Rabbi Careers

Overview

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The role of the Rabbi of Congregation Mount Sinai is to serve the religious, spiritual, educational, and emotional needs of the synagogue, Brooklyn Heights neighborhood and the broader Jewish community of Brooklyn with inspirational leadership. The Rabbi serves as the public face of Congregation Mount Sinai and is instrumental in shaping and modeling the congregation’s religious and spiritual values for congregants and for the community.

Duties:

1. Religious services. Have primary responsibility for the organization and general content of services. Perform up to five Shabbat and/or holiday services per month, on average. Handle all of the service and prepare and deliver any speech, teaching, or sermon that may be necessary as a part of the ceremony;

2. B’nai mitvah services. Provide general oversight of the b’nai mitzvah program. Provide tutoring services, support, counseling, classroom lessons, family education and study for b’nai mitzvah students and adults;

3. Serve as the cantorial soloist including reading Torah and chanting Haftorah or provide lessons to allow lay members of the congregation to serve in these roles;

4. Care of the sick/ those in need (Bikkur Holim). Travel to where there is a need from the members and support them if they are sick or in need.

5. Community Building. Create sense of community within the congregation and in the broader community by striving to increase synagogue membership. As the face of the congregation in the community the expectation is the Rabbi will interact with and attend meetings and participate in events of various community and Jewish organizations; troubleshoot and mediate congregational issues; write and publish articles for the congregation and the community; encourage inter-Judaic and inter-faith respect and understanding for Judaism; encourage support and understanding for the needs of vulnerable Jews in other lands.

6. Conversion services. Provide support, counseling, classroom lessons, and tutoring for people engaged in the process of conversion.

7. Counseling and emotional support. Provide religious and emotional support needed for adults and teens. Offer support and counseling in pre-marital, marital, divorce, mourning, and other counseling and life crisis situations. Be available, as is practical, during reasonable office hours, so as for consultation by congregants and staff.

8. Education and scholarship. Educate members and community on history, culture, custom, Torah, Israel, religion, spirituality, and other aspects of Jewish life. Provide leadership in bringing an array of relevant and engaging programs into the congregation for adults, teens and children, and community. Participate in the selection of occasional guest speakers. Help the synagogue becomes an integral part of the Jewish education of youngsters as they progress from pre-school toward bar/bat mitzvah and beyond.

9. Events. Take a lead role in partnering with the Trustees and various committee chairs to develop and execute a comprehensive annual calendar of events designed to appeal to current and prospective members and the larger community.

10. Fundraising. Oversee and direct fundraising activities to aid the Synagogue, in consultation and collaboration with the Board of Trustees.

11. Kashrut. Set policy and supervise Kashrut standards for the synagogue and its kitchen facilities, in collaboration with the Board of Trustees.

12. Life event ceremonies. Officiate at weddings, funerals, bar and bat mitzvahs, and other life events such as a bris or baby naming ceremony, miscarriage/fertility rituals. Provide support such as comforting mourners, preparing and delivering eulogies, counseling family members. Attend shiva and/or ensure attendance of lay leaders.

13. Professional development. Attend workshops, classes, and training for professional development (usually held in remote locations).

14. Spirituality. Lead weekly Shiur (Rabbinic lesson).

15. Synagogue development. Meet with prospective members and ensure they are warmly welcomed into the community; encourage members to play an active role. Give guided tours of the synagogue for visitors and new members. Participate in meetings of the Board of Trustees.