The new system will operate similarly to that currently used by congregations seeking a rabbi from the field.  As in all other rabbinical placement through the Reform Movement, congregations should contact the Rabbinical Placement Office to file application documents.  A full description of this new system for HUC-JIR (Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion) placement can be obtained from the Rabbinical Placement Office, or from the Union Rabbi of your URJ District, or from the directors of HUC-JIR's rabbinical program.

Fifth year HUC-JIR students will be eligible to have their resumes and personal statements forwarded to those congregations listed for placement by December 1. (Congregations may list with the placement office at any time). Congregational search committees will decide on which students they will interview and will have an opportunity to attend a gathering on one HUC-JIR campus (Cincinnati this year). On-campus interviews will be held for three days beginning on the second Sunday in January (in 2012, from January 8 through 10).

Beginning on the day following on-campus interviews (in this case on January 11) congregations may extend invitations to the fifth year students to visit their congregations for additional interviews, or may make offers of employment should the search committee believe a site visit is unnecessary. No congregation or organization can extend an offer to a fifth year student before January 11, and no student may accept employment from any source before that date. After that time, employment of a member of the HUC-JIR ordination class will follow the same rules and procedures as those that apply to any other rabbi eligible to be placed through the Movement's rabbinical placement system.

The Union Rabbi of your URJ District and/or the Director of Rabbinic Placement, Rabbi Alan Henkin (212-972-3636, x 234), are available to answer questions about changes in placement for graduating HUC-JIR rabbinic ordinees or any other placement question you may have.