September 13, 2021 / 7 Tishrei 5872

Issued by AOP Search Committee Task Force

For more information, contact:

Shelby Haverson, AOP Operations Manager, shaverson@aleph-ordination.org

Background

On August 13, 2021, Rabbi Marcia Prager and Rabbi Steve Silvern publicly announced their intention to retire in early 2022 as Dean and Associate Dean, respectively, of the ALEPH Ordination Programs (AOP).  The AOP VAAD had been notified prior to the public announcement, and in July 2021 approved formation of a Search Committee (SC) Task Force.  The SC was approved to include 3 VAAD representatives, 1 student nominated by the ALEPH Student Board, 1 ALEPH representative nominated by ALEPH’s Executive Director, and 1 AOP musmach/mechet (alumnus/alumna) selected from a list nominated by the VAAD.  The SC is authorized to write a position announcement, broadcast the search, receive and review applications, create a short list of candidates, interview the short list via an interview process inclusive of AOP stakeholders, and make a recommendation for hire to the VAAD. 

Update as of 9/13/2021

The Search Committee was fully constituted on September 3, 2021 with the following members:

VAAD representatives:  

Rabbi Elliot Ginsburg, Rabbinic Pastor Tivona Reith, Rabbi Shulamit Thiede

Student representative:  Alan Levin

ALEPH representative:  SooJi Min-Maranda

Musmach representative:  Rabbi Lex Rofeberg

Administrative support and guidance:  Shelby Haverson

A preliminary timeline for the search process currently anticipates a public posting of the Request for Applications (RFA) for the AOP Dean Position sometime in early fall, with applications due late fall to early winter.  The RFA will include details on how interested applicants can apply and what should be included in their application. 

At this time, those interested in applying can forward their name (no resumes, please) to AOP Operations Manager Shelby Haverson, and will be sent the RFA simultaneous with the public posting.  In addition, AOP stakeholders will be encouraged to forward the posting to those they think should apply, and will have opportunities later in the process for input on the final candidate(s).

For more information, please contact Shelby Haverson, shaverson@aleph-ordination.org.