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