Dear Chochmat Community,

We have just received the attached letter from Rabbi Elliot Kukla informing us that he has accepted a job at the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center and is withdrawing his application from the Chochmat spiritual leader search. While we are disappointed, we want you to know that the search process will continue. Please join us this weekend to pray, learn and talk with Rabbi SaraLeya Schley (for a schedule of events, please visit the website).

After the weekend, the Search Committee will convene to determine what to recommend to the Board of Directors. Your feedback about Rabbi Schley will be very important to the Search Committee in making its decision. On Sunday, you will receive a survey to gather your comments about Rabbi Schley, and we ask that you return it as soon as possible.

If you have feelings, thoughts or comments about the search process, the Search committee welcomes your input. Please email search@chochmat.org.

Thank you for supporting and participating in the search process.

The Search Committee

April 1, 2008

Dear Search Committee,

Thank you for the opportunity to be one of your finalists. The weekend I spent with the community was truly inspiring for me and I will continue to carry with me the sense of open-hearted spirituality and ruach that Chochmat HaLev embodies as a community, as well as countless precious connections with individuals.

I wanted to let you know as soon as possible that after a very challenging soul searching process, I have decided to accept another position as Staff Rabbi at the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center. At this time in both my professional and spiritual development, the opportunity to continue to work in chaplaincy feels like the right next step on my path at least for the moment.

I was very impressed with the work of this committee and feel honored to have been a part of such a well-thought out, warm and welcoming process. The opportunity to work with the musical team for services was a magical moment for me as was learning Torah with the community, and I would love an opportunity to stay connected in some capacity as a guest teacher or guest service leader if that makes sense for the new spiritual leader.

I am excited to see how Chochmat will blossom and grow in the coming months.

With blessings and gratitude,

Elliot