Rabbinical Search - FAQ'S

What are the ordination requirements for the Rabbi Chief Executive (RCE) position at Congregation Beth Adam?

To be considered for this position, applicants are required to have ordination from an accredited rabbinical seminary following completion of a multi-year program of rabbinic study. We will consider candidates who have ordination from the seminaries listed below, and will consider candidates with alternative ordination on a one-to-one basis.

• Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion | Reform
• Jewish Theological Seminary | Conservative
• Reconstructionist Rabbinical College | Reconstructionist
• Hebrew College | Hebrew College is a vibrant graduate school dedicated to promoting deep Jewish learning and inspired leadership within a pluralistic environment of open inquiry, intellectual rigor, personal engagement and spiritual creativity. We are training Jewish leaders, professionals and lifelong learners for a world in need of healing and hope.
• Academy for Jewish Religion: Since its founding in 1956 as a rabbinical school, the Academy for Jewish Religion has been at the forefront of pluralistic rabbinic and cantorial training.

I expressed interest in the position and I’ve been assigned a “concierge”. What is that?

Beth Adam is taking a “candidate care” approach to its search process because we want all our applicants to have a good experience with us whether they are invited to interview or not.  As part of this process, anyone who reaches out to us is assigned a concierge who acts as their primary point of contact with us.  Concierges are always a member of the Rabbinical Search Committee (RSC).  They are available to help answer questions, ensure we have all your application materials, and provide any other needed support throughout the process.

How is Congregation Beth Adam’s Rabbinical Search Committee (RSC) organized?

The RSC will oversee the entire process and be responsible for interviewing, selecting, and recommending the final candidate. The RSC is organized into three Work Teams, each with at least one team leader and specific responsibilities plus other members as indicated below:

• Maureen Marks, RSC Chair
• Marcie Rosenston, Board President
• Carolyn Gilbert, RSC Engagement Team Leader
• Rachel Faust and Ken Weiss, RSC Recruitment and Selection Leaders
• Kip Hatcher, RSC Cultural Transition Team Leader
• Paul Korn, Board member and Liaison to Past President’s Council
• Melissa Weiss, Executive Director and Staff Representative

What does the Engagement Team do?

The Engagement Team lead designed a comprehensive consultative process that engages Beth Adam Congregants, Beth Adam staff, and consequential affiliated Jewish communities, in the search for the next RCE. This process was intended to inform the RSC of desires, needs, hopes, fears, concerns, and vision related to having a new RCE lead Congregation Beth Adam. This team will also support providing information and education to relevant stakeholders as appropriate to help these various groups and individuals feel comfortable and included in the search for a new RCE. This is the primary avenue for congregational members and other stakeholders to provide feedback on and learn about the process.

What does the Recruitment and Selection Team do?

This team designed a fair and equitable process that the RSC is utilizing to identify an appropriate candidate to recommend to the Board for appointment as RCE. They lead the design and execution of the recruitment process as well as recommend the interview questions, tracking and evaluation tools. This team along with the full RSC will ensure that congregational members have opportunities through the interview process to meet and experience the candidates. The Engagement Team will work with the Recruitment and Selection co-leads to design a process to gather feedback from congregational members as part of the interview process.

What does the Cultural Transition Team do?

This team will design and implement a roadmap for the new RCE to be welcomed within the congregational family. Onboarding regarding the duties and responsibilities of the RCE will be the purview of the Personnel Committee which is a standing committee of the Board of Trustees.  In addition, the Cultural Transition Team will plan and implement the process for honoring and celebrating Rabbi Robert Barr, our retiring RCE.

Who is on the President’s Council and what do they do?

The President’s Council is open to all past-presidents of Beth Adam and functions as advisors to the RSC. Paul Korn is the representative of this council on the RSC and acts as the voice for this group, and is a voting member.

What’s the anticipated timeline for the search process?

The search process will take as long as it needs for up to two years to ensure we select the right next RCE for our congregation. The timeframe is as follows:

• January – March 2023: Engagement Team engaged the congregation in a variety of ways to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.
• April – July 2023: Recruitment and Selection Team developed the RCE posting to reflect the needs and wishes of the congregation.
• August 2023: The listing for the new RCE was posted in a variety of places to ensure maximum visibility and accessibility to any rabbi potentially interested in this position.
• Fall 2023: Conduct first round and second round Zoom interviews.
• Winter 2023/2024: Three to four finalists are invited for a individual in-person 2-day interview process in Cincinnati in which the RSC will conduct formal interviews, and the entire congregation will have an opportunity to meet the final candidates and get a sense of their skills. Applicants will also have a chance to have an informal tour of Cincinnati.
• Winter 2024: RSC makes selection recommendation to the Board of Trustees. Board of Trustees conducts approval vote, and if approved, a special meeting of the Congregation is called to conduct an affirmation vote of the selection.

Who do I contact if I have a question?

We encourage you to reach out to your concierge first.  If you run into any challenges with that process or have other issues or concerns, you are welcome to email rabbinicalsearch@bethadam.org.