Overview
Background: For nearly 15 years, supported by individual donors and the Natan Fund, Ohel Ayalah (OA) has provided free walk-in High Holiday services for young adults. Starting in Manhattan, OA has branched out over the years to Brooklyn and Queens, and has added Passover seders and other holidays to its programming calendar.
Recently, UJA-Federation of New York made a grant to OA to expand its programs and services in Queens (centered in Long Island City). The grant includes hiring a New York based rabbi to work with and eventually replace the non-local rabbi who has been facilitating the programming in Queens to date.
Natan and OA are now working together to implement these growth opportunities for OA.
Target Audience: Young adults and young families. These two populations can, in some instances, be served by the same programs and services, and in other cases will require distinct targeted programs.
Essential Functions:
● Co-develop a calendar of engagement, education, and holiday programs and services for young adults and young families with the current rabbi. ● Work with the current rabbi to co-lead High Holidays services and programs. ● Develop new content and lead programs and services throughout the year. ● Work in partnership with OA and Natan staffs to coordinate program and service logistics. ● Steward and strengthen relationships with community members between programs and services. ● Work in partnership with OA and Natan staff to develop marketing for programs. ● Work in partnership with OA and Natan to expand the number of participants in Queen’s programs and to build a solid base of repeat participants.
Qualifications:
● College degree or equivalent professional certification ● Rabbinic or Cantorial ordination ● 2-3 years professional experience, including experience with young adults and young families.
Skills/experience/abilities required: ● Strong interpersonal skills ● Engaging personality ● Non-judgmental attitude towards a wide range of Jewish expression ● Creative programmer ● Organized ● Good singing voice a plus
oarabbiqueens@gmail.com
About Ohel Ayalah, Queens
Ohel Ayalah offers a free, walk-in service to meet the needs of many Jews, in particular young Jews, who do not have a place to pray on the High Holidays. At Ohel Ayalah, it is possible for a Jew to wake up on Rosh Hashanah morning and say, “I feel like going to the synagogue today and being with other Jews.”
The free, walk-in service at Ohel Ayalah means that a young Jew can join a celebration of the High Holidays without having to decide in advance. Every Jew should feel welcome in a synagogue on the High Holidays, whether or not he or she is a member, whether or not he or she made arrangements to attend, and whether or not he or she purchases a ticket. This is the mission of Ohel Ayalah.