Rabbi Search - FAQ

The candidate bio is also included in the FAQ #2 and FAQ #1 below.

 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) #4 Posted December 27, 2020

 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) #3 Posted December 22, 2020

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) #2   Posted December 13, 2020
This is the second round of our Frequently Asked Questions, designed to keep you informed during every step of the rabbi search process. FAQ #1 can be found at the bottom of this page.
 
How many applications have we received?
 
As of mid-December, we received 8 applications for the rabbi position.
 
Any good ones?
 
Yes! All the applicants brought impressive credentials, comprising diverse and compelling varieties of life experience, rabbinical work, scholarship, and approaches to Jewish learning and living.
 
How were the applications evaluated?
 
Immediate Past President Melissa Tarsky led a group that reviewed the applications.
 
After carefully considering the applications, the committee judged that some of the candidates would not be a good fit for Mishkon’s current needs. Melissa then conducted initial phone interviews with the other rabbis.

 Where are we in the process now?
 
The clear choice among the candidates is Rabbi Joshua Katzan, whom many of you may remember as a finalist in our 2016 rabbi search. At that time, many in our community thought that he was a perfect fit for Mishkon, and nothing has changed our opinion about that. He brings warmth, excellent listening skills, consistency, follow-through, success in nurturing congregations, and experience in developing synagogue education programs. As a result, we are delighted to have you consider him for our next rabbi.  The fact that he is available now and living here in Los Angeles is an unexpected blessing after the hurdles and challenges our congregation has faced in the past year and a half.

We invited Rabbi Katzan to meet the congregation the weekend of December 18, 19, and 20. Instead of the typical in-person get-to-know-you weekend at the shul, it was a virtual weekend, as required by the Rabbinical Assembly during the pandemic.
 
What do we know about Rabbi Katzan?
 
Rabbi Katzan served as the senior rabbi at Congregation Habonim in New York City for 8 years, but he has deep roots in Los Angeles. In fact, his great-grandparents were founders of Mishkon, his great-grandfather was the first president of Mishkon, and his parents were married at Mishkon. 
 
Rabbi Katzan has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Cal State Northridge and received his Rabbinic Ordination at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the University of Judaism (now American Jewish University), along with master’s degrees in education and rabbinic literature. Additionally, he holds certifications in non-profit business management and Jewish meditation instruction. He has wide experience in education at all levels, non-profit organization, and music, especially guitar. He has also studied and worked in Israel. Most recently, he’s been teaching at Ziegler.
 
What will the get-to-know-you weekend include?
 
Rabbi Katzan will the lead Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday night. He will lead parts of the Shabbat morning service and deliver a sermon on Saturday, as well as leading Havdalah on Saturday night. He will also teach a class on Sunday. Everyone is invited to all these events.
 
Rabbi Katzan is also eager to meet virtually with Mishkonians in groups or individually. He has specifically asked for a separate meeting with each of these groups: prospective and current religious school parents; potential and returning preschool parents; and the Board of Directors. These meetings are your opportunity to meet the rabbi, ask questions, and tell him what you want him to know about Mishkon as well as what you’re looking for in a rabbi.
 
In keeping with Rabbinical Assembly guidelines to make this process safe during the pandemic, all events and meetings will be by Zoom, livestream, Facetime, or phone.
 
How do I offer feedback?
 
After you have attended the services, the class, and/or a meeting with the rabbi, we encourage you to send your opinions and questions to our rabbi search committee (rabbisearch@mishkon.org), which will take everyone’s input into consideration. Opinions will be held in confidence.
 
How can I help?
 
Three main ways:
1 – Attend get-to-know-you sessions and offer feedback.
2 – Join the transition team to help the rabbi we hire feel welcome and get to know the ins and outs of our wonderful community.
3 – Keep an eye out for reasonably priced housing rental opportunities within walking distance of the shul. Ideally, the location should have some outdoor space.
 
What if I have further questions or comments?
 
Contact the rabbi search committee at rabbisearch@mishkon.org.
 
We thank you for your support during this period of transition.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) #1   Posted November 23, 2020

This is the first of our Frequently Asked Questions, designed to keep you informed during every step of the rabbi search process.
 
Why are we hiring a new rabbi?
 
