PROVIDENCE – Rabbi Mordechai Rackover will leave his position as rabbi at Brown RISD Hillel and associate university chaplain for the Jewish community at Brown University at the end of this academic year, according to a Nov. 30 press release from Brown RISD Hillel.

A release by Marshall Einhorn, executive director, and Elise Meyer, board of trustees president, stated, in part, “In his time at Brown RISD Hillel, Mordechai exhibited a unique ability to connect with students and he brought a passion for Jewish life and learning that will be hard to replace. He is a wonderful teacher and innovator and our community benefited greatly from his dedication, creativity, and passion over the past nearly five years.”

Rabbi Rackover’s letter to the community, which accompanied the announcement of his pending departure, said, in part, “This is the fifth school year that I have had the pleasure of serving as Brown University’s Jewish chaplain and Brown RISD Hillel’s [rabbi] … I have seen changes and successes in our campus community. Yet, due to familial considerations and interests beyond the scope of my work at Hillel and Brown, I have decided to pursue other opportunities ….

“Our community has seen tremendous successes, growth …during my tenure. I am certain that our current professional and lay leadership will continue these successes and plot a course that will see even greater success in the future.”

A search committee is being formed, according to Brown RISD Hillel, and members of the community, – students, staff, parents and alumni – will be involved in the process.