Overview

About Temple Beth Rishon…

Founded in 1975, Temple Beth Rishon (TBR) is an unaffiliated, liberal, egalitarian Jewish congregation located in northern New Jersey. We welcome all who want to participate in a vibrant Jewish community, including those from diverse Jewish backgrounds as well as interfaith families. We seek to draw the best ideas from all branches of the Jewish faith.

Our worship services weave traditional and contemporary approaches to prayer while music enriches and enhances our spiritual experience. Our Shabbat prayer books are Siddur Hadash and Etz Hayim. We use Mahzor Hadash during the High Holidays.

Our Rabbi Emeritus, Rabbi Kenneth Emert retired in 2016 after 22 years of serving as our spiritual leader. Hazzan Ilan Mamber z’’l unexpectedly passed away in August, 2018, after leading our congregation for 31 years. Worship services are currently led by our new rabbi and interim cantor, Rabbi Beni Wajnberg and Hazzan Faith Steinsynder, respectively.

Until this past year, our congregation embraced a formal rabbinic and cantorial internship program for twelve years. Our community and clergy took pride in mentoring these interns and supporting the seminaries that ordain these men and women. We look forward to resuming our internship programs once we have our seated cantor in place.

A passion for Jewish learning is evident in our flourishing preschool, religious school, and adult education programs. Our congregation has successfully recruited highly motivated and charismatic preschool and religious school directors. Their energy level is contagious. Innovative social and cultural events are ongoing for our entire congregation. The congregation’s commitment is displayed by the recently completed two story, state of the art education wing that complements our modern and inspiring sanctuary built in1980 and rededicated in 2002. A high vaulted ceiling and beautiful stained glass windows accentuate our bimah. The seating capacity is 325 during Shabbat services. During the High Holidays, our sanctuary expands to accommodate 1400 people. For the past twelve years we have simulcast our High Holiday services to college students, the elderly and those unable to attend services due to health issues. TBR’s ballroom has hosted numerous lectures, weddings, and fundraisers for our membership as well as various neighboring Jewish communities and agencies.

In his short time as our spiritual leader, Rabbi Wajnberg, has sensitively ushered us through a difficult emotional transition. He has fostered a kind and caring community by building on existing relationships and fostering a partnership mindset for our entire community. Rabbi Wajnberg has evidenced a passion for reaching out to members in need of pastoral care.

Our new cantor will have the privilege of working side by side with Rabbi Wajnberg, in collaboration with lay leaders and the congregation at large.  There are endless opportunities for a new cantor to explore alternative avenues and approaches to engage our community in religious observance, spiritual growth, and social and cultural activities. Our cantor has traditionally been involved with our children from pre-school through religious school, worked with Bar/Bat Mitzvah students (both children and adults), led our volunteer choir and served as a “bimah partner” with our rabbi. One of the greatest strengths of our former cantor was his ability to create musical experiences for our congregation.  We are seeking an individual who will not only serve our community but will be an integral partner in our community.

Our synagogue will provide our new cantor with an exceptional opportunity to share her/his personality and cantorial skills with an educated, supportive community that is eager to learn from, celebrate with and grow alongside its new cantor.

May God continue to bless our community by enabling the Search Committee to blend the needs and desires of our congregation with the passion and talents of our future cantor.

Work Remotely: no
Salary Range: 150-180K
Send resumes and cover letter to:

Dr. Ira Lamster and Dr. Claire Taub
Temple Beth Rishon
585 Russell Ave.
Wyckoff, N.J. 07481

For additional information, contact Co-Chairs of the Cantorial Search Committee: Ira Lamster ibl1@cumc.columbia.edu and Claire Taub taubc@montclair.edu

About

We are located 20 minutes from the George Washington Bridge which crosses over into NYC, making all Jewish Institutions in the City readily accessible.  JTS is 30 minutes away. There is a YMHA 15 minutes away and another which is 30 minutes away. We have a large, very active Jewish Federation and wonderful programming through Jewish Family and Child Services of NJ. There is a Solomon Schechter Day School within 10 minutes of our Synagogue.

  1. To welcome individuals and families from diverse Jewish backgrounds; we embrace those with were born Jewish, those who choose to be Jewish, and those who are part of an interfaith family.
  2. Continuously enhance the religious, spiritual, and intellectual experience of our community
  3. Maintain and increase membership to remain a viable community