December 18, 2025
Dear BJBE Community,
We are excited and grateful to share that the Rabbinic Search Committee has extended an offer to Rabbi Adam Wright to become the next Senior Rabbi of BJBE. Over the past several months, we have engaged in a thoughtful and intentional process, reviewing many impressive applications and spending countless hours in conversation, thoughtful reflection, and careful due diligence. From the beginning, it was important for us to find a rabbi with the faith, courage, and wisdom to lead BJBE into the future, while also bringing the warmth, integrity, and respect needed to honor our congregation’s rich history. It is with great confidence and genuine joy that we believe Rabbi Wright is the right leader for BJBE in this next chapter and a true partner to our congregation.
Rabbi Wright has served as Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2019, where his leadership has strengthened the congregation as a center of Jewish excellence through innovative worship, education, philanthropy, and community engagement, including new membership models that have welcomed many young families. A passionate advocate for Israel and Jewish education, he has led immersive Israel experiences for youth and, following October 7, 2023, convened citywide vigils, interfaith solidarity gatherings, and ongoing prayers that deepened ties across the broader community. Previously, he served as Associate Rabbi at Temple Solel in California, along with a range of educational and pastoral roles throughout the state. A committed scholar, Rabbi Wright holds multiple advanced degrees from Vanderbilt University and Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion and is currently pursuing his doctorate with a focus on contemporary Jew-hatred. He is a founding member and current board chair of RabbisUnited, a division of StandWithUs, which is dedicated to supporting the educational efforts of rabbis who care deeply about Israel and are committed to combating antisemitism within their synagogues, communities, and among their peers.
He will be joining the BJBE community with his wife, Dr. Rachel Wright, and their three children.
We look forward to entering the next chapter of BJBE’s history together, and Rabbi Wright will send a letter to the congregation in early 2026.
In gratitude,
Co-Chairs, Rabbinic Search Committee
November 18, 2025
Dear BJBE Community,
We’re pleased to share an update on the work of the Rabbinic Search Committee. Over the past several weeks, the committee has been hard at work reviewing many outstanding applications for our Senior Rabbi position, and we are now conducting virtual interviews. It has been incredibly heartening to hear from candidates about BJBE’s strong and positive reputation. It is a wonderful reminder of what we already know: this is a truly special community.
We are also happy to share that the Associate Rabbi position has been posted, and we have begun receiving applications for that role as well.
Thank you for your trust, patience, and support as we continue this sacred work on behalf of our congregation.
In gratitude,
Lara Kunz and Stephanie Rodgers
Co-Chairs, Rabbinic Search Committee
October 23, 2025
Dear BJBE Community,
We are delighted to share this update with you regarding our rabbinic search.
The committee has received several resumes for the Senior Rabbi position since the High Holy Days. This is in addition to the original submissions that we received. We are pleased by the quality of applications so far and have been told that our application has drawn a lot of interest.
We met recently and have had some meaningful and lively conversations about how we will proceed. This is a nice start for us and we look forward to working together to find our next amazing Senior Rabbi.
Additionally, we would like to share that we will be posting our application for the Associate Rabbi position in the coming days. This is a very exciting time for BJBE and we look to the future with strength and renewal.
Thank you for your support and encouragement throughout this process.
Warmly,
Stephanie Rodgers and Lara Kunz
Rabbinic Search Co-Chairs
Dear BJBE Congregants,
We want to thank the over 200 families that participated in the BJBE visioning survey. It has helped us gather a better understanding of the hopes, needs, and priorities of our community. We are deeply grateful for the time, thought, and care you put into sharing your perspectives.
The goal of this process was to ensure that the voices of our members guide our planning for the future, including the sacred work of selecting our next Senior Rabbi.
Key Themes That Emerged:
Honoring the Past, Building the Future. Members value BJBE’s strong traditions and history, while also affirming the importance of innovation to remain vibrant and relevant.
A Rabbi Who Brings Inspiration and Energy. Congregants are seeking a leader who is warm, approachable, and engaging. Someone who inspires through Torah and teaching while also bringing renewed enthusiasm and connection to our community.
A Multi-Generational Congregation. Responses reflected the importance of being a congregation that serves every age and stage of life, while also fostering opportunities to come together across generations.
Relationships and Connection. Members expressed the desire to strengthen BJBE’s culture of belonging, with ideas such as formal mentoring for new members and expanded opportunities for connection beyond services.
Joyful and Creative Worship. Congregants want worship that is meaningful, spiritual, and filled with music and creativity, continuing BJBE’s tradition of dynamic and engaging services.
Next Steps:
Our congregation has formally submitted our application to the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) placement office. We are now entering the stage of the process where rabbis who feel called to this opportunity may review our materials and express their interest. In the coming weeks, we look forward to learning about candidates and beginning conversations that will help us discern who will become our next Senior Rabbi.
What has happened so far in the process:
We have declared our search with the CCAR and as of September 2nd, we have submitted our application.
We are proud to announce that the Rabbinic Search Committee is in place and will start meeting regularly. We did our best to ensure the committee was made up of a diverse collection of members with a variety of experiences and backgrounds that would assist us in representing all voices of the BJBE community.
We want to thank everyone who participated in this visioning process. Your voices make a difference. Together, we will ensure that BJBE continues to be a place of meaning, connection, and Jewish life for generations to come.
Rabbinic Search Committee
Andy Simon
Barry Metzger
Barry Simon
Bonnie Koss
Jon Chester
Julie Brodsky
Kim Gordon
Lara Kunz (Co-Chair)
Laura Passmore
Matt Settler
Noah Frank
Sami Abrams
Sandee Holleb
Steffanie Pinsky
Stephanie Rodgers (Co-Chair)
Steve Harfield