Flam, who has resigned after serving Brown's Jewish community for the past 18 years, said he'd like to continue working with college students - and if they're Brown students, that will be just fine with him. Although his plans are still "in very exploratory stages," they may involve the University.
When Rabbi Alan C. Flam leaves his dual positions at Hillel Foundation and the Office of Chaplains and Religious Life this June, he may not go far.
Flam said he's spent his entire professional life - nearly a quarter of a
century in all - on college campuses.
"I love college students. I'm intrigued by the wonderful opportunity that comes
with being between 18 and 22, with having life open before you, being a blank
book," he explained. Students seek his counsel today on the same issues as two
decades ago - parents, relationships, career paths and life crises.
"There's something about growing up that's quite universal," he said.
But life at Brown and his work have changed during his tenure, according to
Flam.
Although the size of Brown's student body hasn't grown, "in many ways the
campus feels bigger, more bureaucratic," he said.
Flam's time as director of Hillel has increasingly been spent on administrative
tasks as the center has grown; his initial staff of three has doubled, his
budget has grown from $100,000 to $400,000, and the center is in the midst of a
multimillion-dollar building project.
"That's come to occupy more and more of my time," he said. "I've enjoyed it,
but after 18 years, I'm feeling I'm not able to devote time to what really
draws me to this work - that is, the students."
The number of students who come to Hillel has grown as the center has broadened
its mission, Flam noted.
"People box Hillel as religious, but it's so much more," he said, ticking off a
list of cultural, racial and service programs the center has sponsored. "I
never wanted Hillel to be a Jewish oasis away from life on campus. There are
obviously moments when it can be an oasis, but Hillel should be engaged in all
the major issues - social, political and educational. I feel good that, for the
most part, that's happened."
Serving as the religious leader to more than 1,200 Jewish students at Brown and
RISD, plus "a couple hundred" staff and faculty members, has been a privilege,
Flam said. Holiday services have been special, and have expanded over the years
to include many people from beyond Brown.
"Every year as I stand in front of that congregation, I have a real sense of
accomplishment," he said.
Still, Flam said he's observed one troubling trend over the past decade. He's
found students increasingly concerned with their future and wary of academic
risk, leaving them less willing to embrace the philosophy behind the Brown
curriculum, he said.
"I've always found Brown students to be extremely intelligent, motivated and
independent," said Flam. "Students now seem to need to have grades as
markers.... It's unfortunate. Liberal arts is about exploring and learning to
think; it's not about a major that'll secure a spot in graduate school or a
career."
Although Flam may find a way to remain at Brown, his religious colleagues must
still find someone to fill his rabbinical shoes. The Rev. Janet Cooper-Nelson,
University chaplain, said she's "not trying to find another Alan; there isn't
another Alan."
"This is the right step for him, and he's excited, but I'd be lying if I said
we weren't scrambling to keep him tethered to the University," she said. "I'm
not predicting, but I'm hoping."
"He will be greatly missed by all," added Gretchen Staubly '01, who works at
Hillel with Flam. "He is such an asset to the students because he's so
personable and easy to talk to."
"Alan is a thoughtful, humane, engaged person, but he's much more than
lovable," said Cooper-Nelson. "He's very bright, he makes connections - and
we're a better place because of him."
Flam returns the sentiment.
"If I'm still part of the Brown community, I would relish that; I can't picture
being part of a more exciting community."
Rabbi Alan Flam chats with Gretchen Staubly '01, center, and Miriam Friedel '00. "I love college students," he says. "I'm intrigued by the wonderful opportunity that comes with being between 18 and 22, with having life open before you, being a blank book."
"I still hope to work with students, but in other areas of student life that
aren't so narrowly Jewish," he said. "I'd love to be able to work with students
on questions of meaning and conviction, about what they want to get at Brown,
how to link with community partners... I want to help them develop fully, not
just as scholars, but as human beings."