I hope you all had a Happy Hanukkah and a Happy New Year. I write to you today with difficult news. Recently, I mentioned in the letter that accompanied your statement that Beth Am had a significant budget shortfall. One of the unfortunate decisions that we, as an Executive Committee needed to make, was whether to renew Rabbi Tornberg’s contract for an additional term. Her contract is set to expire on June 30, 2023 and per the terms of the contract, we were required to inform her of the board’s intent by November 1.
Our professional and lay leadership team have worked to maintain an appropriate and sustainable financial structure for Old York Road Temple - Beth Am. Beth Am’s current membership census is now such that our current professional staff size is unsustainable. With a duty to fiscal responsibility, the Executive Committee has reluctantly decided not to renew Rabbi Tornberg’s contract. It is with heavy hearts that we pass on this news. This decision came down purely to finances. While it is true that our congregation is below the URJ threshold recommending two rabbis, we would have retained Rabbi Tornberg had the funds been present.
Similarly, Rabbi Tornberg is cognizant and deeply respectful of the synagogue’s responsibility to make difficult choices for the health of the congregation. She and her family are grateful for her warm and flourishing tenure as part of the Beth Am community and its leadership team.
Rabbi Tornberg has served our Old York Road Temple - Beth Am family wonderfully over the past five plus years, since joining us in 2017. Beth Am’s children are thriving in the Mensch Lab and Beit Noar. Our community has been enlightened by her sermons from the bimah, grown from her learning with adults, and been comforted by her pastoral work.
As we approach the spring, make sure to save the date in your calendar to celebrate Rabbi Tornberg on Friday, May 5, 2023 during our annual Education Shabbat. We value the contribution that Rabbi Tornberg has made to our Beth Am community and the tremendous positive impact that she has had on our children.
Going forward, Beth Am, with Rabbi Tornberg’s assistance and collaboration, will be looking to hire a part-time educator to run the Mensch Lab and Beit Noar. Our search for this new educator will begin promptly after the New Year to allow time to hire, acclimate, and properly transition to a new school administration. Rabbi Leib and Cantor Zarkh will continue to serve the pulpit, pastoral, holiday, programming, and lifecycle needs of our congregation.
We know many of you probably have questions. Please feel free to contact either of us or the office with any questions or concerns you may have. Rabbi Tornberg will be with us through June 30 and there will be plenty of opportunities to spend time with her and continue to learn with her.
B’shalom,
Joshua Posnan, President Shoshanah Tornberg, RJE, Rabbi - Educator
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