Congregation Beth Shalom, the largest Conservative congregation in Kansas City with approximately 763 family units, has hired Rabbi David Glickman as its next senior rabbi. He will join the congregation this summer.
Rabbi Glickman is filling the position last held permanently by Rabbi Robert Tobin, who left the congregation when his contract expired last summer. Rabbi Alan Cohen, who served as senior rabbi from 1989 to 2008, returned to lead the congregation during this interim year. Dr. Norman Kahn Jr. and Alan Edelman led the senior rabbi search committee.
The congregation is continuing the search for a person to fill the newly created Clergy 2 position. Congregation President Kurt Kavanaugh said Rabbi Glickman “will be an active and valued participant in the process.” The Clergy 2 Search Committee is chaired by Jeff Goldenberg and Steve Flekier.
In a letter to members announcing Rabbi Glickman’s selection, Kavanaugh said the rabbi is excited to be Beth Shalom’s partner in implementing its strategic imperatives on spirituality, education and community.
“He also brings expertise in organizational management so we look forward to working together in implementing our strategic plan. After two visits to Kansas City and many hours in conversation with our congregational leaders, he has a keen understanding of who we are and he has the ability and commitment to help us make our vision for the future a reality,” Kavanaugh said.
Rabbi Glickman, 39, has spent the past 11 years at Congregation Shearith Israel in Dallas. His primary responsibility at the congregation that serves more than 1,200 families has been serving the pulpit at its north satellite, Beit Aryeh, every Shabbat and holiday.
The rabbi hails from Lansing, Mich. Beginning as a theater major, he graduated from the University of Michigan with degrees in history and Jewish studies, continuing at the Jewish Theological Seminary where he was ordained in 2001. He has served Congregation Shearith Israel since his ordination.
Rabbi Glickman is passionate about creating communities where warm relationships stand at the center. He was the rabbinic vision behind Congregation Shearith Israel’s start-up satellite service, a lay-led minyan serving Dallas’ north suburbs. Rabbi Glickman has also been a dynamic force in creating a nationally recognized Young Professionals’ program touching the lives of hundreds of young Jews ages 21-35 in the greater Dallas area. He loves teaching all ages, and has taught in diverse settings such as adult education programs, day school and preschool classes, workshops at Texas Instruments, and The University of Dallas (a Catholic, liberal-arts college in North Texas).
Rabbi Glickman met his wife Annie in Jerusalem when they were both studying at Hebrew University. Annie is a regional director for the Florence Melton Adult Mini School. They have three children, Gavriel (10), Ellie (6) and Dani (3).
Kavanaugh told Beth Shalom members Rabbi Glickman has been a powerful catalyst for cutting-edge, innovative programming, dynamic education and meaningful spiritual experiences.
“Rabbi Glickman has been instrumental in creating adult education opportunities and his passion for teaching shines in his connection with students of all ages. National organizations such as STAR (Synagogue Transformation and Renewal), the Jewish Theological Seminary and the Tikvah Institute have recognized Rabbi Glickman, selecting him to participate in their national young leaders’ fellowships. In addition to his outstanding pulpit and educational abilities, Rabbi Glickman has a great capacity and deep commitment for developing close and long-standing relationships with congregational members of all ages,” Kavanaugh said.
Rabbi Glickman said he was attracted to this area for a number of reasons.
“Kansas City has a history and a reputation for its warmth, for its energy and for the type of Jewish community that it’s built over the decades and I wanted to be a part of that,” Rabbi Glickman said.
He continued that he’s very passionate about building a Jewish community that has engaging learning and congregants that care about each other.
“I’ve been very involved in the community here in Dallas across the denominations and I’ve built strong friendships and connections with rabbis from across the denominations. One of the things that also attracted me to Kansas City is the long history of community and collaboration in a pluralistic environment,” he continued.