical Assembly. Each candidate’s resume is carefully reviewed to see if they appear to meet the fundamental needs of our community as expressed in congregational survey.
Members of the search committee have begun to observe and evaluate candidates further through a combination of methods including: telephone interviews, synagogue visits, reference checks, and in-person interviews. All candidates have been very responsive to information requests by the search committee. As I have previously mentioned, a detailed search timeline can be found on our temple website. We are precisely adhering to our search timeline, which is much more demanding than the Rabbinical Assembly’s timeline. I am fortunate to have a diligent committee working with me as we progress in our search process.
Both the Rabbinical Assembly and United Synagogue have suggested we should not be too concerned if we veer from our planned schedule during the search process. Providing our search continues to develop as planned we should be introducing a finalist to our membership this winter or early spring 2010. I invite you to review the Rabbi Search section of our website to learn more about the search process. I can be reached at rabbisearch@wsthz.org if you have any questions or comments about our rabbi search.
B'Shalom,
Larry Katzovitz, Chair
Rabbi Search Committee
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November, 2009
From Larry Katzovitz
Chair, Rabbi Search Committee
Dear Fellow WSTHZ Congregants,
Our search process is progressing pretty much as planned. As of the time I wrote this update we have received four resumes from potential senior rabbis. We expect to receive more resumes now that the High Holidays are over.
By the time this update is published we will have begun interviewing candidates by telephone. The telephone interview is one source of data used to decide if we want to invite a candidate to River Forest for an in-person interview. We also will use references, printed materials, sample sermons, congregational visits, etc. to determine which candidate or candidates should be invited to meet with the search committee.
I invite you to review the Rabbi Search section of our website to learn more about the search process. I can be reached at rabbisearch@wsthz.,org if you have any questions or comments about our rabbi search.
B'Shalom,
Larry Katzovitz, Chair
Rabbi Search Committee
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September 1, 2009
From Larry Katzovitz
Chair, Rabbi Search Committee
Dear Fellow WSTHZ Congregants,
It is hard to believe the summer is gone and the High Holidays are nearly upon us; about six months have passed since the Rabbi Search Committee first met. Our opening for a rabbi has been officially posted with the Rabbinical Assembly. Rabbis all over the world can now learn about the WST rabbinic position. I am exceptionally proud of our posting.
All synagogues hiring a pulpit rabbi through the Rabbinical Assembly process complete a 14 page questionnaire to help candidates learn about our community and about the expectations of our membership. Much of the data included in the posting was received from our members at our rabbi search forums and from our congregational survey. The responses on our questionnaire are concisely and accurately written, but with a personal touch to give us a meaningful identity to potential candidates.
While the next two months will be an extremely busy time at the synagogue as we celebrate the High Holidays and religious school begins, it may be a quiet period in the search process while the potential candidates and the staff at the Rabbinical Assembly’s office are also busy with the High Holidays. Our committee has begun to formulate a series of interview questions for candidates so that we will be prepared to begin interviews soon after potential rabbis emerge.
The search is proceeding well and we are following our original timeline. The search committee has been very responsive and hard working. I am fortunate to work with such a professional group of individuals. As always if you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Shana Tovah Umetukah,
Larry Katzovitz, Chair
Rabbi Search Committee
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July 1, 2009
From Larry Katzovitz
Chair, Rabbi Search Committee
Dear Fellow WSTHZ Congregants,
The Rabbi Search Committee wishes to thank all the members that completed the search survey. It is wonderful to have so many congregants take an active roll in helping the committee find out what qualities the right rabbi for WSTHZ will possess. Findings of the survey will soon be summarized and reported to the congregation.
The search committee’s work continues through the summer months. The next major task is the submission of our job announcement to the Rabbinical Assembly. The announcement is submitted in the form of an online questionnaire. Only Rabbinical Assembly members can access the job postings for pulpit openings. The questionnaire gives us a chance to promote West Suburban Temple Har Zion and our community. Our answers to sections of the questionnaire will give potential candidates a good sense of the needs and desires of our synagogue.
