Plans for now and later

Rabbi Elan Babchuck

Rabbi Elan Babchuck discusses ‘surprise’ resignation

“I’m grateful for four really wonderful years. I loved the job. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Gratitude is a word Rabbi Elan Babchuck uses often when he speaks about his tenure at Temple Emanu-El, in Providence.

Many in the community were surprised several weeks ago when he announced that he was moving on. Members of the congregation received letters announcing the news from Babchuck as well as Rabbi Wayne Franklin and president Judy Greenblatt.

In his letter, Babchuck wrote, “. . . after much soul searching, I have come to believe that there are yet more chapters for me to write and other ways to serve the world that I would like to explore.”

Babchuck, his wife, Lizzie Pollack, and their two children, 3 1/2-year-old Micah and 3-week-old Nessa, plan to stay in Providence. In fact, he said they love it here and will be active members of the Temple Emanu-El community after July 2016, when he officially steps down.  

“I’m excited about the future of the synagogue and where it’s going and my place in it as a member,” he said.

Babchuck, a passionate supporter of entrepreneurship and leadership in Providence, will become director of innovation at Clal – The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, a leadership-training institute, think tank and resource center based in New York City. He will work from Providence and travel throughout the United States to Clal’s innovation project sites as part of his role in running Clal’s new innovation incubator, which will be launched next fall. He also will help develop entrepreneurship in the next generation of Jewish leaders.

Babchuck said this is a natural extension of his many interests, including innovation in the Jewish world.  “I wanted to utilize my rabbinic toolkit as well as my MBA,” he said. “I wanted to serve the Jewish world in a different way.”

Babchuck is part of the Clal-affiliated Rabbis without Borders’ pluralistic network, having completed its year-long fellowship. He said he hopes that in his new post he can help deepen Clal’s ties to the greater Jewish community. He also hopes that Clal will have a greater presence in Providence, with their common emphasis on entrepreneurship and small business.

Innovation wears many hats, Babchuck said.

 “Clal doesn’t lay out a blueprint,” he said. “It inspires and sparks interest in key lay leaders.”

In Rhode Island, Babchuck is also working on a Jewish mindfulness project with Rabbi Barry Dolinger of Congregation Beth Sholom, in Providence, and Nicole Jellinek, a social worker in private practice.

Until June, Babchuck emphasizes, he remains deeply engaged as a rabbi at Emanu-El. “I wanted to give the synagogue time to come up with a transition plan. In the next eight months there’s an incredible amount to do,” he said. “I’m very excited to continue.”

FRAN OSTENDORF is editor of The Jewish Voice.