Announcing the Senior Rabbi Search Committee:
At the September meeting of the Board of Trustees, our Senior Rabbi Search Committee was approved and officially tasked with conducting the search for CBI’s next Senior Rabbi.
The members of the committee were selected for their unique perspectives, experiences, and connections to our synagogue. Together, they represent a broad cross-section of CBI’s diverse community. The committee includes past presidents, board representatives, two of our founding members, parents of SLJ and NCECE students, long-time members and members who are newer to Boca Raton and CBI.
We are deeply grateful to the members of our Search Committee for their willingness to serve and for the time, thoughtfulness, and care they will bring to this important process:
Susi Glatt
Sue Goldman
Gil Kaminer
Leslie Kantor
Andy Kaufman
Tayler Kirsch
Jason Klinghoffer
Sharon Landau
Matthew Maschler
Amiee Mittleman
Jenny Reese
Ashlie Rosen
Phil Rothschild
Robyn Rubinoff, Co-chair
Barry Schwartz, President
Harry Seidman
Amanda Tillman
Rachel Weiner, Co-chair
The committee’s goal is to recommend a candidate to the Board of Trustees, with the hope of welcoming our new Senior Rabbi in July 2027. Our application has been completed and submitted to the CCAR, and we will begin reviewing candidates’ resumes and conducting initial interviews after the High Holy Days.
We are deeply grateful to the hundreds of members who took the time to respond to our congregation-wide survey and participate in our Listening Sessions this past spring. Your input and feedback were invaluable in helping us understand our community’s hopes, wishes, and dreams for our next Senior Rabbi. The themes that emerged from this feedback were an important part of shaping our application and will continue to guide the committee throughout the search.
We look forward to keeping our congregation informed throughout the process. Regular updates will be shared on the CBI blog and in future emails. For more detailed information about the Search Committee, the search process, timeline, and what you can expect in the coming months, please read our Frequently Asked Questions below.
Frequently Asked Rabbinic Search Questions and Answers
Q: What is the search process?
A: As a Reform congregation, our search is guided by the rules and procedures established by the Joint Rabbinic Placement Commission, a partnership of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), and Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR). The CCAR is the rabbinic association of the Reform Movement.
As a member of the URJ, CBI participates in the CCAR placement process and will consider candidates who apply through the Placement Commission and follow its established rules and procedures.
The Search Committee has completed a detailed application describing our congregation, our community, and what we are seeking in our next Senior Rabbi. The application has been submitted to the CCAR and will be available to prospective candidates through its confidential Placement website.
Following the High Holy Days, the Search Committee will begin reviewing resumes and conducting Zoom interviews with qualified candidates. After this preliminary round, candidates will be invited to CBI for in-person interviews with members of the Search Committee, past presidents, current Board members, clergy, senior staff, and other members of our community.
The interview process typically continues for several months. Ultimately, the Search Committee will make its recommendations to the Board of Trustees, which has the privilege and responsibility of selecting CBI’s next Senior Rabbi.
Q: What information went into the application?
A: Over the past year, our Search Committee has been deeply committed to creating opportunities for our members to share their thoughts and perspectives about our next Senior Rabbi.
We held numerous in-person and Zoom listening sessions throughout the spring of 2026 and conducted a congregation-wide survey to better understand what our members are looking for in our next Senior Rabbi.
The themes that emerged from these conversations and the survey formed the foundation of our application and will continue to guide the Search Committee throughout the interview process.
The qualities most frequently shared by our members included a Senior Rabbi who is:
- Warm, empathetic, and compassionate
- Approachable and responsive
- Able to create meaningful connections
- Inspiring and engaging
- Inclusive, collaborative, and open-minded
These qualities reflect the priorities and aspirations shared by our congregation and will be important considerations throughout the search.
Q: What is the anticipated timeline for the search?
A: August 2026: Search Committee completed and submitted the application to the CCAR.
September/October 2026: Search Committee begins reviewing applications and conducting Zoom interviews with potential candidates.
Fall 2026–Spring 2027: Search Committee conducts additional interviews and invites a select group of candidates to CBI for in-person visits and interviews.
Spring 2027: Search Committee expects to make its recommendations to the Board of Trustees.
Our goal is to complete the search in time for our new Senior Rabbi to begin at CBI on July 1, 2027.
Q: What, if any, is the role of our current clergy and senior staff?
A: While CCAR guidelines prohibit Clergy and staff from serving as members of the Search Committee, they will play an important role in the search process.
Our Clergy, Executive Director, and school directors will meet both individually and as a group with each candidate who visits our campus. Their perspectives and feedback will be an important part of the Search Committee’s consideration of each candidate.
Q: Can we hire Rabbi Cy to be our next Senior Rabbi?
A: As part of the professional code and placement standards overseen by the CCAR and
the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), there is a mutual understanding and contractual
agreement that the interim rabbi cannot become the permanent successor. This
restriction ensures the interim can act neutrally without personal ambition affecting the
transition process.
Q: What type of communication can we expect during the search process?
A: Throughout the search, we will provide regular updates to the congregation through email and the CBI blog.
At the same time, the confidentiality requirements of the CCAR placement process mean that the Search Committee cannot share the identities or current locations of candidates for the Senior Rabbi position. This confidentiality is an important part of the placement process and allows candidates to explore new opportunities while maintaining their current congregational relationships.
We welcome your questions, feedback, suggestions, and concerns throughout the process. Please email us at rsc@cbiboca.org, and we will respond as promptly as possible.
