Overview
About Beacon Hebrew Alliance
Beacon Hebrew Alliance is a vibrant and inclusive Jewish community located in the picturesque town of Beacon in New York’s Hudson Valley. Beacon, a thriving artistic town 60 miles north of NYC, is nestled between the Hudson River and mountain ridges, with many delightful streams and waterfalls. Our congregation was founded over 100 years ago and includes over 200 members of all backgrounds and ages. Some have been here for generations, and many are new families relocating from NYC in recent years. Our community includes many interfaith and LGBTQ families and people of many races, ages, ideologies, and political leanings. We are united by our deep desire for connection to Jewish community and identity. Our community is warm, open, and dedicated to creating a meaningful and supportive environment for everyone.
Frequently cited statistics show that women and underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. BHA encourages you to break that statistic and apply! No one ever meets 100% of the qualifications. We look forward to your application.
Position Overview
We are seeking a passionate Rabbi to join our team and lead our congregation in spiritual, educational, community-building, and advancement initiatives. The ideal candidate will be a dynamic and engaging spiritual leader who is committed to fostering a sense of belonging, inclusivity, and innovation within our community while also contributing to the financial well-being of Beacon Hebrew Alliance.
Responsibilities
Pastoral Care & Spiritual Leadership:
- Offer pastoral care and support to diverse congregants during times of joy and challenge, including life transitions.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with congregants, encourage active participation in community activities, and strengthen ties to other faith-based organizations in the community.
Public Speaking, Sermonizing and Framing Depth:
- Develop and implement soulful, innovative, inspiring, and thought-provoking services and sermons that appeal to varying segments of our community and connect with the diverse interests and backgrounds of our congregation (including those with limited Hebrew familiarity).
- Exhibit and exude confidence in communicating with an audience and leading discussions among people of varied ages and backgrounds.
Educational Programming:
- Foster a love for Jewish learning and tradition through creative and interactive teaching methods for community members of all ages in collaboration with the Educational Director.
- Strengthen the Hebrew School and B-Mitzvah program.
Leadership & Visionary Strategic Planning:
- Lead soulful and innovative services and programs that appeal to varying segments of our diverse community, making space for a wide range of opinions while seeking common ground.
- Guide the synagogue community through cultural and spiritual evolution with an awareness of trends in contemporary Judaism.
Management & Executive Functioning:
- Take responsibility for day-to-day organizational management, reporting to the Board of Trustees.
- Cultivate relationships with donors and coordinate grants, etc., with other staff and the Board of Trustees.
- Collaborate with the Board of Trustees on financial planning, fundraising, and budget management.
- Supervise key staff and volunteers.
Beacon is a vibrant and thriving small city in the Hudson Valley bordering the Hudson River on the west and the Hudson Highlands on the east. Its location affords abundant opportunities for hiking, boating and other outdoor activities. Beacon has a population of just under 14,000 people. The lifestyle is relaxed. Beacon is served by the MetroNorth Hudson Line railroad. The train ride is about 1 hour 20 minutes to Grand Central Station in NYC.
Beacon has a lively Main Street, with small stores, restaurants, coffee shops, art galleries, and an independent movie theater. There are opportunities to see live music at the Towne Crier and other spots in town, and baseball fans can go to Dutchess Stadium to see the local minor league team, the Hudson Valley Renegades.
Beacon has a small town, semi-urban, semi-rural vibe with a distinct emphasis on the arts and the outdoors. It has grown significantly in the past ten years or so, attracting many new residents, including singles, young families and retirees, mainly from NYC and surrounding areas. The population of Beacon is about 60% White, 20% Hispanic (all races), 12% Black, and the remainder is a mix of other races. Beacon’s median household income is about $92,000, and the median property value is $342,000. The average commute time in Beacon is 40 minutes, and nearly 17% of Beacon residents have “super commutes” of 90 minutes or longer (mostly workers commuting from Beacon into New York City).
The weather in Beacon ranges from an average high temperature of 83 degrees in July to an average low temperature of 21 degrees F in January. Summers tend to be humid, and winters can be snowy or rainy. Autumn is the season most likely to be sunny and mild, and the Hudson Valley is a popular location for tourists who want to see the changing leaves.
- Ordination from a recognized rabbinical institution. The congregation is affiliated with the Conservative Movement, at the liberal end of the spectrum. BHA is amenable to hiring outside of Conservative-ordained Rabbis.
- Strong knowledge of Jewish traditions, customs, and theology.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Experience in leading diverse and inclusive communities.
- Demonstrated ability to connect with individuals of all ages and identities.
- Experience with fundraising and financial stewardship preferred.
- Musicality and singing ability are appreciated, as musical instruments are an integral part of some of our services.
Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to rabbisearch@beaconhebrewalliance.org.
Beacon Hebrew Alliance is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes candidates from all backgrounds.
Join our passionate and welcoming community as we continue to grow, learn, and strengthen Jewish life in the Hudson Valley!
Read More: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fZxx5AQncnKtlHQwmixtKx7Zk4DTHAQP/view
About Beacon Hebrew Alliance
Beacon Hebrew Alliance (BHA) is a 100+ year young congregation that is one of the foundational centers for Jewish life in Dutchess County NY and the lower Hudson Valley. It was founded with a strong focus on Jewish community, and this remains true today.
It has gone through many cycles and transformations. It started with the inspirational founding by immigrant Jews moving from NYC in the 1920s, progressed to a vital and active center for Jewish life through the mid-20th Century, and was sustained by a small but dedicated core in the late 20th Century. (BHA History)
The 21st Century has brought a new influx of active and involved families bringing new ideas, new energy, and new contributions. It is not unusual today to see 50-60 children at some of our child-focused special events. Our musical Kabbalat Shabbat services, children's services, and associated potluck dinners are warm, lively, and uplifting. Chagim, including the High Holidays are communally-celebrated, sometimes in our traditional space and sometimes in nature or other sites in the community. Being responsive to the needs of a diverse Jewish community is a strength of BHA, and continues to manifest as new members (especially those with young children as well as retirees) continue to move to the area. At BHA, there is something for everyone, and everyone is represented in the diversity of ways to participate. At a time when synagogue communities are shrinking or closing, BHA finds itself with new, committed members.
We are a congregation with deep roots and modern energy. Our community is diverse, with many different views and approaches to Judaism. We are inclusive, and welcome people of all backgrounds and beliefs. We are building on our venerable existing foundations, and creating new structures that we hope will sustain us as a vibrant center for Jewish life for the next 100 years.