What 3-4 qualities are most important to your congregation in your new rabbi?

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1 Senior Rabbi Application Type of Position: Full Time Telephone: Website: President: Dr. Harvey Schipper /Telephone: ext. 233 Chair of Search Committee: Hershell Ezrin Chair Chair Telephone: Number of members on the search committee: 13 Date July 18, 2013 Important Considerations: What 3-4 qualities are most important to your congregation in your new rabbi? We are seeking an outstanding, experienced individual to lead our congregation as the new Senior Rabbi. We recognize that asking for excellence in every quality would not help either the potential candidates or the Search Committee, so we have identified four qualities that we have synthesized as most important to our congregation. the ability to inspire: an authentic Jewish leader who can engage the imagination of the membership, the lay leadership and the professional team; a person who has a vibrant and creative vision about the role and function of the synagogue for a diverse, multi-dimensional congregation of Reform Jews; a leader who can engage and inspire the younger demographic that is the congregation s future; a rabbi who has the intuitive understanding, tact, presence and influencing skills to implement that vision by navigating the venerable traditions of the congregation and the demands of contemporary Jewish realities; a communicator who is unafraid to be a voice of social justice inside and outside the Jewish community when needed; and an innovator who has a history of bringing positive change to past congregations. the ability to establish and foster a spirit of community: a rabbi who is warm, authentic, compassionate, caring and accessible; a Jewish leader who builds relationships between her/himself and members of all ages, as well as among members; an impassioned listener who meets people where they are; a person for whom it is essential that an encounter with the rabbi is reciprocal and transformative; a true friend of Israel who understands the centrality of Israel in our communal life; a willing supporter of fund-raising activities for the Temple; and a magnet for affiliation through both one-to-one relationships and one-to-many moments of gravitas, inspiration and inclusion. the ability to make Reform Judaism meaningful and relevant: a rabbi who is committed to helping Jews find pathways to evocative, compelling and diverse 1

2 spiritual experiences; a person who strives to make spirituality an indispensable part of every Jew s life; a worship leader who is equally comfortable with the needs of the congregation in Hebrew and in English; and a thinker who grapples with the meaning of God and of life, and who engages, challenges and provokes Jews in their own God-journeys and sense of purpose the ability to advise and to teach: a wise counselor who possesses in-depth Jewish knowledge and who can digest, crystalize and teach learners with a broad range of backgrounds and varying Jewish frames of reference; a mentor who blends facts, values and maturity to influence using persuasion rather than authority both one-on-one and in groups; a thought-provoking, engaging preacher who embodies her/his convictions about contemporary issues, Jewish values and Torah commentary with ardor, enthusiasm and precision; an active listener who seeks to understand and tap into the priorities and strategic direction of the lay leadership; an influencer who can comfortably manage conflict when necessary; and a rabbi who believes that Jewish education for all Jews, at all ages, is a fundamental and essential activity in sustaining a vital and vigorous Jewish life and Jewish future. These attributes will be evidenced by a past track record of contribution and leadership at other temples, synagogues and Jewish institutions, where a positive legacy has been left in the lives of the congregants, the careers of the professional team and the improved traditions, programs and membership trends of those Jewish institutions. The 3-4 most important priorities of our rabbi should be: To reinvigorate the membership experience: Engender an atmosphere of belonging, inclusiveness, participation and mutual support for members of all ages; use the pulpit to stimulate and inspire through thoughtful, noteworthy commentary and insight; and open doors that will enable current and potential members to experience a sense of amazement and affiliation at being Jewish. One key tangible metric will be a stabilization of the membership ranks and an increase in members in the younger demographic. More broadly, he or she will rekindle both the strength of community and pride of association that are cherished by Holy Blossom members. To revitalize today s Reform Jewish spirituality, education, observance and participation: Reconnect those congregants for whom worship is a focus by helping them find purpose and meaning in prayer services; act as a role model for Jewish observance and ideals; utilize the Temple s egalitarian values, musical heritage and religious program traditions to their full potential; provide inclusive spiritual opportunities that reach out to less experienced members of all ages; shape youth education to foster strong Reform Jewish identities; and help members of all ages rekindle the significance, value and intention of Shabbat, Torah, the Jewish Festivals and lifecycle events. To foster a renewed sense of community: Build connections and relationships with the congregants, and between them; participate in Jewish lifecycle events and chagim with families 2

