Overview
Congregation Beth Israel, Asheville, NC
POSITION DESCRIPTION: We are looking for a versatile, inspirational leader to guide a traditional egalitarian congregation, formerly affiliated with the Conservative movement, on a 3/4 time basis. Our congregation includes members from a broad spectrum of Jewish background and practice. Adaptability is essential, as you will be serving the varied religious, spiritual, educational, and emotional needs of CBI members, and acting as a liaison to the larger community. This is an opportunity to foster a congregation that will develop along with you.
Our ideal Rabbi candidate must be highly approachable and will have the essential skills necessary for initiating sustainable programming and fostering strong lay leadership. The successful candidate will provide the community with a positive and engaging role model of Jewish life.
Our New Rabbi Will: • Provide religious and spiritual leadership to invigorate and energize this community, which includes members of all levels of observance. • Inspire, challenge and encourage members in their Jewish knowledge, understanding, beliefs and practices. • Create personal and meaningful interactions with congregants and community members. • Actively work to build membership. • Serve as a resource for the community on questions of Jewish law, traditions, and values.
Primary Responsibilities: • Create a warm, welcoming and accepting prayer environment for people of all levels of Jewish knowledge and observance. • Deliver meaningful, concise sermons designed to educate, inform, challenge and inspire. • Encourage strong lay participation. • Lead regular religious services three Shabbatot per month. On months when there are 5 Shabbatot, the Rabbi will lead four Shabbatot. (Alternative schedules may be considered.) • Lead services for all Jewish holidays. • Chant Torah and Haftarah as needed to supplement lay readers.
Educational Responsibilities:
• Teach one Adult Education class per month.
• Offer an informal class once per month after Shabbat services/Kiddush luncheon.
• Participate in our Youth Education Program (YEP) once per month, as coordinated with YEP Director.
• Write a monthly column for the newsletter.
Lifecycle Responsibilities: • Officiate at lifecycle events (weddings, brises, b’nai mitzvah, funerals, etc.) for congregants. • Provide bikkur cholim, shiva and bereavement support for congregants.
Administrative Responsibilities: • Hold office hours two days per week and be available for congregants and staff (office to be shared with Executive Director). Laptop will be provided but will remain property of CBI. • Attend monthly Ritual Committee meetings (attendance at Board meetings not required). • Attend the annual summer and winter meetings of the congregation.
The candidate should:
• Hold Rabbinic ordination from a recognized seminary or rabbinical school.
• Be learned in Halacha, Torah, Jewish history, literature, culture, and spirituality.
• Be a mensch who is open and sensitive to a variety of lifestyles and opinions.
Interpersonal and Communication Skills: • Eager to engage positively with, and motivate, people of all ages. • Accomplished at leading energetic and motivational services. • Able to clearly communicate knowledge to others and offer concise, passionate, meaningful, and relevant teachings. • Seeks and responds to feedback. • Embraces debate and discussion across a wide range of opinions. • Maintains high levels of discretion and confidentiality at all times.
Salary Range: $55k-$75k per year commensurate with experience. This is a 3/4 time position. Hours and duties described above are negotiable and alternative arrangements (for example, 4-day weeks, or 9 months on/3 months off) may be considered.
director@bethisraelnc.org to the attention of the Rabbi Search Committee
About Congregation Beth Israel
About Congregation Beth Israel, Asheville, NC
Founded in 1899, Congregation Beth Israel (CBI) is an independent, egalitarian synagogue that
strives to welcome and support all members in their desire to experience Jewish meaning and
expression. We are a diverse community of about 125 households: young families with children,
business and educa1onal professionals, and active retirees. We are also a blended family of
Jews by birth, Jews by choice, interfaith couples and Jews of color. We are inclusive of all,
regardless of sexuality, gender or political identification. This diversity creates the beauty and
uniqueness of CBI.
In addi1on to the Rabbi, our staff consists of a full-time office administrator and an interim
Executive Director.
Our Synagogue
In 2018, our synagogue completed a $1.2 million interior renovation of our 50-year-old building,
which sits on a four-acre lot in residential North Asheville. The renovation includes an
interactive, circular main sanctuary with enhanced acoustics and lighting; hearing loops in the
sanctuary and social hall; and improved amenities with handicap access. Our social hall now
boasts a moveable stage and excellent A/V facilities. In addi1on to our kosher kitchen, we have
a small potluck kitchen that allows congregants to bring in vegetarian food prepared off-site for
potlucks and special events.
