A search for a replacement has begun as the Rutgers community will be saying goodbye at the end of the semester to Jewish Learning Initiative directors Rabbi Ori Melamed and his wife, Lea Melamed, who are returning home to Israel.
JLI, a joint program of Orthodox Union, Hillel and Torah MiTzion, aims to “provide Jewish educational resources for our youth on campus, ensuring that these students have the resources to retain their religious identity in a fresh, exciting manner on par with the stimulating education that they receive in their secular courses.”
The search for a new rabbi starts with JLI’s central office, explained Rutgers Hillel Executive Director Andrew Getraer. A list of candidates is provided to to the Hillel, which puts them through an interview process that including various activities with students. Hillel staff makes the final decision on any candidate, but Getraer said the Hillel staff takes student input very seriously.
Today, there was a lunch program to interview the first potential candidate, to which a select group of students were invited. Students present said they could not remember the name of the candidate. Susie Wahrman, a Rutgers College Sophomore, said that the candidate “seemed bright and interesting, and he could probably contribute a lot to the community.”
Hillel expects to make a decision before Passover.