The Rabbinical Assembly recently held its annual Interview Week from February 10-13th at their headquarters in New York City. Over the course of four packed days, graduating students from both the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles and the Rabbinical School of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City participated in interviews with synagogues from across the nation that are seeking a rabbi or assistant rabbi. “Interview Week is an excellent opportunity for synagogues to meet a significant number of eager candidates, and have their clergy needs filled by rabbis looking to start their careers,” said Emily Hendel, Director of Career Services for the Rabbinical Assembly. 20 congregations attended this year, as well as 16 students, resulting in 85 hour-long interviews.
Representing Congregation Olam Tikvah in Fairfax, VA at Interview Week were Brittanie Werbel, President and Michelle Pearlstein, Search Committee Chair. This was their congregation’s fifth time going through the process. “It’s an intense process, but meeting with the candidates is energizing and exciting,” says Werbel. “Even though the day is exhausting, the conversations are thoughtful and fascinating. We’re looking forward to the interview weekends!” she added.
Small synagogues (with 250 units or less), synagogues of any size with assistant pulpit positions available, as well as institutions are eligible to attend. This year also marked the first time that the Cantorial Assembly participated in Interview Week, with cantorial students interviewing with congregations that had cross listed their positions with the Rabbinical Assembly and Cantors Assembly.
To celebrate and welcome all of the guests, the Jewish Theological Seminary opened the beautiful new arcade walkway at their building at 3080 Broadway for the first time after being under construction for more than two years. Breakfasts were held on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for the visiting synagogues to mix and mingle with the deans of both rabbinical schools.
To bring all of the attendees together, USCJ co sponsored a dinner with the Rabbinical Assembly and Cantors Assembly on Tuesday night. In attendance from the Rabbinical Assembly were Rabbi Danny Nevins, Dean of the Jewish Theological Seminary, Rabbi Cheryl Peretz, Dean of Ziegler, as well as Rabbinical Assembly President Debra Newman Kamin, incoming President Stewart L. Vogel and Chief Operating Officer Ashira Konigsburg. USCJ was represented by International President Ned Gladstein, Director of Synagogue Consulting Jennifer Stofman, and Synagogue Consultant Linda Sussman. From the Cantors Assembly were President David Lipp and Executive Vice President Stephen Stein. Jennifer Stofman addressed the students saying, “Spending time with you this week, I was so impressed with your excitement, creativity, vision and your dreams for the Jewish communities you plan to serve and create. The congregational leaders that I met were in awe of your skills, talents and infectious love for Judaism. They wish they could hire all of you and bring you and your enthusiasm home to each one of their communities.” Each student received a gift of a mezuzah and klaf (scroll) from USCJ and the Rabbinical Assembly to symbolize the partnership between theorganizations.
Next Steps & Synagogue Visits
Following Interview Week, students will be visiting interested congregations over the next five weeks, with the majority happening during a Shabbat. A helpful guidebook, The Aliyah Congregation Search, written by Rabbi Elliot Schoenberg and edited by Emily Hendel of the Rabbinical Assembly, provides steps for synagogues to take in optimizing these visits, where students get to lead congregations as a guest and get a feel for a particular community. Job offers are then made on Monday, March 23rd. Photos of this year’s Interview Week can be viewed here. The 2021 RA Interview Week dates haven’t yet been announced but will take place during the second week of February.
from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/the-rabbinical-assemblys-2020-interview-week
via USCJ
No comments:
Post a Comment