Rabbinic Search
As Rabbi Yergin prepares to leave San Antonio this spring to begin the next phase of her rabbinic journey, we have embarked on our search for our next Assistant/Associate rabbi to work alongside Rabbi Nathan, Cantor Ettinger and the rest of our amazing staff. This page will include regular updates about the search and transition as we welcome our new assistant/associate rabbi. We welcome your input and questions as we build the next decades of Temple Beth El’s journey—together. To reach the search committee, please email search.committee@beth-elsa.org.
Updates
November 7, 2025 – Announcing the Rabbinic Search Committee
At the October meeting, the Board of Trustees decided to move forward with the search for an Assistant/Associate Rabbi to succeed Rabbi Yergin. Per Temple’s by-laws, our Board President, Mark Eichelbaum, appointed our committee chair and, along with Rabbi Nathan, took steps to form a Search Committee. Members of the committee were selected for their unique perspectives and connections to Temple, as well as their personal and professional backgrounds. We believe these individuals represent a broad cross-section of Temple’s diverse community. All committee members are enthusiastic to serve the Temple community.
The following is your committee:
Gabrielle Conlee, Chair
Trent Boarnet
Mel Cohen
Hazel Davis
Arlene Dryer
Bregger Garrison
Loren George
Jake Levy
Leslie Met
Rebecca Nathan
Lauren O’Krent
Rabbi Mara Nathan and Temple President Mark Eichelbaum will also play lead roles in the search and hiring process. 
The committee began meeting in early November, shortly after its formation. The goal of the committee is to recommend a candidate to the Board of Trustees by March 2026. We anticipate our new clergy member will begin their tenure in July 2026. There will be opportunities beyond the committee to meet candidates later in the hiring process. Regular updates from the committee will be posted on the Temple website and in future weekly emails. For more information about our Search Committee, please e-mail search.committee@beth-elsa.org. We would be happy to share our Committee Members' Bios.
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How can you participate?
Your voice matters in this sacred process. Here are ways to participate:
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Fill out our Survey: We urge everyone from B’nai Mitzvah age and up to participate in a short survey to help us understand the priorities and hopes of our community as we seek a new rabbi to join our spiritual leadership team. The survey has now ended.
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Share Your Input: Have thoughts about what you’d like to see in our next rabbi? Questions about the process? Email the chair at search.committee@beth-elsa.org
Frequently Asked Questions
How will we recruit candidates?
We will post our opening for an Assistant or Associate Rabbi with the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), where candidates can learn about and apply for rabbinic positions.
What are the CCAR requirements for this search?
As a URJ congregation, we work exclusively through the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) Rabbinical Placement Commission. The CCAR establishes ethical standards for the search process, requires anti-bias training for search committees, maintains strict candidate confidentiality, and prohibits discrimination based on gender, sexual identity, race, age, marital status, or career path.
When will I know who the candidates are?
The Search Committee will regularly share updates and milestones with the entire TBE community; however, candidates’ names will remain confidential until the final selection. While many potential applicants may be newly ordained rabbis, some may come from other congregations. CCAR guidelines require strict confidentiality to protect both candidates and their current employers. If a rabbi’s job search becomes known and they ultimately remain in their current position, it could seriously harm their relationship with their congregation and community. This confidentiality ensures a safe and respectful process for rabbis to explore new opportunities. The name of the selected candidate will be announced only after they have accepted our offer.
What is the difference between an Assistant and Associate Rabbi?
Assistant Rabbis are typically newly ordained or early-career rabbis with fewer than three years of experience following ordination. Associate Rabbis are more experienced, with more than three years post-ordination, and often have served at another congregation. We are currently seeking either an Assistant or Associate Rabbi to succeed Rabbi Yergin next year.
How is the Process Different from Hiring a Senior Rabbi?
Hiring an Assistant or Associate Rabbi is very different from the process of hiring a Senior Rabbi.
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For a Senior Rabbi search, the hiring process is clearly outlined in our Temple’s bylaws. It requires months of gathering input from the congregation through town hall meetings and other forums to form a collective understanding of what we are seeking in a Senior Rabbi. The Search Committee conducts interviews, performs due diligence, checks references, and holds on-site interviews before making a recommendation to the Board of Trustees. At that point, the Board makes a recommendation to the congregation, and a vote is held at a special meeting to decide whether to hire the recommended candidate.
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We have enjoyed long tenures with our Senior Rabbis, having had only four in the last nine decades. Rabbi Jacobson served our congregation for 38 years, Rabbi Stahl for 26 years, and Rabbi Block for 21 years. Rabbi Nathan has served as our Senior Rabbi for nearly 12 years, and we aspire for her tenure to continue for many years to come.
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For an Assistant or Associate Rabbi search, the Search Committee follows similar steps, though the process is less extensive in terms of gathering input from the congregation. After making a recommendation, the Board of Trustees decides whether to hire the candidate; there is no special congregational meeting or vote.
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Historically, the typical tenure for an Assistant Rabbi is three to five years, although we have also been blessed with a longer tenure in the case of Rabbi Yergin. She joined us as a newly ordained Assistant Rabbi and was later promoted to Associate Rabbi.