WJC’s Third Clergy Search, Spring 2020

By the Third Clergy Search Committee

As we prepare for Rabbi Segelman’s departure, our committee, the Third Clergy Search Committee, is busy making sure that WJC’s next associate clergy member is just the right fit. Under the leadership of Marty Marcus and Mia Mandel and in close discussion with Rabbi Arnowitz and Cantor Goldberg, we have envisioned the role and responsibilities of this new clergy person, which could be filled by either a rabbi or a cantor.

This third member of our clergy team will be a new kind of associate for WJC. The clergy is committed to meeting the needs of our youth and families as a team, so we are not looking for the kind of assistant/youth and family rabbi we have had in the past. This third clergy will share the general pulpit responsibilities like teaching, preaching, lifecycle officiating, leading services, etc.

Additionally, they will have unique portfolios including engagement – identifying people who might benefit from involvement at WJC (member and non-members) and helping them find how best to connect. Another portfolio will be contemporary spirituality – helping to create new and innovative experiences to meet the needs of our ever more diverse and active congregation. These initiatives might include embodied practices such as yoga and chant, mindfulness and contemplative practice, reflective text study, earth-based Jewish practice, and Musar.

  While clergy transitions can be challenging, we are truly excited about the opportunity our current clergy and this moment in the life of the synagogue present. If you have questions or thoughts you would like to share with us, please be in touch with Marty (marty.marcus@gmail),  Mia (Mandelmia@gmail.com), Cantor Goldberg or Rabbi Arnowitz. We look forward to hearing from you.

 

Update: January 30th 2020

Our search is moving along smoothly. We have interviewed a number of impressive candidates to date and will be interviewing additional candidates at the Rabbinical Assembly interview week for graduating rabbinical students beginning February 10th. We anticipate presenting three or four of the most promising candidates to the Congregation and have set aside the weekends of 2/28-3/1, 3/6-3/8, 3/13-3/15, and 3/20-3/22, for those visits to occur.  Please save the dates! 

Your participation and input are crucial in selecting the clergy member that meets the needs and wants of our community. A Friday night community Shabbat dinner and Rhythm and Ruach service will be part of each visit, as well as a sermon and Shiur delivered by the candidate on Saturday.  We will conclude each visit with a contemporary spirituality session and Question and Answer period on Sunday morning.  A full schedule will be shared as weekend visits are arranged and a survey will be sent after each visit to gather your feedback.