In November 2020, Rabbi Botnick announced his resignation from Mishkon, effective January 23, 2021. Our goal is to have a new rabbi in place by the time Rabbi Botnick departs.  
 
Why the rush? Why can’t the congregation just run lay-led Shabbat services?
 
Mishkon’s rabbi serves many functions beyond leading Shabbat services. These include, in no particular order:

• officiating at lifecycle events, like funerals, baby namings, brises, and weddings
• overseeing religious education for our preschool and religious school
• teaching Torah
• offering halachic advice
• providing spiritual care to the sick, the grieving, and others in need
• working with the board of directors and staff
• representing the shul in the wider community
• holiday preparation and services

The pandemic has only heightened the need for all of these services, and we would also like our new rabbi to be ready to restart normal operations once the pandemic ends.
 
I thought Rabbi Botnick’s contract went until mid-2022. What happened?
 
Rabbi Botnick asked to be released from his contract as of January 2021, and the board honored his request. The rabbi cited family reasons.
 
Who is in charge of the rabbi search?
 
Board member and longtime Mishkonian Andy Bender has generously offered to chair the search committee, with assistance from current and past officers Johanna Schmidt, Ira Schreck, and Melissa Tarsky, and the rest of the board.
 
What are the procedures for hiring a new rabbi?
 
As a recognized Conservative synagogue, Mishkon follows the procedures and guidelines of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) and the Rabbinical Assembly (RA), which is the organization of rabbis in the Conservative movement, for recruiting and hiring Conservative rabbis, including the following:

1. A detailed job listing we provide that answers hundreds of questions about our congregation, our facilities, the Los Angeles Jewish community, the wider community, and the role of and expectations for the rabbi.
2. When and how the position may be publicized.
3. When and how interviews may be conducted.

Last time we did a rabbinic search, surveys, focus groups, interviews and sample services were conducted. Why aren’t we doing those now?
 
With less than two months to hire a rabbi and get him or her up to speed by the time Rabbi Botnick departs, there is not enough time for such a detailed internal process. However, we will be guided in part by the congregation’s input received before Rabbi Botnick was hired in 2016, as well as congregants’ opinions gathered over the years since.
 

If you feel strongly that certain issues need to be considered, please email the search committee at  rabbisearch@mishkon.org.
 
What are the main criteria we are seeking in a rabbi?
 
First and foremost: an RA-accredited rabbi able to perform the tasks noted above and maintain good relationships with individual members and the congregation’s various membership constituencies, board, and staff.
 
In addition, under the RA’s system (and Mishkon’s rabbi contracts), the typical start date for rabbis is July 1. The unusual timing of our search means that few rabbis will be available even in a normal year. Because it will be difficult for a rabbi to uproot from another region on such short notice – and during a pandemic – we expect that most candidates will come from the Los Angeles area.
 
Also, our rabbi will need to live within walking distance of Mishkon for Shabbat and will need to find housing on very short notice, an expensive proposition even in the best of times.
 
Will this be an interim position?
 
No. Under RA rules, an interim rabbi may only fill in between other rabbis and must leave once his or her time is up, even if the congregation wishes to extend the rabbi’s contract. At that time, the congregation must conduct another search, and the interim rabbi is not eligible.
 
Our new rabbi will be contracted until what would have been the end of Rabbi Botnick’s term, the end of June 2022. Not having an interim rabbi will allow the shul the flexibility to extend the contract or begin a new search.
 
I know someone who I think would be a perfect rabbi for Mishkon.  What should I do?
 
Tell that rabbi to apply through the RA process.  Remember that only rabbis affiliated with the RA are eligible.
         
Are there other ways I might be able to help?
 
Yes!
 
First, keep an eye out for affordable housing within walking distance of Mishkon, ideally with some outdoor space.  It needs to be available early next year.  Please email the search committee at rabbisearch@mishkon.org with any suggestions.
 
Second, once the new rabbi is hired, we will need a transition team to welcome and orient the new rabbi to the congregation, so that she or he may hit the ground running. Whether or not you join the transition team, we have no doubt that a shul as heimish as Mishkon will welcome the new rabbi with open arms.
 
We thank you for your interest, input, assistance, patience, and forbearance during this process.