Background
Our congregation is in a time of transition. Transitions begin with an ending and end with a new beginning.
Rabbi Allison Vann faithfully served our congregation as the settled rabbi from July 2011 through June 30, 2025. As outgoing rabbi during this transition year, she has stepped away from the full duties of a settled rabbi, and we are deeply appreciative of her years of dedication, leadership, and service to our community.
To guide our congregation during this period of change, the Board has engaged Transitional Rabbi Danny Gottlieb, who will lead the congregation and perform the duties of settled rabbi throughout the transition period. Rabbi Gottlieb will provide spiritual leadership, pastoral care, and continuity as we prepare to welcome our next permanent settled rabbi.
Rabbinic Search Update
The search for our new settled Rabbi has begun. The search committee, chaired by Laura Barnard, began its work in late August.
We have assembled a committee that represents the various constituencies of our beloved congregation. Regular updates on the work of the committee will be shared on this page, in Temple Times, and the bulletin.
If you have questions for the committee, please contact Laura Barnard.
Update - October 20 - Our application for the new Rabbi has been posted in the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) Rabbinic Career site. We are now accepting applications.
Congregational and Staff Feedback - The search committee concluded our congregational and open house sessions having received thoughtful feedback and enthusiasm from our congregants and staff that will help guide the committee as it moves forward.
Placement Process / Governance - The committee completed the application and submitted it to the CCAR Placement Commission. The CCAR oversees the Rabbinic placement process.
CCAR sets policies for both congregations and rabbis. For example, congregations and rabbis must participate only in CCAR's placement system. Search committee members participate in implicit bias training.
Rabbi Experience - CCAR established a category system to link rabbinic experience to congregation size. For example, Category A includes up to 300 members. Congregations that fall in Category A, such as Suburban Temple Kol Ami, have no restrictions on hiring newly ordained or experienced rabbis.
Confidentiality - Comittee members signed a brit (covenant) of confidentiality. Members are prohibited from revealing the identity of any applicant or whether an applicant has applied for the position. CCAR requires that internal and external candidates be evaluated by identical processes and have equal access to information.
Interview Process - First interviews will be by video conference. Second interviews will be in person where candidates will also meet members of the congregation, lay leadership and staff. Committees may visit a candidate's current congregation to observe them in real time.
Meet the Rabbinic Search Committee
In addition to committee chair, Laura Barnard, the committee members are: Beth Curtiss, Matthew Greenfield, Lee Griesbach, Jonathan Litt, Susan Merdler, Nina Nager, Sarah Richards Cooper, Sally Sears, and ex-offico members Dorothea Polster and Alan Melamed. Biographies of the members can be found at this link.
The search committee invites and encourages you to meet with them in person. They will be at Temple to hear from you on Thursday, September 25 from 7-8 pm; Friday, September 26 from 10-11 am; Sunday, September 28 from noon – 1 pm; and available via Zoom on Tuesday, September 30 from 7:30-8:30 pm. To register for the Zoom session, please email Rochelle Arian at the office.
Settled Rabbi Survey Results
Thank you! We received outstanding responses from the congregation to the recent survey about the settled rabbinic search. A summary of those results is below.