Congregation Beth Shalom is losing both its rabbis. Senior Rabbi Robert Tobin has decided not to renew his contract. In a separate move, the Conservative congregation’s board of directors has voted to eliminate the assistant rabbi position effective July 2011. That position has been filled by Rabbi Adam Stein since the summer of 2009. The congregation was informed of these decisions in two separate e-mails sent earlier this month from Kurt Kavanaugh, D.D.S., M.S., the congregation’s president.
Rabbi Tobin informed Dr. Kavanaugh Dec. 10 that he planned to seek a pulpit elsewhere. In Dr. Kavanaugh’s letter to the congregation, dated that same day, he explained that Rabbi Tobin feels “his strengths and goals are not the ideal match for our future.”
As reported in the Dec. 10 issue of The Chronicle, Beth Shalom is facing financial difficulties and plans to close its facility at 95th and Wornall, which is currently used almost exclusively for worship, by July 15. At the time that decision was made, Dr. Kavanaugh told members that this recommendation was just one step in the congregation’s efforts to eliminate its budget deficit and operate the congregation on a sound fiscal basis.
The decision to eliminate the associate rabbi position appears to be another step toward reducing the congregation’s deficit.
In a second letter to members dated Dec. 17, Dr. Kavanaugh noted that Beth Shalom has been blessed to have had many wonderful assistant rabbis over the years including Rabbi Stein.
“However, given our trend in membership and the resulting reduction in dues revenue, our Operations Task Force determined the most prudent economic decision would be to reduce the number of our clergy,” Dr. Kavanaugh reported.
Beth Shalom is currently making plans to engage an interim rabbi after Rabbi Tobin’s contract expires on June 30. Discussions are currently taking place between the congregation and Rabbi Alan Cohen, who retired as the congregation’s senior rabbi three years ago. Since then he has served as director of interreligious affairs for the Jewish Community Relations Bureau|American Jewish Committee. That position is funded by three-year grants that are due to expire this summer.
“Given his love of Beth Shalom, both as an institution and as his extended family, he has graciously agreed in principle to remain in Kansas City for just one year to tend to the day-to-day needs of our membership,” Dr. Kavanaugh said.
He continued that Beth Shalom’s board is working hard to see that through this transition, the congregation will “emerge prouder and stronger than ever.”
“We have before us an opportunity to work together to shape our future and reinforce the foundations of a sustainable, connected community,” Dr. Kavanaugh said.
