At this point in the search season, we have reached a critical mass of both rabbis and congregations in search, and we do not expect many more additions. Therefore, after careful consideration, the JPC made the unanimous decision to broaden the parameters of search on February 1, 2023 for this year only, the 2022-2023 season.
While we want to encourage congregations to continue to uphold commitments to current candidates and synagogues, we also want to help broaden the pool if you are seeking additional options.
The JPC realizes that searching for new clergy can be filled with anxiety and uncertainty, and we want to help congregations find spiritual leadership and help rabbis advance their careers. This decision is consistent with our objectives to help congregations find clergy and to help clergy find a position that matches their strengths with a congregation’s priorities.
This decision means:
- On February 1, USCJ member congregations will be able to seek clergy regardless of school training and/or movement affiliation. They may post on other job boards and consider non-RA members for positions. However, the same category size rules apply: synagogues may only interview rabbis outside the RA who have the appropriate number of years of experience (see chart below).
- On February 1, RA rabbis will be eligible to look at positions regardless of synagogue affiliation with USCJ.
- On February 1, unaffiliated synagogues may post their questionnaires on the RA Pulpit job board.
Please remember that non-RA rabbis and non-USCJ congregations may have a wide range of attitudes towards halakhah, and we urge you to ask questions about their policies to be sure that their views are consistent with Conservative Judaism and your values and priorities. When hiring an non-RA rabbi, you should seek oral and/or written assurance from the rabbi that they will observe halakhic parameters within guidelines established by the Conservative movement’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards on these and other issues.
This open season extends only for this current search season, and ends on Labor Day, September 4, 2023. Also, congregations must still continue to interview rabbis with similar years of experience as are eligible based on the RA rules. For example, a shul with 550 member units, category C, can now interview a non-RA candidate with 4 years of experience, but not a graduating student (from a movement or non-movement affiliated seminary). These parameters exist to help ensure that synagogues hire rabbis with the requisite experience to successfully manage large and complex organizations.
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If you are a synagogue seeking to change your size category, you may still apply for a waiver. Please contact your USCJ Synagogue Consultant for the form and return it directly to them for JPC consideration. Decisions on waivers will be made on a “rolling” basis as waivers are submitted.
If you are a rabbi interested in applying to a shul in a category for which you are not eligible, you may still apply for a waiver. Please contact Emily Hendel at the Rabbinical Assembly (ehendel@rabbinicalassembly.org) for the form and return it directly to her for JPC consideration.
We understand that this decision will be received with mixed emotions. The JPC knows that this is yet another challenging year, and despite the difficult circumstances, we want you to know we are here to support you throughout your search process. Our goal is to help connect rabbis and congregations so that you enjoy successful, healthy, and holy relationships. Please do not hesitate to be in touch with us if we can help in any way. For congregational leaders, your main contact is your USCJ synagogue consultant, and for rabbis, please be in touch with Emily.
Wishing you success in your search!
The Joint Placement Commission