3 and the broader congregation; actively support the fund-raising team on the final steps of the Physical Renewal Campaign; guide the lay leadership and professional staff to take congregation programming to the next level; strengthen congregational relations with Israel and its people, as well as with Am Yisrael in disparate parts of the world; investigate and celebrate our distinctiveness as Canadians and support Holy Blossom s aspiration to be a force for social justice in Canada and beyond both inside and outside the Jewish community; and sponsor deeper Temple knowledge systems to support richer interactions with individual members. To build, shape and inspire a high performance team: Gain the confidence of - and work collaboratively and motivationally with - the rabbinic and cantorial team, lay leadership and professional staff; accelerate the process of strengthening the clergy and professional staff; as a natural coach and role model, inspire less experienced teammates to stretch and learn and have the ability to get work done through others; strengthen long-term relationships with lay leadership, the Board and the Executive Director based on trust and open communication; collaborate closely with lay leadership to understand membership priorities,and set strategic direction. The single most important thing a rabbi needs to know about our congregation is: Our congregation is at a critical juncture in its history. It is a sophisticated and highly educated congregation that is strongly tied to its past and prestigious legacy yet is forward-looking, intends to adapt and is dissatisfied with the status quo. This is both a promise and a challenge. The Congregation s distinguished history and culture from social action to scholarship to music to egalitarianism - should not be downplayed or ignored. Yet the realities of contemporary trends in Jewish life must be carefully considered and judiciously incorporated, and we will not let our history constrain our future. This critical juncture of our congregation is symbolized in part by the Physical Renewal Program that was re-affirmed and formally launched by the Board in May 2013, which will result in a world-class renovation to accommodate the current and future needs and desires of the congregation. Yet the Physical Renewal Program, as vital as it may be, is but one of our Temple s many exciting forwardfacing initiatives, which have included a new prayer book which reflects integrally the Temple s religious approach, the recent launch of our new Religious School model, the expansion of our Nursery School programs, our internationally recognized Campaign for Youth Engagement. We are strengthening Temple bylaws and governance processes with formal endorsement by the Congregation anticipated this coming winter. Above all, the appointment of our new Senior Rabbi is viewed as the most pivotal element of our transformation. The Senior Rabbi will have many partners in our revitalization. While we must be cost conscious, and while we face the same membership and budgetary challenges as comparable institutions, as Canada s largest Reform Congregation we are blessed with strong resources both human and financial and have untapped potential for providing members with profoundly fulfilling Jewish 3

4 experiences and community. There are challenges ahead: we need to improve our infrastructure and the technology to communicate within and outside our Congregation, to innovate our financial model, to tap into congregants skills and to strengthen relations between our rabbis and our Board. Yet within the vibrant and diverse Toronto Jewish community, a city which celebrates its multi-culturalism, and nestled within a mid-town residential neighborhood, Holy Blossom is well-placed for a future that is as ambitious as its heritage. With prudent and wisely designed innovations in Judaic spirituality, education and community building, we can become a model for the Reform Congregation of the 21 st century. What are the three primary goals of your congregation? To provide our members with a vibrant, spiritually nurturing, emotionally supportive, and intellectually stimulating and caring community that helps bring fullness to their lives as Jews. To provide our members with exceptional opportunities to facilitate their growth as Reform Jews through the study of Torah, through worship and through principled social action To facilitate dialogue in the Jewish and broader community expressing the intrinsically positive values of Reform Judaism and as a source of pride for all our members. What are the three most important issues to confront in your congregation in the next five years? Successful rabbinic transition Caring for and retaining the current generation while nurturing and attracting the next generation Strengthening our financial sustainability Physical, educational and spiritual renewal Please provide your congregation s Mission Statement. Under construction. What are your congregation s core values? Torah, Avodah and Gemilut Hassadim 4

5 Leadership in Jewish community Caring community Lifelong learning Diversity of views Respect for individuals Collaborative leadership Expectation of giving back Invested in individuals Canadian Reform values Inspired by music What are your congregation s greatest challenges? Holy Blossom Temple began as an Orthodox congregation, and, among the very first in North America, embraced Reform more than 100 years ago. Thus. Although rooted in British tradition, we also carry elements of the formal Germanic root of Reform Judaism: large structure and membership, powerful voices, a certain discipline, deep traditional values and, perhaps, a certain austerity. The challenge is to invigorate the pride of association in Temple. It can come in many ways, including worship, education, social action, community leadership and extension into the broader community. The following are some perceptions of the social context in which we live: People are seeking shelter from impersonality. Ruach seems to trump tradition in many places of observance. Small is better. Some moral values of great social importance appear faith independent. Organized faith is no longer seen as the only moral compass. Once upon a time, we struggled to be accepted into the broader community, in the face of our faith. Now we are accepted and influential, and wish to be seen as part of the larger community with a particular Jewish perspective. Social community is more important than synagogue community. There is a more nuanced and debated relationship with Israel: divided Israel and divided diaspora. 5

6 The same issues challenge all faith groups, so we are not alone. Nonetheless our history and values drive us to meet the challenge, expressing our Reform Jewish values. 6