SAN DIEGO (Press Release)– Rabbi Martin S. Lawson has announced his plans to retire as spiritual leader of Temple Emanu-El on June 30, 2012. “Although we are sad to see Rabbi Lawson leave in sixteen months, we will have been blessed with his spiritual leadership for 36 years,” said the congregation’s president Aaron Cohn.
A search is currently being conducted for an interim rabbi, to serve immediately upon Rabbi Lawson’s retirement, starting on July 1, 2012. The Rabbinic Search Committee has been working with the Unon for Reform Judaism to prepare to facilitate this transition. This committee plans to meet monthly with th objective to ultimately recommend to the Board of Directors and the Congregation the candidates to fill the position of Interim Rabbi for the year July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013, and the permanent position of Rabbi to begin serving on July 1, 2013.
The interim rabbi will serve all the rabbinic needs of the congregation, including Temple services, life cycle events, bar/bat mitzvah training, weddings and funerals. The interim rabbi will help guide th congregation toward a smooth transition to welcoming a new rabbi.
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Preceding provided by Temple Emanu-El