Rabbi Barry Lutz, RJE

Served as interim senior rabbi, fulfilling all duties commensurate with the position of senior rabbi including:

• Teaching six regular weekly adult education classes.

Additional Interim duties included:

• Supporting community through the transition process from retiring rabbi to new settled rabbi.
• Working with lay leadership in the development of a renewed communal vision as part of their search for their next settled rabbi.

With the advent of COVID additional responsibilities came to include

• Creating and partnering with a "Re-Opening Task Force" in the creation of protocols for considering in person worship, communal and school activities in light of the pandemic.
• Partnering with clergy and executive staff in the development of an active online communal presence. (Worship, education and social activities.)
• Partnering with clergy and executive staff in envisioning and producing a meaningful and 'intimate' online High Holy Day worship experience.

Worked with the staff of the Milken Archive and subject matter experts in the creation of "Stories of Music", a 10 lesson curriculum that addresses the intersections of Jewish music and the historical, sociological and religious experiences of the American Jew.

(https://schoolofmusic.ucla.edu/resources/lowell-milken-fund-for-american-jewish-music/stories-of-music/)

Envisioned, designed, and implemented a small, 'emergent' community for those seeking personal connection, spiritual meaning, and an avenue for participation in social action and justice activities.

Served as rabbi/educator, associate rabbi and finally, senior rabbi. (2007) In these capacities my responsibilities included both the sacred and everyday tasks associated with such positions in a moderate sized Reform community. These included:

• Pastoral Care
  
• Counseled, supported, and cared for individuals of all ages.
• Oversaw the development and operation of the congregation's "Caring Community" initiative.
  
  
• Worship
• Created and developed worship innovations and initiatives in partnership with senior staff team. These included visual tefillah, monthly musical Shabbatot, "cocktail" Shabbatot, monthly blessing Shabbatot, and family worship opportunities.
• Created an inclusive worship environment welcoming all to participate.
• Initiated physical changes in the sanctuary allowing the clergy to lead services in a more intimate setting.
• Social Justice Advocacy and Outreach
• Implemented a social justice team engaged in the URJ's "Moving Justice to the Center of the Community."
• Introduced and initiated engagement with ReformCA.
• Brought over 300 teens to the Religious Action Center's L'Taken Social Justice seminar in Washington D.C.
• Served on the governing board of "Meet Each Need with Dignity," a direct service organization serving low income families.
  
  
• Leadership Development and Supervision
• Created the community's mission statement in partnership with congregational leadership.
• Conducted ongoing leadership development with lay leaders, professional staff, and potential community leaders.
  
  
• Fund Development
• Introduced and led the community's first professionally run capital campaign raising $1.7 million, (the most successful campaign in community history).
• Provided the institutional purpose and Jewish values underpinning solicitation efforts.
• Identified and stewarded new donors creating new revenue streams for congregational programs.

Served as Director of Education providing the educational vision, direction, and infrastructure for a school whose enrollment reached six hundred students, at its apex. In addition to all other responsibilities my duties came to include the supervision of a large school community located on two campuses.

• Established Community's Educational Vision and Culture
• Built an educational program founded on the dual goals of discovering purpose in Jewish tradition and the building of sacred relationships.
• Established and led an organizational culture where Confirmation became an expected and anticipated goal.
• Established the school's local and national reputation in retaining students beyond bar/bat mitzvah. (The high school was the subject of an L.A. BJE study on successful post bar/bat mitzvah programs.)
• Developed a high school curriculum based on promoting resiliency as a Jewish value.
  
• Guided the school through its first and second L.A. BJE accreditation processes.
  
• Curriculum Development and Teaching
• Created the Judaic and Hebrew curricula for grades K-12.
• Established Hebrew and Judaic educational standards at each grade level.
• Continually modified and updated the curriculum to reflect the best thinking in both religious and secular education.
• Created and implemented a Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation program that included a family b'nei mitzvah Shabbaton. This program was published as part of the Alternatives in Religious Education's Bar and Bat Mitzvah Handbook.
  
• Created and implemented a wide array of Family Education initiatives including an annual congregational education day and an annual Family Camp retreat.
• Developed and oversaw the implementation of the community's adult learning opportunities.
  
  
• Teaching
• Adult Education
  (topics that include, but are not limited to, Introduction to Judaism, Israel, comparative religions, Islam, liturgy, theology, biblical criticism, Hebrew, Torah chanting, and preparation for the High Holy Days.)
• Confirmation class based upon Al Vorspan's and David Saperstein's Jewish Dimensions of Social Justice. (The curriculum culminated in an annual trip to the L'Taken Social Justice Seminar of the Religious Action Center of the Reform Movement in Washington, D.C.)
• Senior Seminar (12th grade) focused on "Finding Your Jewish Way" at college.
  
  
• Oversight of Educational Programs from Early Childhood through Adult Education
• Hired, trained, and supervised all educational department staff.
• Established, implemented, and modified administrative structures.

This four-day course, one of three segments in the interim rabbi training program, focused on the work of the congregation during a time of significant transition.

This three-day, workshop introduced theories that are the foundation of the work of the interim rabbi.  

An MBA Certificate program in  "spiritual entrepreneurship" developed jointly by CLAL and Columbia University.  The purpose is to educate, guide and support social entrepreneurs working particularly in the development of spiritual communities.

• Over the course of many years, I have mentored dozens of HUC M.A. in Jewish Education and Rabbinic students who now serve in professional capacities as educators and rabbis across North America.

M.E.N.D. is a front line social service agency providing food, clothing, medical and counseling services to low income individuals and families living in the Northeast San Fernando Valley.

Participated in year-long program exploring how to create and implement social justice work within my community.

Worked with selected social justice advocates on a program to bring social justice to the center of communal focus and involvement.  

Based upon the work of Jim Collins, this 2 year program brought together a cohort of rabbis from across the denominational spectrum to dig into the "good to great" principles illuminated in Collins work with the specific emphasis on moving our individual communities from Good to Great.

Led congregational trips to Israel, 2006, 2008, 2010 and Eastern Europe, 2011.

• Recommended alumni for the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in Jewish Education.

• Led organization in a long range planning effort.

• Central Conference of American Rabbis
• Association for Reform Jewish Education
• Southern California Board of Rabbis
• Interim Ministry Network