Congregation Beth David Board Meeting
MINUTES
February 10, 2010
Ron Ruebusch, Rabbi Schonbrun, David Hoffman, Jerry Bloom, Marshall Burak, Michael Schaffer, Ricki Gafter, Dan Skilken, Steve Levin, Lee Hirsch, Dave Graubart, Joanne Cornbleet, Rhonda Raider, Ronnie Gordon, Steve Schlosser, Norm Abramovitz, Jane Blumenthal, Alex Baskind, Eric Lewis, Steve Labovitz, Scott Rothenberg, Michael Sinensky, Michael Rock, Davida Adelberg, Carrie Zeidman
Guest: Tanya Lorien
- Approximately 50 congregants joined the meeting
- Rabbi Pressman was on speakerphone, from New York
SPECIAL TOPIC: A SECOND RABBI
Comments from Congregant. Responses from the Board are indented.
- Can we afford a second rabbi?
- We can afford a rabbi with experience equivalent to Rabbi Schonbrun
- Compared to other conservative synagogues, CBD is on the large end of the spectrum to have 1 rabbi, and on the small end to have 2 rabbis
- What about clergy housing, needed to recruit someone to our area?
- For clergy housing, we have $250K plus up to $600K more in matching funds, for a potential total of $1.45M.
- Another rabbi would give us more presence in the community
- With 2 rabbis, it would be more likely that members and potential members would have someone whose viewpoints and personality they could relate to. (Much applause from members present)
- What are the respective job responsibilities of two rabbis?
- Rabbi Pressman responded that we’ve achieved ambitious expansion with 2 rabbis, not possible with 1.
- With 2 rabbis, each doesn’t work less; rather, the pair accomplishes more. For example, having a second rabbi enables Rabbi Pressman to spend more time in the Religious School and Hebrew High classrooms
- RDP thinks that reverting to 1 rabbi would have a noticeable negative impact, and he doesn’t think it’s realistic
- Good opportunity to hire a junior rabbi now, so that person can learn from RDP in the next 4 years.
- We need to increase our appeal to members under 40. Young people respond to their peers.
- Given economic circumstances, should we wait a year, and maybe put the money allocated for salary into the housing fund?
- When we didn’t have 2 clergy, certain things didn’t get done. With RDP approaching retirement, is that an even bigger risk?
- We should make sure that our housing offer is concrete, and not vague
- What about a part-time second rabbi?
- How much experience does someone need to be a senior rabbi?
- 5 years, for a congregation our size
- What’s the interview process?
- Process begins for seminary students at the end of February
- Having one rabbi would make us shrink/downsize. To maintain or expand our community, we need 2 rabbis
- CBD has done well over the last 6 years with 2 rabbis.
- Should we look for someone right out of seminary, or with some experience?
- We might have to replace 2 rabbis (RDP and new one) within the next several years.
- RDP says:
- This is a good year to look because of the economy
- Some of the current seminary students are older because this is their second profession. One he met was previously a financial analyst
- CBD has a good reputation at the seminary and likely will receive many responses
- Rabbi Berkowitz said to not hire a junior rabbi with the assumption that the person will ascend to become senior rabbi upon RDP’s retirement. It almost never works. You plant that seed in the junior rabbi’s mind, and then if they are not offered the position they are wounded. Cast a wide net, but not with the assumption of a career path.
- Cantor or rabbi? During our last search, the focus groups said we were more interested in the person’s personality than whether they were a rabbi or a cantor.
- The cantor pool is very small.
- Would we not offer housing until later?
Ron asked for a show of hands from members present to indicate whether they want a second rabbi. Nearly everyone (>90%) raised their hands.
ACTION
- Motion to form a search committee for the purpose of hiring a second rabbi.
Discussion:
- Interview week at the seminary is February 22-24.
- Offers are made March 28 or later.
- The bylaws state of rabbi’s first contract can be for up to 2 years. No contract can be for longer than 6 years.
- Motion passed: 21 in favor, 1 opposed, 0 abstentions
- Motion to nominate Michael Leitner to chair the search committee. Passed 21 in favor, 1 opposed, 0 abstentions
- Budget for search
- We have $30K in the ritual budget for the search. These funds are needed for plane fare for search committee members to fly to NY, and for candidates to visit CBD, and potentially for RDP to come to CBD to observe top candidates leading services. Figure is ‘not-to-exceed’ $30K.
- Let Michael Leitner know if you can donate Frequent Flier miles
- Motion to allocate funds not-to-exceed $30K to search committee from ritual budget
- Motion passed, 22 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstentions
- Our job listing describes a pulpit, pastoral position with an education component and responsibility for outreach programs.
Respectfully Submitted,
Rhonda Raider
Recording Secretary