- 216-831-3233
Dear CMO Congregants,
Over the past six months, the Senior Rabbinic Search Committee has been deeply engaged in a thoughtful process with two main goals: to listen carefully to what our members value most in our next senior rabbi and to identify the leader who best reflects our shared vision for the future.
With guidance from the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), we’re encouraged by a strong pool of excellent, reputable candidates. We’ve developed a robust and thorough interview process that includes rigorous interviews and careful evaluation to find the best fit for Congregation Mishkan Or. We are actively learning about each candidate’s strengths and potential to lead our community forward while maintaining full confidentiality.
We’ve hosted Living Room Conversations, attended community events such as the Sparks of Light pre-Shabbat service gatherings in both May and last Friday as well as the Garden Party in August. We’ve partnered with many affiliate groups — Women of Mishkan Or, Brotherhood, Emeritus Council and Limmud families to name a few — to ensure broad participation and diverse perspectives are being heard.
If you haven’t yet done so, please take a few minutes to complete the survey (further below) to add your voice to the hundreds already shared.
As always, we welcome your thoughts at rabbisearch@mishkanor.org and look forward to sharing more updates soon.
B’shalom,
Debra Mayers Hollander and Eric Silver
Co-Chairs, Senior Rabbinic Search Committee
SURVEY –
Share your thoughts with the committee! Click here to complete a brief survey online, or stop by the front desk to complete a paper copy.
RABBINIC SEARCH UPDATE –
October 24, 2025 – Our Co-chairs hosted a Sparks of Light pre-Shabbat gathering to meet and converse with Mishkan Or members about the Rabbinic Search process.
October 5, 2025 – Madrichim from our Sunday Limmud program joined Search Committee members for a lunchtime discussion. This younger group was excited to participate in the process and shared many valuable insights into how they might connect best with our next senior rabbi
September 14, 2025 – Search Committee members staffed a table during drop off and pick times for Sunday Limmud. Limmud parents were able to ask questions about the Senior Rabbinic Search and share their thoughts on the qualities they hoped the right candidate would possess.
September 13, 2025 – Search Committee members joined young families at Tot Shabbat. Following the lively service, parents were able to join a brief chat about the search process
September 12, 2025 – Mishkan Or Co-Presidents announce Rabbi Andi Berlin as Interim Senior Rabbi. Click here for more details
September 2025 – Search Committee members facilitated conversations and answered questions about the search process at the homes of 3 additional member families.
August 11, 2025 – Search Committee members joined the August meeting of Women of Mishkan Or, where a number of participants discussed what they believed would make a new senior rabbi successful in leading our community.
August 10, 2025 – Committee Members staffed a table at the Garden Party. Congregants and staff members stopped by for informal conversation about the Senior Rabbinic Search.
August 2025 – Search Committee members led group discussions at the homes of 3 member families. These intimate living room conversations were a wonderful opportunity to hear directly from our fellow congregants about their hopes and concerns about finding our next senior rabbi.
July 28, 2025 – The Search Committee Co-Chairs met with Executive Director Julianna Johnston Senturia and Department Directors to hear feedback and concerns regarding the Search Process and their vision for the ideal skillset for the next Senior Rabbi.
July 21, 2025 – The Search Committee hosted its second listening session with the congregation where congregants were able to ask questions about the search process and share their thoughts for what the next Senior Rabbi could bring to our congregation.
July 2, 2025 – Search Committee members joined the Ritual and Worship Committee to solicit feedback and engage in thoughtful discussion and were informed by their experience partnering with our clergy team over the past year.
June 9, 2025 – Mishkan Or Co-Presidents shared an update on the Senior Rabbi search status at the Congregation Mishkan Or Annual Meeting.
June 8, 2025 – Rabbinic Search Co-Chairs presented search status and strategy to The Emeritus Council.
May 25, 2025 – Senior Rabbi Search Status FAQs, click here.
May 23, 2025 – On Friday, May 23, the Search Committee hosted its first listening session with the congregation at the Sparks of Light event preceding Shabbat services. Committee members joined more than 50 congregants for round table conversations that were insightful and energizing. It was a wonderful opportunity to hear directly from our fellow congregants and learn what they’re thinking about as we embark on this important rabbinic search process.
May 8, 2025 – Click Here for Update on our Senior Rabbinic Search
April 3, 2025 – As announced in December, Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk shared his plan to retire from the congregational rabbinate during 2026. A recent Stage IV cancer survivor, he is hopeful in retirement to more fully embrace his “bonus time.” We’re so grateful for his leadership and ongoing commitment!
Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk, the inaugural Senior Rabbi for Congregation Mishkan Or, will retire from the congregational rabbinate on January 1, 2026. A recent Stage IV cancer survivor, he is hopeful in retirement to more fully embrace his “bonus time.” We’re so grateful for his leadership and ongoing commitment!
We have assembled a Senior Rabbinic Search committee comprised of members who represent the wonderful breadth and depth of our congregation. Please check back for frequent updates on this committee’s important work.
As we plan for the future and our next Senior Rabbi’s leadership, we are pleased to share the Senior Rabbinic Search Committee has been selected and is as follows:
Liza Adams
Linda Barnett
Ben Becker
Robert Blumstein
Jon Eisenberg
Ken Hochman
Debra Mayers Hollander (co-chair)
Keith Kerman
Shelley Milin Marcus
Kevin Margolis
Lev McFarland
Amy Nadler
Eric Silver (co-chair)
Cynthia Tancer
Margot Tomer
Brian Young
These congregational members represent the wonderful breadth and depth of our congregation. Their dedication to our congregation, our community, the Reform Jewish movement and Judaism is steadfast, and they are excited to begin the important work of identifying the next senior leader of Congregation Mishkan Or and its clergy team.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our community.