A small group of committee members have been busy working on the questionnaire and a draft questionnaire will be reviewed by the entire search committee at our July 12 meeting. The final posting will be a composite of input gathered from the forums, surveys, and the research of committee members. Our search timeline suggest we should be prepared to post our opening late this summer.
As always please feel free to ask questions or make comments about the search process at rabbisearch@wsthz.org. We appreciate the generous participation of our congregation and we look forward to continued support as our search process advances.
B’Shalom,
Larry Katzovitz, Chair
Rabbi Search Committee
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June 1, 2009
From Larry Katzovitz
Chair, Rabbi Search Committee
Dear Fellow WSTHZ Congregants,
Our search is proceeding as planned, thanks to all of you.The search committee continues to accumulate data that will help us find the right rabbi for our synagogue.
The committee has compiled a Rabbi Search Survey. We need congregants to complete the survey by June 7th. You can access the anonymous survey here or pick up a survey at the Temple. Your responses to the survey will allow us to move on to the next major task in the search process - the completion of the Rabbinical Assembly’s online application. This application serves as our job posting, and as a guide to candidates about West Suburban Temple Har Zion and our community. We must fill out this application to get applicants from the Rabbinical Assembly. Several subcommittees have been compiling information about the Oak Park/River Forest area and our Jewish community. This information along with the statistics collected from the forums and the survey will help us to create an accurate representation to the Rabbinical Assembly of the person we are collectively seeking to serve as our new rabbi.
You can complete the survey here, or stop by or call the temple office to get a hard copy. All responses are anonymous. Please feel free to contact the search committee with any questions or concerns at rabbisearch@wsthz.org.
Larry Katzovitz, Chair
Rabbi Search Committee
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May 10, 2009
From Larry Katzovitz
Chair, Rabbi Search Committee
Dear Fellow WSTHZ Congregants,
I would like to inform you of the recent developments in the Rabbi Search Process.
The full Rabbi Search Committee first met on Sunday, March 1st, 2009 for just over 2 hours. It was a very productive meeting. First, we took some time to get to know one another better; we have an extremely diverse group. We discussed the search process through the Rabbinic Assembly and how to best involve the membership at-large. Eleven subcommittees were formed allowing the work load to be divided amongst search committee members. The subcommittees have already begun work on various tasks and they will report back to the broader committee. Our next full committee meeting will be on April 5th.
Thank you to everyone that participated in search forums on March 16th and 18th. The Search Committee values the input from the entire congregation as we begin this exciting time in WSTHZ history.
In April of 2009 a survey of the congregation will be distributed online and by mail. It is important that we come as close to getting a response from 100% of the congregation as possible. This survey will help the Search Committee best define the profile of our congregation and the qualities to look for in our next rabbi. All responses to the survey will be kept confidential, but the committee will post common trends.
As always feel free to contact the Rabbi Search Committee at rabbisearch@wsthz.org.
Please be an active participant as we advance during this fundamental transition period at our shul.
B’Shalom,
Larry Katzovitz, Chair
Rabbi Search Committee
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March 3, 2009
From Larry Katzovitz
Chair, Rabbi Search Committee
Dear Temple Members,
I am honored to have been chosen Chair of the newly formed Rabbi Search Committee. Searching for a new rabbi is among the most important of all work a synagogue community undertakes. We have been blessed that Rabbi Mirelman will have been with our congregation for approximately twenty-two years when he retires during the summer of 2010. As a congregation, our decisions will shape the future of West Suburban Temple Har Zion for many years to come.
The Rabbi Search Committee has been selected and begins its work now. Although some of the work of the committee must be confidential to protect the candidates, their congregations, and certain aspects of the process, it is important that the search process be as open and inclusive as possible. The Search Committee will frequently be looking for guidance through open forums, surveys, and town hall meetings. The search process gives us the opportunity to reflect on our values, community diversity, and future goals.
