Rabbi Careers

Overview

The JCP Rabbi serves as the chief religious officer, primary spiritual resource, and Jewish leader for a diverse and growing community. The Rabbi is charged with infusing positive Jewish content and practice throughout to increase community belonging and Jewish engagement. S/he serves as Rabbi for the organization and for our families, and as the primary voice of Jewish values, religious tradition and innovation, and spirituality throughout JCP experiences, educational curriculum, and outreach.

Reporting to and supported by the JCP Executive Director, the rabbi partners with staff and volunteers to fulfill this role through traditional and nontraditional programming for the downtown community. Key partners include JCP’s senior team, including the director of the early childhood center (ECC) and the director of community learning and engagement (CLE), as well as lay leaders and other volunteers.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Identify and develop opportunities for joyful Jewish practice and programming for the JCP community, and for fostering and deepening Jewish engagement throughout the local neighborhoods.
• Build on and expand the content within JCP’ s palette of Holiday and Shabbat programs, services and celebrations/observances, working with volunteers and internal staff.
• Write and deliver sermons that connect with the community, leading us to new understanding and/or action. Author brief articles, social media posts and other communications to engage the current community and reach out to others.
• Build out High Holiday services and experiences with engaging and relevant content. Actively foster leadership participation within and beyond the JCP community.
• Oversee music program: identify, audition, supervise, and rehearse musicians for services and activities. Actively promote singing and other forms of music in services. Work with volunteers to ensure that the music program is engaging and inclusive. Collaborate with Directors of ECC and CLE to support music in the ECC and the Hebrew School and other engagement programs.
• Work with families to create personally meaningful life-cycle events, including baby namings, bnai mitzvah, weddings, funerals, shiva, etc. and seek opportunities to increase the spiritual and educational elements of these events.
• Collaborate to evolve and strengthen, in coordination with the Hebrew School, JCP’s creative and meaningful Bnai Mitzvah program, and facilitate celebrations at local synagogues and other venues. Create and refine a sustainable model to support a growing community in collaboration with the Director of CLE.
• Develop and implement opportunities for adult learning in conjunction with the Director of CLE.
• Serve as a member of the senior JCP leadership team supporting activities throughout the organization working on JCP-wide priorities.
• Provide pastoral care to the JCP community on an as-needed basis. Reach out to those experiencing illness or loss.
• Serve as consultant and content expert for ECC, HSP and other programs, assisting in curriculum development and other programming as needed. Educate and actively engage children throughout JCP’s offerings.
• Partner with the Director of CLE to provide Jewish content as needed to support establishment and growth of cohesive, engaged sub-communities of children/youth.
• Continue to build out service programs for youth and adults working in collaboration with Director of CLE.
• Represent JCP in professional opportunities as a spokesperson or representative as appropriate.
• Manage finances for services and other applicable programs.
• Cultivate volunteers within the community for involvement in, and leadership of, JCP’s Jewish programming as appropriate. Oversee volunteer committees as needed.
• Work closely with JCP marketing staff to maximize awareness of all programs, and to increase community engagement and religious and participation over time.
• Assist with financial, fundraising and other efforts on behalf of JCP as requested.