In December 2019, the Beth Am Board of Directors unanimously approved the recommendation of the Senior Rabbi Search Committee to offer the position of Senior Rabbi to Rabbi Jeremy S. Morrison, effective July 1, 2020. On Sunday, February 2, our congregation held a special meeting and, by a nearly unanimous vote of over 430 households present, Beth Am confirmed Rabbi Jeremy Morrison as our next Senior Rabbi, beginning July 1, 2020.

1. CONGREGATIONAL MEETING:
SENIOR RABBI RATIFICATION
February 2, 2020

2. Agenda
• Welcome
• Transition Overview
• The Search Process
• Introducing Rabbi Jeremy Morrison
• Q&A
• Voting Procedure
• Conclusion

3. RABBINIC TRANSITION
Summary of Input from the Congregation

4. RABBINIC
TRANSITION
COMMITTEE
•Mike Kaplan
•Christy Goralnik
•Antoinette Rose
•Debby Satten
•Donnovan Yisrael
•Rebecca DeHovitz
•Rachel Tasch (ex-officio)
•Chris Witzel (survey
assistance)
4

5. Transition Plan
Getting
Ready
(July-Decem
ber 2018)
Getting
Input
(January-Ju
ne 2019)
Conducting
Search
(July 2019-March
2020)
Saying
Thank
You
(April-June
2020)
Saying
Hello
(July
2020-Marc
h 2021+)
50 internal interviews
30 external interviews
9 ICARTs with 180 participants
385 survey respondents
1400 sticky notes!
5

6. Beth Am’s Senior Rabbis
This isn’t the first Rabbinic Transition we’ve gone through
Rabbi Sidney Akselrad
Rabbi Janet Marder
Meaningful Worship/
Sacred Community
Social Justice
Rabbi Rick Block
Lifelong Learning Rabbi ?
??
While multi-faceted, each has been an important leader in
the Reform Movement in the critical issues of their day!

7. “Big Picture” Summary
Vision for the Future
• New Models of Membership/
Affiliation to Engage the Next
Generation
• Lifelong Engagement
• Community of Learners
• Diverse and Welcoming
• Multi-Generational and
Connected to Each Other in
Many Ways
Personal Characteristics
• Warmth and Compassion
• Wisdom and Teaching
• Collaboration and Inclusion
• Inspiration and Charisma
• Leadership and Creativity
7

8. SEARCH
COMMITTEE
• Co-Chairs:
• Rachel Gibson
• Bruce Ives
• Members:
• Alison Barnstable
• Andy Cheng
• Amy Darling
• Steve Feldstein
• Amy Gerstein
• Stephanie Hannaford
• Karmi Leiman
• Leeron Morad
• Shane Owara
• Pam Shames
• Dan Siegel
• Jean Wolman
8

9. Search Process
12 candidates
10 video interviews
3 On-site visits
1 Clear choice
9
First Search
Comm. Meeting
March 2019
Applying to
CCAR
July- Sept. 2019
2019 2020
Congregation
Mtg.
Feb. 2020
Implicit Bias Training &
Interview Skills Training
Sept.- Oct. 2019
Resume Screens /
Video Interviews
Sept.- Nov. 2019
On-site Visits
Nov.- Dec. 2019
Search Comm.
Rec. & Board Vote
Dec. 2019

10. Rabbi Jeremy Morrison

11. Rabbi Jeremy Morrison
Beth Am’s vision for the future
• New models to engage
the next generation
• Lifelong engagement
• Community of learners
• Diverse and welcoming
• Multi-generational and
connected to each other
in many ways
Experience that fits our needs
• Leadership in spiritual, pastoral,
and social life of large, diverse
congregation
• Founding Director of Riverway
Project
• Temple Israel Director of
Education
• Created / implemented Temple
Israel Lifelong Learning Initiative
• Created / implemented outreach
and engagement initiatives for
various groups at Temple Israel

12. In their own words…
• “The strengths and passions he has fit our needs almost
perfectly, extreme strength in community building”
• “Would foster a community of learners = real focus for him”
• “Very passionate about creating a strong education
system for our children”
• “I like his concept of synagogue as a sanctuary for imperfect
practice.”
• “His thoughtful nature and his deep biblical experience
will bring the worship experience alive in exciting ways.”
• “He brings a level of intellectualism and thoughtfulness to his
approach with Torah.”

13. Rabbi Jeremy Morrison
The leader we seek
• Warmth and Compassion
• Wisdom and Teaching
• Collaboration and
Inclusion
• Inspiration and Charisma
• Leadership and Creativity
Attributes that fit our
community
• “Friendly and engaging”
• “Engaging teacher”
• “Strong intellect”
• “Warm presence”
• “Very warm and personable”
• “Enjoyed his charisma”
• “Warm, thoughtful, genuine”
• “Lovely manner and sense
of humor”

14. In their own words…
• “I feel he will lead and also be caring, compassionate, and
listen.”
• “Very charismatic, interesting insight on a multitude of issues”
• “Welcomed diversity of thought”
• “I found his style of teaching dynamic, visual, conceptually
engaging.”
• “He is funny, smart, engaging, and clearly has the ability
to challenge, push, and guide us intellectually and
spiritually.”
• “He is warm, engaging, contemplative, and thoughtful.”
• On pastoral care: “Seems well-centered, caring, wise”
• “He’s very smart, very knowledgeable, and creative.”

15. From our Program Team
• “I found him engaging and relatable and kind while watching him interact
with both clergy and congregants.”
• “interested in teamwork and collaboration, and in developing a good team dynamic”
• “I found his presence, his materials, and his approach all very compelling.”
• “He's clearly incredibly smart, a gifted teacher.”
• “He understands Beth Am's reality and has the appetite for change, while
holding true to the things we do best.”
• “He has a good set of interpersonal skills and can make small talk as well as
intense conversation.”
• “He was easy to work with and respected my input. It was a very positive
partnership.”
• “appreciated how much he seems to value education as part of not only his
rabbinate but of his vision for congregational life”

18. Questions?