The Search Committee will use the input from our fellow congregants to ensure we find the best rabbi available to best fit our needs. To quote Barry Mael, Chief Service Delivery Officer of The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, "We are not like an NFL team looking for the top rated quarterback available, we are looking for the rabbi that best fits the needs of our congregational family". The Rabbinical Assembly requires us to complete a comprehensive search application which will be made available later this year to potential candidates. The more sincere input and feedback we get from our Temple members, the more accurately we can describe our wishes to future rabbi Candidates.
I am sure that congregants are eager to learn about the search process The committee will make regular reports to the entire congregation on this web page. There will also be special mailings and articles in our monthly Bulletin. I will post the Rabbinical Assembly's Application and "Aliyah" Rabbi Search Experience report on our web link.
The first opportunity for you to give the Rabbi Search Committee important feedback will be on Monday, March 16th and Wednesday, March 18, at 7 pm. - please attend either of these two important sessions. We will be holding open forums to learn about what qualities we should seek in a new Rabbi; we will also answer your questions about the search process. Both forums will cover the same material to accommodate as many congregation members as possible.
If you ever have questions about the search please feel free to contact the Search Committee at rabbisearch@wsthz.org.
B'shalom,
Larry Katzovitz, Chair
Rabbi Search Committee
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February 6, 2009
From the Temple President:
Dear Members of West Suburban Temple Har Zion,
I am very pleased to announce that Larry Katzovitz has agreed to chair the Rabbi Search Committee. Larry and his wife, Kristina have been members of West Suburban Temple for more than 23 years. Larry has been very active in the administration of the temple beginning on the board followed by 2 terms as treasurer followed by 2 very productive years as Temple President in 2006 and 2007. Our Temple family is very important to Larry.
In addition to his temple activities, Larry is president of a nationwide consumer finance company and a founding member of a financial planning firm for mature adults. He is also a Boy Scout troop leader and Eagle Scout Coordinator. We are very fortunate to have a chair that is so well qualified. I am confident Larry will successfully lead a committee to finding a Rabbi who will be well received by all of us.
Once again I wish to welcome all members to apply to be on the search committee. It is my goal to have a diverse group of members on the committee, including older and newer members and members who participate in a wide variety of Temple activities. Before submitting your application, please make sure you have time to make the search one of the priorities in your life for the next several months. We expect the search process to have both periods of intense activity and slower periods. Some travel may be necessary for the committee to properly evaluate candidates.
Applications for the Search Committee will be accepted through February 15, 2009. Applications are available in the Temple office. They can also be faxed or emailed upon request. Please return all completed applications to me. You can either drop them off in the Temple Office, mail them to my home at 143 S. Spring Ave., LaGrange, IL 60525, fax them to my attention at 312/263-0939 or send them by email to Blyong@golanchristie.com.
Thank you, ahead of time, to everyone who will be submitting applications for appointment to the Search Committee. For those not able or interested in serving on the committee, there will be many other opportunities to provide your input into this critically important process in our congregation’s life, including two open forums being held on the evenings of Monday and Wednesday March 16th and 18th, and by completing a congregation-wide survey which will be distributed in early March. It is essential that we get your input and perspectives to make this process better serve our whole congregation for many years to come.
Please feel free to direct any questions regarding the Rabbi Search Committee specifically or the search process to me or Larry.
Barbara L. Yong
Temple President
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Rabbi Search Committee Members
Norma Berlin
Robert Bloch
Lisa Browdy
Len Cunix
Suzanne Fournier
Morrie Fred
Ori Gottlieb
Leonard Grossman
Henry Guralnick
Marcelo Halpern
Dan Kaplan
Larry Katzovitz, Chair
Allan Lerner
Sonia Levy
Laurie Myers
Ricky Roth
Ed Sachs
Laurel Saltzman
Ed Schmitt
Renee Slade
Leah Soffer
Marc Stopeck
Russell Szmulewitz
Barbara Yong
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Last Updated:
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009, 2:40pm
