2023 Eligibility for Congregational Rabbinic Search
The goal of the RA/USCJ search process is to help rabbinical students, rabbis, and congregations find their best match through a system that is equitable, professional, supportive, and kind. If you have questions or are looking for guidance, congregations should contact their Synagogue Consultant and rabbinical students/rabbis should contact Emily Hendel.
Rabbinic Eligibility
- Currently ordained rabbis will have paid their dues in full for the current year and will have a dues declaration on file in the Rabbinical Assembly (“RA”) business office.
- Students will be in good standing at one of our movement rabbinical schools.
- A rabbi will not have pending inquiries [or be deemed ineligible] by the Va'ad HaKavod.
- In a place where a rabbi has a contract, a rabbi will be contractually eligible for career search, or receive permission by mutual agreement confirmed in writing.
- A rabbi will complete all RA requirements for career search.
- All matters of termination between the congregation and the rabbi will have been resolved and mutually agreed upon, or in the process of resolution by an agency of dispute resolution recognized by the RA or the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (“USCJ”).
Congregational Eligibility
- Congregations will be in good standing with USCJ.
- A congregation will complete all RA and USCJ requirements for career search.
- All matters of termination between the congregation and the rabbi will have been resolved and mutually agreed upon, or in the process of resolution by an agency of dispute resolution recognized by the RA or USCJ.
Interim Rabbinic Positions
- Interim rabbinic positions are typically for a one-year term but may be up to two years. An interim rabbi and congregation agree the rabbi cannot be a candidate for the full-time position of the congregation at which they are serving. Any exceptions to this rule require waiver approval by the Joint Placement Commission (“JPC”).
Interns at USCJ Congregations
- If a congregation would like to hire its student intern and all parties agree, the congregation is not required to conduct a full search.
Universal Waiver Date – February 1
- Congregations and rabbis may submit waiver applications to the JPC between December 1 and January 31 if they wish to seek candidates or work outside of this system. On February 1, congregations and rabbis may search for candidates and jobs outside of this system without a waiver.
Congregational Search Guidelines
- Congregations will electronically acknowledge that they are bound by the Eligibility for Pulpit Career Search, including the agreement to use the RA and USCJ job board exclusively in the search process before the universal waiver date.
- All rabbis will electronically acknowledge that they are bound by the Eligibility for Pulpit Career Search. In seeking congregational positions, they agree to use the RA and USCJ job board exclusively before the universal waiver date.
- The use of any other search vehicle prior to the Universal Waiver Date will not be permitted unless a waiver is obtained in advance from the JPC. All requests for waivers from the eligibility and procedures described, by either a congregation or rabbi, must be submitted electronically to the RA Career Center.
- Congregations seeking rabbinic or cantorial clergy may post on the Cantors Assembly and Rabbinical Assembly job boards simultaneously without waiver approval.
The JPC, USCJ nor the RA may be party to a contract between a congregation and a rabbi and are to be held harmless for any claims arising from such a contract. In the case of a contract dispute between the congregation and the rabbi, the JPC’s function is only to give guidance and counsel. Rabbis and congregations participating in any matter before or with the JPC, USCJ or the RA acknowledge by their participation that neither the JPC, USCJ or the RA Office owe any duty of care or fiduciary responsibility to the rabbi or the congregation.
The JPC, RA and USCJ must be informed of an upcoming role transition.