Within the last few weeks, three prominent staff members at Congregation Beth Torah have announced their intentions to leave the Reform congregation. This is in addition to Rabbi Mark Levin’s plan — communicated to the congregation in November 2012 — to step down as the pulpit rabbi and restructure his duties at the end of June.
Two staff members are taking new positions out of town — Executive Director Jack Feldman and Music Director Linda Matorin Sweenie. In early December Marcia Rittmaster, religious school and youth groups director, announced her plans to retire at the end of the school year. Several other staff members will remain in their current positions including Rabbi Educator Rebecca Reice and Member Services Coordinator Laura Intfen. Aaron Nielsenshultz, who is currently special programs coordinator, has been selected to manage the religious school following Rittmaster’s retirement.
This information was announced to Beth Torah members Monday, Dec. 23, by Beth Torah President Michelle Cole. In that email she also informed members that Rabbi Rick Shapiro will become the congregation’s interim rabbi effective July 1. (See full story.)
In the email, Cole wrote that change brings with it opportunity.
“This is a time of significant change at Congregation Beth Torah. As we look to the future, we anticipate two phases — transition, and in time, a new normal,” she said.
Feldman has accepted the position of executive director at Temple Sinai in Atlanta. He joined Beth Torah in 2006 after serving as a Reform Jewish camp director. His last day will be Friday, March 21.
“As the Danish philosopher Kierkegaard said … ‘Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward.’ I’ve been presented with a wonderful opportunity to continue my forward journey,” Feldman said.
“I will leave my Beth Torah family with great difficulty — the past seven years have been nothing short of extraordinary. I have come to learn the true meaning of the word community — for that is what Beth Torah is at its core, and will always be. I’ve been blessed to have worked with a wonderful group of compassionate, caring, dedicated professionals and volunteers. As Nikki, Hannah, Matthew and I look forward to the next stage in our lives, we will always cherish the time we spent in Kansas,” he continued.
Feldman’s family will stay behind in Overland Park until the end of the current school year. That means at the end of May, Nicole Feldman will also leave her job as campaign support staff at the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City.
Sweenie has accepted the position of music director at Temple B’nai Israel in Oklahoma City where she will launch a new music program. She will be reunited with Rabbi Vered Harris, who left Beth Torah in the summer of 2012 to become B’nai Israel’s spiritual leader. As Beth Torah’s music director since May 2004, Sweenie serves as the congregation’s primary cantorial soloist and accompanist for worship, coordinates all volunteers in the Adult and Youth choirs and Intergenerational Ensemble, coordinates the B’nai Mitzvah program, and teaches music and Hebrew in the Weiner Religious School. She has shared her musical talents with a variety of Jewish organizations in the community, including singing at JFS’s quarterly healing service with Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick. In addition her musical group Shir Balev, which also features her husband Glenn Philips and Randy Deutch, provides music at the Reform congregation twice a month and around town. Sweenie’s last day at Beth Torah will also be Friday, March 21.
Sweenie said her 10 years as Beth Torah’s music director have been wonderful, both professionally and personally.
“It’s been an honor to be a member of the most incredible staff of individuals, to serve under the great leadership of the congregation, and to be embraced by the community. Glenn and I raised our children here too, so this was not a decision we made lightly. We will truly miss everyone, but we believe this is the right time in our lives to explore different options and to take on new challenges. Temple B’nai Israel has given me an opportunity to build a comprehensive music program, and I am excited to take this next step in my career as a Jewish music professional,” Sweenie said.
Rittmaster came to Beth Torah 23 years ago as a religious school teacher and its youth group adviser. She is capping off the 17 years she has run the school and youth activities program with the accreditation of the Weiner Religious School by the National Association of Temple Educators. Rittmaster is looking forward to being able to spend more time with family, especially her grandchildren, and taking on a new role at Beth Torah.
“I’m not going anywhere, you’ll just see me in a different role,” she said. “For example we have Hebrew read-ins and my job up until now is to make sure things run smoothly. Now I’ll be sitting in a chair listening to students read while someone else does that. There’s things as a full-time staff member that I haven’t felt comfortable volunteering in and now I’ll be able to do that. And of course my husband Larry and I will still be there every Friday night.”
Cole said the Beth Torah community wishes Feldman, Sweenie and Rittmaster the best of luck in the future.
“We are sad that they are leaving but we are happy for each of them as they move on to a new position or stage in life.”
Cole said plans have begun to determine the best way to fill the gaps in staffing. In addition a search committee will be convened to determine the congregation’s needs in regards to these new developments and the best way to move forward permanently.
“We will work closely with Jack, Linda and Marcia in the months we have before their departures to put together a transition plan for each of their roles. We will provide more details as quickly as we can,” she wrote.
“We see this as an extraordinary opportunity for all of us to help shape the Beth Torah of the future,” she continued.
Beth Torah has scheduled two forums with members to discuss the upcoming transition.
