UR rabbi resigns; search for new director begins

University of Richmond is searching for an interim Director of Jewish Life after Rabbi Andrew Goodman, who served as Richmond's first-ever campus rabbi for five years, announced his resignation.

Goodman, who also serves as director of religious social responsibility, sent an email to students involved in Jewish life on Jan. 26, informing them that he had accepted an assistant director position in the national office of recruitment and admissions for Hebrew Union College– Jewish Institute of Religion, the leading Reform seminary in the U.S. and his alma mater. 

The available position, which Richmond posted online, is a part-time, interim job that will run from August 2016 to May 2017. “This was done intentionally so we can do a more thorough and nationwide search for director of Jewish life beginning in the fall,” said Bryn Taylor, director of spiritual formation, the hiring manager for this position and interim director of the chaplaincy while University Chaplain Craig Kocher is on parental leave from Feb. 1 to April 27. Taylor is also working with Christine Creery, a talent acquisition specialist in Human Resources, to recruit a good match for the Jewish life program.

Goodman said he would not be involved in the search for a new director. “It’s a bad policy to hire your successor,” he said, because he would be pre-disposed to like someone who was similar to himself.

Sophomore Daniel Markowitz, oversight coordinator for Hillel, said he wanted someone like Goodman to take the position. 

“Rabbi Goodman, I mean, he’s perfect for the role,” Markowitz said. “The more similar he is to Rabbi Goodman, the better.”

Goodman, on the other hand, said he wanted the university to embrace the transition, even though it was bittersweet.

“There was nothing negative that was pushing me away," he said. "It was just such a natural time of transition for me and my family.

“In some ways having a new person come in at year six of this new Jewish life program, to bring in a new set of eyes, a new set of energy, a new set of creative ideas, I think that’s a really good thing."

Part of what has made Goodman a popular and important addition to the university community is the intersection of identities that makes him relatable to a diverse group.

“I think that in some ways being a person of faith who’s Jewish and a rabbi and married to a man, and we have kids, and I was in the Navy. ... I bring my own skill set to bear and that’s my unique self,” Goodman said, referring to his husband Rabbi Jesse Gallop and their twin sons. “As long my successor brings their true selves to bear, then they’re going to be successful.”

In the meantime, student leaders in Hillel do not think this transition will negatively affect the progress in programming that they have made recently.

“Our Hillel is so focused as a student-run organization, and we’re gonna be such a well-oiled machine going forward, that when the new rabbi comes in it’s probably going to be an easy transition for him,” said sophomore Jeff Kreisler, education coordinator for Hillel.

“No matter who fills the role, our path that we’re on right now is gonna continue,” Kreisler said. “We have a bright future.”

Contact copy editor Rebecca Fradkin at rebecca.fradkin@richmond.edu