February 16, 2022
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/core faculty created a Search Committee (SC) to conduct the search for a new Dean. The SC was fully constituted on September 3, 2021, just before the start of the High Holy Days, and an official position announcement was publicly posted on November 15, 2021, with an application due date of December 31, 2021.

Update as of February 16, 2022
During January, the Search Committee reviewed materials submitted by 18 applicants. Eight candidates were selected for first-round interviews in February, which have been completed. Following SC deliberation, second-round interviews of a shortened list of candidates will be scheduled in March.
Also in January, the SC sent out a survey to ALEPH stakeholder groups, soliciting opinions about short-term and long-term hopes and opportunities for the AOP, as well as critical challenges. The survey also invited respondents to consider what one essential question they would ask a dean candidate. Survey responses were received from approximately 60 people, and the insights shared have been valuable in shaping interview questions and candidate evaluation
criteria.