Last week, the Rabbinical Assembly hosted Interview Week for graduating students from the Conservative Movement’s United States seminaries and it was a smashing success. The event took place at American Jewish University in Los Angeles, California, home to the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies. Unfortunately, we did not have the sunny and warm weather we were hoping for, but we did miss the snow storm that hit the Northeast! There were a few moments of sun for the students and interviewing institutions to relax in between interviews.
As with past years, the event took place over the course of 4 days, but this year, we had some very impressive statistics. We had a record number of institutions and congregations sign up (more than 30!). Also, twenty-one students interviewed throughout the week for a grand total of nearly 140 interviews. We also had congregations representing three counties: The United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. Scheduling was a huge puzzle to figure out, but we managed with 8 possible periods of interviews per day, and a couple congregations interviewing over lunch.
The students from the Jewish Theological Seminary arrived on AJU campus on Sunday, February 10th, and checked into their rooms in the AJU dorms. It was great to stay on campus, where the students could leisurely walk back and forth from their interviews and have a communal lounge area to destress throughout the week. We received feedback that the students greatly appreciated having a space to socialize and regroup with each other. After the JTS students had dinner together Sunday, they prepared for a grueling, yet exciting week to come.
We started on Monday the 11th at 7:30 am with minyan together with the AJU community. We have learned from experience that involving the guests with the larger community for minyan creates an inclusive atmosphere and is a great way to kick off an event. After minyan, the RA hosted a breakfast Monday through Wednesday for the interviewing congregations and institutions. At these breakfasts, the delegations from varying communities were able to meet representatives from many of the arms of the Conservative Movement. Deans Rabbi Danny Nevins (JTS) and Rabbi Cheryl Peretz (Ziegler) were available to answer questions for the search committees about their students, and staff from USCJ, Barry Mael, Jennifer Stofman, and Rachel Sisk, were happy to schmooze with lay leaders and senior rabbis about the search process. Also, Rabbi Elliot Schoenberg spoke to many congregations about their questions and concerns.
Emily Hendel from the RA office was at the welcome table, ready to greet both committees and students with a smile, and a special Interview Week 2019 mug, complete with palm tree graphic. It may sound corny, but the mugs stole the show, for the second year in a row! If we have learned anything from decades of Interview Weeks, it’s that people love swag! The congregations and institutions were appreciative of the Face Book (the original!) as well, which is a pamphlet including Interview Week tips and tricks, as well as photos of the graduating students. It helps the congregations remember their candidates, and in 2019, since we are able to provide the PDF version before the week begins, it helps the congregations “put a face to a resume” before they meet.
Tuesday night, the RA and USCJ co-sponsored a dinner for the students. It can be an exhausting week, and this casual dinner catered by AJU provided a quick respite from interviews. As a celebration of the students’ impending ordination, the RA presented the students with the Pirkei Avot publication and personalized book plate. USCJ provided the students with personalized notes including vouchers for 50% off of their convention fee. Rabbi Stewart Vogel, Vice President of the RA, was also in attendance.
Overall, Interview Week 2019 was a great experience for the students and interviewing institutions. The search committees and rabbis in attendance spoke at length about the high caliber of candidates, and how impressed they were by the students’ intelligence, poise, and preparation. The congregations were happy to be in Los Angeles, away from the snow and with a gorgeous view of the valley. In the coming weeks, students will be visiting the communities for callback interviews, and congregations will offer positions on Wednesday, March 27th. We cannot wait to see where our next generation of leaders will land!