Ira Wise is
looking for a
new job.
n an effort to balance its budget, the board of
trustees of Temple Emanu-El last week vot-
ed to uphold a decision to eliminate the po-
sition of temple educator.
The board held the original vote in No-
vember but outcry from congregants and
some board members forced a new vote Dec.
20.
The contract for Ira Wise, temple educa-
tor, will not be renewed June 30, 1995 when
it expires. Rabbi Amy Brodsky will assume
duties related to direction of the temple's re-
ligious school.
The temple has operated in a deficit for the
past two years in spite of a constitutional
mandate for a balanced budget. With the
elimination of the educator position, the bud-
get will remain in a deficit.
"We will be closer to a balanced budget
than we were before," said Sharon Jaffe, tem-
ple president. "(The deficit) has been climb-
ing. We must pay back what we have
borrowed in order to borrow again."
The deficit was accrued in part because of
expensive repairs and updates required for
the temple building, which is 40 years old.
The heating and cooling system will have
to be replaced in the next year, Ms. Jaffe said.
"I don't think we are at that terrible of a
point right now, but we will be if we don't be-
come more fiscally responsible," she said.
Because of the financial situation, the
board formulated a subcommittee to study
the personnel needs of the congregation. Us-
ing guidelines established by the Union of
American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC),
Emanu-El Cuts
Educator Position
Rabbi Amy Brodsky: Gearing up for
educational responsibilities.
Tight finances
cause temple
to restructure
personnel's
responsibilities.
JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITER
the subcommittee found that the temple has
administrative staff to serve 1,000 families.
Temple Emanu-El's membership is 700 fam-
ilies.
The subcommittee then began analyzing
the duties of senior staff members including
temple educator, the two rabbis and temple
administrator. The subcommittee then re-
configured staff responsibilities, recom-
mending that the board combine the duties
of temple educator with those of the assis-
tant rabbi.
"(The subcommittee) labored hard and long
over staff considerations," Ms. Jaffe said. 'They
knew we had to cut back, but they wanted to
offer the same services to congregants."
"Many people felt badly that we could not
renew the contract of a fine Jewish educator,
but saw the need that we practice fiscal re-
sponsibility," Ms. Jaffe said.
In the meantime, Rabbi Brodsky will
spend part of the next six months adjusting
to her new duties. Mr. Wise has pledged to
help her, she said.
"I am doing this for the good of the con-
gregation. They asked me to do this and I
said that I will on the condition that I get
as much support as is necessary," she said.
"Some people have said they will help, and I
plan to count on them."
Rabbi Brodsky said she has a limited back-
ground in education. As a rabbinic student
she took some courses on the subject but did
not specifically desire to hold the position of
temple educator.
"I was never one of those students who
said, 'I want to do just this as a rabbi,' " she
said. "I always wanted to try different things."
But Rabbi Brodsky is not completely new
to education. She has taught several cours-
es in the adult education program at the tem-
ple.
Mr. Wise held the position of temple edu-
cator for the past three years. He was hired
after he completed his studies at Hebrew
Union College in Los Angeles, where he
earned a master's degree in Jewish educa-
tion.
He was praised by the temple's board of
trustees for the changes he instigated. While
temple educator, he increased the participa-
tion of post-bar mitzvah teens from 20 per-
cent to 65 percent. He also helped establish
joint education projects between Temple
Emanu-El and Temple Beth El.
"Ira is creative and innovative. He has done
great things with the education program,"
Ms. Jaffe said.
"It was a good place when I got here and
with the people at Temple Emanu-El I was c
able to make it better," Mr. Wise said. "I en-
joyed the congregation's willingness to val- co
CD
ue education. The willingness was there.
What was missing were the financial re-
sources."
Mr. Wise said that he has been inter-
viewing for other available positions. He c-) ,
hopes to stay in the immediate area but is (a)
also investigating other jobs in the Midwest.
Rabbi Lane Steinger could not be reached 15
for comment. ❑