Rabbi Search Committee
October 20, 2025
Dear Shir Shalom Community,
We are pleased to provide an update on the rabbinic search process. Last month, we invited the congregation to participate in a survey to help us better understand what we are seeking in our next rabbi. We are happy to share that 71 congregants responded, offering thoughtful and valuable insights. Your responses helped focus the search on finding a warm, inclusive, and relationship-driven rabbi who will partner with us in building community, enriching worship, and deepening Jewish learning.
The survey results helped guide our formal application to the Central Conference of American Rabbis, which we submitted earlier this month. We are grateful to our committee members for their collaboration, and to Susan Freeman, Jessica Hurov, and Linda S. Lewis for their expertise and guidance throughout this phase.
We expect to begin receiving applications in the coming weeks and continue receiving them through November. Our committee will review all submissions carefully and conduct initial Zoom interviews with qualified candidates. A select group of finalists will then be invited to visit Gainesville, where they will have the chance to experience our community firsthand and engage with members of our congregation. We look forward to introducing the congregation to our finalists in early 2026.
Throughout this process, it is essential to maintain strict confidentiality to protect candidates who may not yet have informed their current congregations about their participation. We appreciate your understanding that, for this reason, the committee cannot discuss details of the search while it is ongoing.
As we move forward, we recognize that this work is not only important—it is sacred. We are seeking not just a rabbi but a partner in building a sacred community, enriching Jewish life, and shaping the future of Temple Shir Shalom. We approach this responsibility with humility, care, and deep gratitude for the trust you have placed in us. With your partnership and support, we are confident this process will lead us to the right leader for our congregation’s next chapter.
With gratitude,
Ann Eisenstadt & Jonah Zinn
Co-Chairs, Rabbi Search Committee
August 22, 2025
Dear Temple Shir Shalom Community,
I have appointed two deeply committed and well-respected members of our congregation, Ann Eisenstadt and Jonah Zinn, to co-chair our Rabbi Search Committee. They will be joined on the committee by Toby Hunter, Katherine Paedae, Naomi Richards, Ellen Siegel, Sonya Stahl, Matthew Walker, and Marc Zumberg.
Jonah and Ann each bring a wealth of experience, integrity, and passion for Jewish life and Temple Shir Shalom. We are fortunate to have them guiding this important process. I know they will lead with care, transparency, and deep respect for the values and voices of our community.
Here is a letter from Ann and Jonah about what to expect in the coming months and how you can be involved in shaping the future of Temple Shir Shalom. We will be updating you here, be sure to check back.
Sincerely,
Yale Freeman
President, Temple Shir Shalom
Rabbi Search Committee Co-Chairs
We are honored and humbled to have been asked to serve as co-chairs of the Rabbi Search Committee. Guiding our congregation through the sacred process of selecting a new rabbi is both a great responsibility and a profound privilege. Choosing a spiritual leader to enter into a covenant with our community is one of the most important and meaningful tasks in the life of a synagogue. We are committed to leading this effort with thoughtfulness, transparency, and care.
We’d like to take a moment to introduce ourselves:
Ann Eisenstadt is the former administrator of Temple Shir Shalom. Ann, a Gator for undergraduate and graduate studies, happily returned in 1993 to Gainesville to join her husband, a UF Electrical Engineering professor. They raised their two daughters here and they both live and work up in the DC area now. Although both daughters attended religious school at B’nai Israel, Ann and Bill found their spiritual home and community at Temple Shir Shalom. Ann is excited about her new role as a congregant and volunteer in several capacities working to move Temple Shir Shalom forward.
Jonah Zinn is a lifelong Reform Jew who moved to Gainesville with his family in 2019 to serve as the Executive Director and Campus Rabbi of UF Hillel. Jonah and his wife, Jamie, are proud members of the Shir Shalom community, where their two oldest children, Jacob and Talia, attend the religious school. (Maya looks forward to joining her siblings at Shir Shalom in a few years.) Jonah and Jamie cherish the sense of belonging and Jewish connection their children have found at Shir Shalom. Jonah strongly believes in the importance of having a vibrant Reform Jewish congregation in Gainesville and is excited about the opportunity to help secure a strong future for Shir Shalom.
As we embark on this journey, we promise to keep the congregation informed with regular updates about our progress, key milestones, and opportunities for your involvement. Your voice is vital to this process, and we want to ensure that it is heard and valued.
Here is a brief overview of our anticipated timeline:
● August & September: The search committee is currently beginning our initial work, including gathering input from the congregation and preparing our application to the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), the placement body for Reform rabbis.
● Around the High Holidays: We aim to submit our application to CCAR. We expect to begin receiving resumes from interested candidates in late October, following the High Holidays.
● November: The committee anticipates conducting initial Zoom interviews with a select group of candidates.
● Early January: We plan to invite a small number of finalists to visit the community in person. During those visits, we will create meaningful opportunities for the entire congregation to meet the candidates and offer feedback.
This process is not only important — it is holy. We are seeking not just a leader, but a partner in building a sacred community, enriching Jewish life, and shaping the future of Temple Shir Shalom. We are deeply grateful for the trust you have placed in us and will work diligently and respectfully to honor that trust.
With appreciation and commitment,
Ann Eisenstadt & Jonah Zinn
Co-Chairs, Rabbi Search Committee
Temple Shir Shalom