August 26, 2026

To my beloved Kehilla,

It’s overwhelming to contemplate how quickly time passes. When Aviva and I arrived in Baltimore over 23 years ago, we were a young, growing family, and the Shul was navigating the loss of Rabbi Ervin Preis zt’l who led this Kehilla for twenty-five beautiful years. Since that fateful day in August, over two decades ago, we have built something beautiful together. Together we have built more than just a Shul, more than just a Kehilla, we have built a family. And what a beautiful family it is. We are a family of diverse backgrounds and life circumstances. We are a family who learns, davens, and grows together. We are a family who leans on each other in times of difficulty and rejoices and dances with one another in times of simcha. I have had the distinct zechus of being with so many of you in times of immense joy and immense pain. All we have experienced; we have done so together. We have built a beautiful physical building and have created magnificent spiritual edifices together. It has been the greatest privilege of my life, of our lives, to be part of this close-knit and connected family and contribute in some small way to its growth, vitality, and holiness.

The Ribbono Shel Olam has a plan for each of us, and this plan often leads us down paths we did not contemplate or anticipate. I have been offered the position of Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union (OU). The OU is one of the most influential and important organizations in the Jewish world and has an impact in almost all aspects and facets of Jewish life. With all of its departments and initiatives, the OU has a singular mission of enhancing the fabric and holiness of Jewish life. This position is an opportunity to contribute and serve the Jewish people in an amplified capacity. Rabbi Hauer zt’l served in this role until his passing less than a year ago. Rabbi Hauer zt’l meant so much to so many people and I would never even try to fill his shoes, but I can try to perpetuate the mission and continue the journey.

My beloved Kehilla, please know that accepting this position at the OU has been the hardest decision of my life. I genuinely love and care for each of you as if you were members of my immediate family; because over 23 years, you have become members of my immediate family. I am plagued by feelings of guilt and in many respects feel like I am letting my Kehilla down. But something in my neshoma tells me that I have to try to give more, be more and do more.

This Shul and all of you mean the world to me, and I am committed to maintaining our relationship and connection.

I will be starting at the OU on November 2nd. We will IYH immediately commence a search for a full-time Rabbi. As the search process progresses, we will remain in Baltimore, IYH davening at the Shul, delivering Daf Yomi (and other shiurim) and IYH speaking and teaching on Shabbos and Yom Tov (all schedule permitting). I hope to create and maintain a place within our Kehilla which allows a new Rabbi to flourish and lead and allows me to maintain a meaningful and ongoing connection.

As of November 2nd, I will relinquish the day-to-day responsibilities of the Shul, and Rabbi Richter will step into a transition role during the search process. Rabbi Richter will be available for halakhic questions and guidance as well the pastoral needs of the Kehilla. There are many more details to be worked out, and we will IYH share the information over the next few weeks. I thank Rabbi Richter for his commitment to the Kehilla and his willingness to help during this transition period.

I will be working with the Board to ensure a smooth transition, and details regarding a rabbinic search process and how the Shul will effectively run after November 2nd will IYH be forthcoming.

I am still trying to process and wrap my head around this new reality, and I am sure this message has caught many of you by surprise. I wish I could meet with each of you individually and process this change together. My neshoma will always remain connected and tethered to this Shul and to all of you. This will always be the holy place where I find my greatest connection to my people and Hashem. It is my sincere desire to IYH remain connected in a meaningful way. We have created something beautiful together, and we must continue to build a beautiful future. This is not the end – it’s simply the beginning of something new and different. We must move forward together with excitement, optimism, and enthusiasm to continue our growth on every level. Our Kehilla has been here before and each time we reach a crossroads, the new path always leads to greater holiness, growth and simcha.

I am truly looking forward to the Yomim Noraim together and IYH a beautiful bracha filled year together.

May Hashem give us the clarity, fortitude, and boundless love for one another to write this next chapter.

With a heart filled with love, gratitude, and excitement for our future,

Shmuel Silber

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A Message from the SOTC Board of Directors:

To Our Dear Kehilla,

We would like to inform you that as of 6:30 pm this evening, August 26th, Rabbi Silber has been offered and has accepted the position of Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union. This position is an enormous honor, presented only to the most influential leaders in American Jewry. We firstly want to express our profound pride in knowing that our beloved Rav from our humble Kehilla was approached for such a prestigious role. We at SOTC and all who benefit from Rabbi Silber’s Torah are well aware of the Rav’s monumental influence, which is now being recognized on a national level, having the potential to impact Jewish life on a global scale.

This formidable shift leaves SOTC in a pivotal state. The Board is working diligently and decisively implementing measures to institute full-time leadership that meets the emotional, spiritual, and physical needs of our Kehilla, while facilitating Rabbi Silber’s ongoing connection with the shul. We are extremely fortunate to have an incredible assistant Rabbi, Rabbi Richter available to us during this transitional period as we conduct a search for a full-time Rav. Rabbi Richter’s extensive halachic knowledge and personal connection with our Kehilla positions him as the ideal leader during this time.

The Board plans to commence an immediate search for a full-time Rav. We are committed to exercising our best judgment in making this process transparent to our members. Communal investment in this process is a top priority, and we in turn will update the Kehilla with pertinent information regarding our search as developments progress. Our goal is to identify a dynamic full-time Rav who will lead independently, while building upon the strong foundation and inspiration Rabbi Silber has helped establish, serving as a meaningful component of our shul’s core identity.

Words cannot express the immense gratitude we have toward Rabbi Silber, Rebbetzin Silber, and their entire family - not just for the Torah and guidance they have provided the SOTC Kehilla over the past 23 years, but for building a family within us all, sharing meaningful moments both large and small. While we as a Kehilla will feel the personal loss of not having Rabbi Silber as the primary daily Rav of SOTC, we are comforted by the Rav’s commitment to remain in Baltimore, connected to our shul, and upholding the deep Kesher he has cultivated for over two decades. 

Although these decisions are daunting, the potential for growth is exponential. Every life chapter has its place and purpose. We as a Kehilla have an opportunity to catapult our Mikdash Mi’at into yet another prosperous chapter of meaningful growth and connection. With Rabbi Silber’s guidance over the past 23 years - SOTC has developed into a thriving, vibrant center of Torah life. We will endure on that path together, with a dynamic Rav continuing the journey that Rabbi Silber has set forth for us. We stand ready to embrace this new journey Hashem has in store for our incredible Kehilla.

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