For Rabbi Carnie Rose, CEO of the Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland in Beachwood, the sounding of the shofar during the High Holy Days season served as a “spiritual alarm clock.”
Rose awoke to his desire to be “in a more exclusively spiritual environment,” he told the Cleveland Jewish News following the announcement of his resignation by the Mandel JCC board of trustees on Oct. 8.
“No agency will be well served unless the person running it is wholehearted in it,” Rose said. “I don’t ever want to be a guy accused of not putting in my whole heart, soul, time or attention. It was better for me to step away than ‘fake it until you make it.’”
Rose’s resignation to pursue other professional interests becomes effective Oct. 13.
Rose became CEO on Jan. 16, 2023, replacing Michael Hyman, who retired after 19 years as president and CEO. Previously, Rose served as senior rabbi for 18 years at Congregation B’nai Amoona in Creve Coeur, Mo., in the Greater St. Louis area.
In the release, Bruce Rosenbaum, board chair of the Mandel JCC board of trustees, thanked Rose for “his stewardship of the Mandel JCC as we re-emerged from the physical constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“His enthusiasm for Jewish life and community helped to energize the organization at that important juncture,” Rosenbaum said on behalf of the board. “Furthermore, his willingness to work with the agency over the next few weeks to ensure a seamless leadership transition speaks volumes to his character and his commitment to our membership.”
During his tenure, Rose used his “tremendous ability to engage” the community and enhanced the Mandel JCC’s Jewish messaging through “simple but symbolic touches,” including posting a Hebrew word of the day at The J, Rosenbaum told the CJN on Oct. 8.
“Carnie has been a positive force at the top of the administration,” he said. “He has a very warm and personal approach and that has been very appreciated as we have continued to try to improve our public face.”
Rose is open to staying in Cleveland if there is a professional opportunity that presents itself, he said.
“I like Cleveland very much,” Rose said. “It is an amazing community, specifically an amazing Jewish community, with so many options and opportunities.”
Rose and his wife, Paulie, reside in Beachwood. They have four children in college – one in medical school, two at Washington University in St. Louis and his youngest at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
