I want to thank our members again for a very strong turn out this past weekend for the visit of Rabbi Jesse Nagelberg.
As a reminder, there will be a Congregational Townhall meeting today, February 9th, at 8pm to review the survey results and have an open discussion regarding Rabbi Nagelberg's visit. Please use the BSO link on our main web page or click here to attend the meeting.
This past Sunday evening, the Rabbi Search Committee met and discussed the candidacy of Rabbi Nagelberg, and presented their recommendations to the Board of Officers and Trustees to enter into negotiations to hire Rabbi Jesse Nagelberg. The Board of Officers and Trustees voted in favor of bringing that recommendation to the Congregation.
Based upon these recommendations of the search committee and the Board of Officers and Trustees, there will be a congregational meeting on February 17th at 8pm. The purpose of this meeting will be to vote to “authorize the board to enter into negotiations and hire Rabbi Nagelberg on terms mutually agreed to by Rabbi Nagelberg and the Board”
The scheduling of the Congregational meeting prior to that discussion is in consideration of the challenging timing constraints of our by-laws. The discussion at the Townhall will ultimately inform the vote at the Congregational Meeting, the scheduling of both now provides the Congregation the option to vote on pursuing Rabbi Nagelberg in the shortest timeframe, should that be the desire of the Congregation. Please remember that while the Committee has made the recommendation and the Board has accepted it, it will ultimately be up to the Congregation as to whether we pursue negotiations with Rabbi Nagelberg.
I want to thank the members of the Rabbi Search Committee and our Chair, Laurie Blumstein and our Board of Officers and Trustees for their dedication and hard work during this process. If there are any questions, please contact Laurie at Laurie.blumstein@bnaishalomofolney.org or myself (email below).
Rabbi Jesse R. Nagelberg is a fifth-year rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Upon ordination, he will also receive a master’s degree from the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education. He began talking about being a rabbi as early as four years old. Looking back on those years, he realizes that he saw himself in many of the rabbis he met as he watched them on the bima and with congregants. In elementary school, he created a weekly Tiny Tot Shabbat service to bring the joy of Judaism to his synagogue’s youngest members. His desire to become a rabbi further developed at Golda Och Academy, in Hagalil USY, through his family’s involvement in Jewish organizations, and as longtime senior staff member of Ramah Day Camp in Nyack, NY. Always a lover of cooking and eating wonderful food, Jesse founded a successful catering company called Chez Nagel Kosher Comfort Catering at the age of sixteen. He knew that one day, his rabbinate would be built upon his love of Judaism, his yearning to teach, and his passion for hospitality. To further his interest in customer service and hospitality he earned a Bachelor of Science from the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at The University of Houston. Rabbi Nagelberg believes that Judaism is meant to be experienced with all our senses and he creates innovative educational platforms to teach Jewish text and Jewish values through theater, dance, song, and, of course, food.
J-LAB Religious School Open House and Buddy Day Sunday, May 5th 9:00a to 11:30a open to families who are interested in possibly joining our J-LAB community
Registration at: https://www.bnaishalomofolney.org/form/jlabopenhouse