Our weekly Shabbat morning services utilize Siddur Lev Shalem (adopted in 2016) and the Etz
Hayim Chumash. Typical attendance is 40 to 60 individuals, including visitors. Services are
largely lay-led, helped by a large cadre of congregants knowledgeable in leading, chanting Torah
and Habarah, and delivering divrei Torah. Men and women participate equally in all aspects of
services. A weekly catered kiddush lunch after services offers treasured opportuni1es for
socializing and community building.
Friday night attendance is generally small. We hold services the second and fourth Fridays of the
month; the second Friday is a Family Shabbat with a vegetarian potluck, and the fourth Friday is
a traditional Kabbalat Shabbat.
High Holy Day services are well a`ended and utilize the New Machzor. We hire a cantor for the
High Holidays, but rely on congregants for Torah and Habarah readings.
Community
CBI finds many ways to build authentic relationships between people. The first Friday of each
month, members take turns hosting home-based Shabbatlucks. Our annual Rummage Sale,
legendary in Asheville, is a major fundraiser for CBI, and our beautiful social hall is the setting
for Music on Murdock. Most years, we host a well-attended second-night community Passover
Seder. On alternating years, we honor outstanding members of our community with a One Light
Gala.
Our Social Action committee engages in many community-based projects, volunteering at
Habitat for Humanity home builds, serving meals at the WNC Rescue Mission, raising funds for
Thanksgiving turkeys (Give-a-Gobble), collecting food for MANNA Food Bank, and assisting with
Room In The Inn, a rotating shelter project for homeless women.
Our local Chevra Kadisha joins congregants from CBI and the local Reform synagogue. Lou
Pollack Memorial Cemetery serves the CBI community.
Education
Our vibrant Adult Education program features a weekly Friday Noon Study Group that has been
meeting for more than 20 years. Led by a retired UNC professor, the group discusses a variety of
ancient and contemporary texts and typically attracts 20 or more attendees, not all of them
Jewish. Every month we hold Torah on Tap, a discussion group meeting at one of Asheville’s
many craft breweries.
A special endowment funds a bi-yearly Scholar-in-Residence weekend that has brought several
exciting teachers to CBI. The most recent, in 2018, was Aviya Kushner, author of The Grammar
of God. Our departing Rabbi also conducted a number of well-attended classes, including a
weekly Midrash study, special holiday classes, and a monthly Hassidishe Kiddush.
The Youth Education Program (YEP) currently has two areas of focus, Hebrew and Judaics. The
weekday Hebrew program focuses on Hebrew language, prayer, and bar/bat mitzvah training.
The Sunday morning Judaics curriculum is designed to develop Jewish identity through
knowledge of Jewish practices, holidays, and texts with a focus on experiential,
intergenerational learning.
Asheville
Asheville is a unique small city located in the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains. The city
boasts a rich arts and culinary scene, abundant nature and outdoor activities, plus a growing
and innovative business community. We have a regional airport and hospital and several
institutions of higher learning.
Asheville’s small but vibrant Jewish community (about 5000) supports a newly expanded and
renovated JCC with a highly rated full-day preschool; after-school children’s programs; a brand
new year-round, state of the art swimming pool; adult programs; and summer camps. The
Asheville campus of the University of North Carolina has a Center for Jewish Studies that hosts
several programs a year. Jewish Family Services offers an Elder Day Club, case management, and
mental health services to the Jewish and larger Asheville community.
In addition to CBI, Asheville has a Reform congregation, Beth Ha-Tephila (CBHT), Chabad, and a
Secular Jewish Community. The congregations get on well together and frequently support each
other’s events and fundraisers. CBHT graciously hosted CBI during our 14-month renovation,
and we take a booth at their annual Hard Lox Festival in downtown Asheville.
Together we learn, celebrate, and support each other’s life journey. We invite you to join us in
our celebration of life at Congregation Beth Israel.
For Additional Information
Our website: www.bethisraelnc.org
Asheville JCC: www.jcc-asheville.org
Center for Jewish Studies: https://cjs.unca.edu
Jewish Family Services: www.jfswnc.org
Asheville Chamber of Commerce: www.ashevillechamber.org