Rabbi Warshaw Resigns as Education Director to Head Congregation in Maryland

Rabbi Susan Warshaw, Temple Micah's education director, will leave the congregation June 30, after just one year. She has accepted a position as rabbi of Congregation Bat Yam in Ocean City, Md.

"Susan has brought a real wisdom and experience and understanding to families and Jewish education that has been invaluable," Rabbi Zemel said. "We'll be looking for someone who (also) realizes that Jewish education is, by definition, working with an entire family."

Rabbi Zemel and board President Betsy Broder announced Rabbi Warshaw's decision in a letter to the congregation in late March. They said her short tenure made this a difficult decision for her, but said that the move would allow her to fulfill her longtime desire to be a congregational rabbi.

Along with Rabbi Zemel, Rabbi Warshaw has overseen an education task force that is reevaluating the temple's entire religious education program and teaching methods.

The undertaking reflects Rabbi Zemel's concern that American synagogues are teaching Judaism the same way they did half a century ago even though American Jewish life is different.

"I personally don't think that the liberal American Jewish community has figured out how to do this," he said during a congregational meeting April 6. He added that the religious school has retained the same programs even while it tripled in size, and that new methods and programs must be created to meet different needs.

The new education director will continue to work with the task force as it strives to design a new education program.

"I'm positive there's not a curriculum out there we can simply buy off the shelf and use here," Rabbi Zemel said.

Broder said ads for a new education director have been posted in Jewish newspapers. The search committee, chaired by temple member Jonathan Stern, hopes to have someone in place soon, preferably before Rabbi Warshaw leaves, so that there will be some overlap, Broder said. Rabbi Warshaw and Rabbi Zemel will be on the search committee.

Other members of the committee include congregants Evelyn Sahr, Valerie S., Lee F., Martha A., Cecelia W., Mary Beth S. and Ruth S.; board members Sharon D. and Lisa S.; cantor Meryl Weiner, and music director Teddy Klaus.

Rabbi Warshaw came to Micah last June following the departure of Debra Beland, who held the job for seven years. Rabbi Warshaw had served as Temple Micah's rabbinic intern for two summers and signed on as education director just as she was ordained last spring.