Dear Temple Shalom Family,

We are writing to provide you with an update on our plans to hire a full time musical leader. In late December, we indicated that the Music Leadership Search Committee and the Temple Board decided that the important role of a permanent musical leader in our congregation could be filled by either an ordained cantor or a cantorial soloist, whoever the best candidate may be, to begin on July 1, 2023. The search committee began the process through the American Conference of Cantors (ACC) Placement Process for an ordained cantor, with a plan to advertise for a cantorial soloist on multiple job sites if we did not identify a candidate through the ACC Placement Process.

To date, we received a strong response to our ACC posting from both Hebrew Union College (HUC) students who will be ordained this spring as well as ordained cantors currently in the field. The search committee has started to conduct interviews, and expects to bring several individuals back for in person interviews in the coming weeks. As with all of our processes for senior staff positions, it is of critical importance throughout this process that the names of the candidates remain confidential with exception to those who are meeting with them. If you happen to know or recognize one of the candidates visiting Temple Shalom, we ask that you please respect the process and their confidentiality and not mention it to others who may know them from anywhere, including internships and current places of employment.

We look forward to a successful search, a smooth transition, and a continued vibrant and spiritual future for Temple Shalom. We will continue to keep you up to date on the work of the search committee as we have additional information we can share. If you have questions please reach out to search committee co-chairs Debbie Szyfer or Michelle Windmueller at ten.molahselpmet@cisuMST.

L’Shalom (In Peace),

Debbie Szyfer and Michelle Windmueller, Committee Co-chairs

Jeff Steger, President