President's Letter

 Dear Fellow Congregant,

Rabbi Bernstein will be leaving Congregation Beth Ohr at the conclusion of her contract in June 2022. This was Rabbi Bernstein’s personal decision (click here for a copy of the Rabbi’s congregational letter) and you should direct any questions to her at rabbi.bernstein@cbohr.org or by calling her directly.  

Following the guidelines of United Synagogue we have established a Rabbinical Search Committee, It is their responsibility to identify qualified candidates for the position of Congregation Beth Ohr’s next Rabbi. The chair of the committee is Nadine Kaufman. 

The committee is an extension of the temple family, and includes individuals who represent the demographic diversity we enjoy at CBO. We are committed to engaging in a collaborative, transparent and intensive search effort. We hope the entire Congregation communicates their thoughts and opinions regarding the personal, intellectual, spiritual and ethical qualities that are sought in the candidates for the position of Rabbi. 

In addition to defining and prioritizing the characteristics we are looking for in our new Rabbi, it is also necessary to articulate who we are as a Congregation and what makes us unique. We need to consider not only where we stand at this moment in time, but also in what direction we see ourselves moving in the future. What aspirations do we have for our synagogue?  What role can our new Rabbi play in bringing us closer to our goals? The Rabbi Search Committee’s responsibility is to find a Rabbi who speaks to as many of our needs and preferences as possible.
 
With all this in mind, we will be offering many ways for the Congregation to have a voice.

1.    A dedicated and confidential email address has been established so congregants can email a statement, thoughts or ideas. That address is: RabbiSearch@cbohr.org.   Your comments will be shared within the committee; if you ask for anonymity, your request will be respected.

2.    Written statements can also be sent to or dropped off at the Synagogue Office; please write “Rabbi Search” on the outside of the envelope. It will be given to the Chair.

3.    Feel free to speak to any member of the committee with your thoughts and concerns. If you request a personal conversation with the Chair every attempt will be made to arrange one. To schedule an in-person meeting, contact the Chair via email at rabbisearch@cbohr.org. 

As a member of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, we are required to work through the Joint Commission on Rabbinic Placement to search for a new rabbi. We will strictly adhere to this well-defined process.  All candidates must be members of the Rabbinical Assembly and come to us through the JCRP process. Click Here for a detailed description of the process. We have also created a FAQ on our website to answer some of the more common questions (Click here to read the FAQ section).

After a careful review of resumes and the conclusion of our interviewing process, qualified candidates will be invited to spend a weekend with us. The candidates will lead services, teach our congregants, teach in our Hebrew School, and interact in a variety of contexts. These visits will likely take place from February to April 2022. We will be looking for help in providing a rich and immersive experience for each candidate. The search committee looks forward to hearing from the congregation about each candidate.  

Under our by-laws, the Congregation has the ultimate authority to employ clergy.  The Search Committee's role is to make a hiring recommendation to the Board. The Board will then present the candidate to the congregation for a vote. 

As the months progress, the congregation will be kept apprised of the committee’s progress. We will be creating a tab on our web site which will contain all pertinent information as well as periodic emails updates. We have been blessed with stable spiritual leadership for the past 8 years. Now we are faced with both an opportunity and responsibility to shape the future of Congregation Beth Ohr.

 Please help us to be successful in this endeavor.

Joseph Weisbord