Overview

  1. We are a fully egalitarian Conservative (USCJ) shul with prayer services almost entirely in Hebrew.
  2. We have deep roots (>110 years), with some founding families still active.
  3. We have healthy new growth, with 50 new members joining over the past five years.
  4. We flourish under a broad canopy that supports diversity in levels of observance, paths to Jewish life, Jewish knowledge and commitment, personal and gender identity, sexual orientation, race, etc.
  5. We have strong lay leadership and are financially secure.
  6. As Rabbi of Beth Israel, you are the lead Jewish voice in Kingston, Ontario.
  7. We maintain strong connections with other local Jewish organizations, such as Hillel, Kingston Jewish Council, and Jewish Studies at Queen’s University.

Tagged as: permanent rabbi, pulpit rabbi

Community Description:

Our Congregation:

Beginning around 1890, some Jews who had left Central and Eastern Europe began arriving in Kingston, a small Ontario town of 20,000 people. They generally were attracted by the presence of relatives or friends.  Descendants of some of these families continue to live in Kingston and remain active in Jewish life. Beth Israel was founded in 1908 as an Orthodox synagogue, and became Conservative egalitarian in 2012. We are a member of USCJ.

Weekly Shabbat morning services are the core of our religious life. They are held every Shabbat (except during July) from 10 am to noon, followed by a Kiddush lunch.

We are proud of our Bader-Elkin Talmud Torah (BETT) program.  It is a professionally staffed supplementary religious school for children from preschool to B-Mitzvah. For more details, see our website:  https://www.kingston-bethisrael.ca/bader-elkin-talmud-torah.html.

Work Remotely: no
Qualifications:

What are the three top roles that our new rabbi will perform?

Our membership wants our incoming Rabbi to:

  • Relate well to members
  • Be a strong teacher for children and adults
  • Provide energetic leadership to our congregation.

Click here for Rabbi Search Survey Results August 2024:  https://images.shulcloud.com/6072/uploads/RabbiSearchSurveyResults.pdf.

 

Position Start Date: August 1, 2025
Salary Range: $150,000 - $215,000 CDN
Send resumes and cover letter to:

We are not limiting our search to members of the Rabbinical Assembly.

However, applicants should understand that Beth Israel follows Conservative ritual and standards.

Applicants are advised to apply as soon as possible with a cover letter and resume to:

Leonard Harris, RabbiSearchLH@kingstonbethisrael.ca
and
Stacey Reed, RabbiSearchSR@kingstonbethisrael.ca

Please submit no later than November 3, 2024.

About Beth Israel Congregation

Our Jewish and Kingston Community:

There are 1000-1500 permanent Jewish residents in Kingston (population ~150,000).

Between 1500-2000 Jewish students attend Queen’s University.

Situated on picturesque Lake Ontario, Kingston has a thriving downtown district with a vibrant art and theatre scene, many museums, and lively summer festivals.

Kingston is equidistant (2-2.5-hour drive) from Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Syracuse, N.Y.