Rabbi Careers

Overview

Congregation Netivot Shalom (CNS) began in 1989 and grew out of our founding members’ collective commitment to creating an egalitarian spiritual home for Conservative/Masorti Jews and a participatory sacred community. They sought to further individual and communal spiritual growth, while recognizing a range of personal philosophies, practices and needs. To this day, these founding commitments continue to define our communal identity.

Congregation Netivot Shalom invites its diverse participants to engage in cross-generational discovery of Jewish inspiration and purpose. Our community is defined by the values of:

Belonging – we believe, as a participatory egalitarian community, that every member has a voice.
Learning – we provide introductory and continuing encounters with Jewish wisdom.
Ritual – we strive to deepen personal engagement with the sacred.
Justice – we embrace Judaism’s call to perfect the world.
As a Conservative synagogue, CNS honors halacha but also recognizes that traditions, community, and synagogue need to be on the forefront of making Judaism relevant in modern life. CNS is well known for its inclusiveness. We welcome members from diverse backgrounds  including those who are Jewish and not, Jews-by-choice, interfaith families, multiracial, multicultural, married, single, families and individuals, LGBTQQ, straight, old, and young. We are located in Berkeley, California which is known for its intellectual vibrancy and commitment to social justice, education, innovation, and civic engagement.

While CNS currently has 350  member units, our impact ranges far beyond those members to the extended community of Berkeley and visitors who participate in our services and events. CNS offers several educational programs including a Hebrew language infused preschool, an afterschool K-5th grade learning chavurah program, a Bar/Bat mitzvah preparation program, and children’s Shabbat morning programs. Currently, Shabbat morning services are held weekly, Kabbalat Shabbat services about monthly, and a Shacharit minyan on Wednesday mornings. In keeping with the participatory nature of our community, members fill the role of shaliach tzibur for most services while the Rabbi plays a facilitative role.  Members also give most of the drashot. In addition to the Rabbi, there are 4 other full-time staff and an additional one part-time staff member, with some seasonal fluctuation. The Rabbi reports to the CNS Board of Directors consisting of 16 congregational members.

We are seeking a dynamic and energetic rabbi who shares our community commitments and values and will provide leadership to our diverse and vibrant community. We seek a rabbi who has the passion and vision to energize and engage our present membership and connect new people from diverse backgrounds with our vibrant community. We seek a rabbi who can work in sacred partnership with our staff, board, and volunteers, to encourage participation and strengthen all areas of congregational and communal life.

Rabbinic Responsibilities

Key components of the Rabbi’s job include five key areas of responsibility (Ritual, Pastoral Care, Education, Institutional, and Community Service) with specific attention to the following:

Ritual
Act as mara d’atra in interpreting Jewish Law and establishing the congregation’s position on ritual questions.
Maintain the ritual life of the synagogue by facilitating religious services, ensuring that all ritual roles are covered during services and other times, as needed.
Support and officiate key life cycle events, such as brit milah and baby naming ceremonies, weddings, and funerals.
Support people becoming Jewish through teaching, classes, individual meetings, and supervision of conversion process, including convening Batei Din when appropriate.
Support b’nai mitzvah and their families through teaching at the Amitim program, private meetings with individuals and families, facilitating b’nai mitzvah rituals, and supervising the lead Amitim professional.

Pastoral care
Be available and responsive when called in moments of pastoral need.
Maintain the volunteer pastoral teams, delegating to the appropriate committees whenever possible.
Support the wide variety of members of our congregation, such as parents within both the preschool and larger community, single people, those uncertain about participating, and veteran members.
Support individuals coping with crises such as illness, job loss, or death of a loved one.

Education
Facilitate community learning for all ages on Jewish topics.
Provide vision and support for preschool and religious school education.
Supervise all synagogue education professionals.

Institutional

Support overall organizational development of the synagogue, emphasizing the participatory nature of the congregation and the importance of lay leadership.
Encourage a positive feeling for members regarding the synagogue.
Work in partnership with the CNS Board to set organizational priorities and ensure organizational sustainability through both community building and fundraising.
Lead and support efforts to communicate effectively with congregants and the community.
Represent Netivot Shalom to public.

Community service
Serve on Batei Din for other members of the community as reciprocity.
Engage in community service initiatives as appropriate.

Required Qualifications

Rabbinic Ordination from recognized seminary
Minimum of 2-5 years of experience working in a congregational or comparable Rabbinic leadership role
Extensive knowledge of Jewish tradition and text
Commitment to Conservative/Masorti Jewish thought and practice
Experience facilitating engagement and leadership in prayer, practice, and community
Experience and facility providing pastoral care
Experience and expertise in creating and facilitating effective Jewish learning opportunities for youth and adults
Experience supervising professional and administrative staff
Experience working with, engaging, energizing, inspiring, and supporting volunteers and lay leaders
Excellent oral and written communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

Membership in good standing in a professional Rabbinic association
Experience reporting to, working with and engaging a lay Board of Directors
Experience with, and an affinity for, a participatory synagogue environment