Overview

Adat Shalom is a synagogue that strives to be on the cutting edge of Jewish life. We embrace progressive values alongside a strong commitment to Jewish traditions. Our shul has an active membership of over 400 households, drawing from throughout the Washington, DC region. We take great pleasure in coming together as a diverse and intentional spiritual community for music-filled Shabbatot and holidays while also offering a wealth of learning, prayer, and social action opportunities for adults and youth alike. Some examples of what our shul has to offer are attached.

We seek a rabbi who will build on this legacy by bringing new ideas and energy to our community, with a particular emphasis on attracting young families and singles and enhancing the breadth of our diverse membership. This person will serve as the Senior Spiritual Leader of our community, with strong organizational skills and a practical vision for how to create an even more dynamic congregation for today’s Jewish world. This position offers an exciting opportunity for a rabbi to assume leadership of a growing community in a post-COVID environment.

Principal Responsibilities:

  • Share with all members of the Adat Shalom community a love of and insight into Judaism and the Jewish people, including by being an outstanding teacher and presence both on and off the
  • Help expand membership across all demographics, enhance diversity, and strengthen our Limmud program (religious school) along with other youth and family programming.
  • Provide leadership and vision for clergy, staff, and the community while working effectively and collaboratively with lay leadership.
  • Provide sensitive and meaningful pastoral care and life-cycle
  • Bring a love of and commitment to Tikkun Olam to the congregation and represent the congregation in the larger community.
Work Remotely: no
Qualifications:

Our rabbi should have a solid grounding in the history of the Jewish people and the texts, traditions, and values of Judaism.

We expect our rabbi to be comfortable with the essential tenets of Reconstructionist Judaism.

Benefits:

Generous retirement and other competitive benefits. 

Salary Range: $160k-200k
Send resumes and cover letter to:

Resumes, cover letters or questions about this position should be e-mailed to the co-chairs of our Rabbinic Search Committee, Nathan Siegel and Beth Sperber Richie, at search@adatshalom.net.

Any inquiries or applications will be treated confidentially.

About Adat Shalom

  • Attendance at Shabbat morning services has returned to pre-pandemic levels, averaging 100- 150 people (not including B’nai Mitzvah guests) during the school year. While our services are hybrid, most members are again attending in person. Periodic special Shabbat events include an annual musical Shabbaton, Spiritual Growth Day, and visits by scholars, activists, and artists.
  • We have emerged from COVID in growth mode, with membership rising. Almost ten percent of our members have joined in the past year alone, including 30 new children.
  • Our co-op style Shabbat Kiddush provides a full lunch and underscores our community’s commitment to volunteerism. On many Shabbatot, educational programming follows the Kiddush.
  • Our First Friday Musical Shabbat Service draws even more congregants, is led by our talented lay musicians, and is followed by a communal dinner. Thrice-weekly, lay-led Zoom minyans that began during the pandemic are continuing.
  • A high percentage of our school-age members have historically attended Jewish summer camps, such as Camp Havaya, Camp Moshava, and Capital Camps.
  • Social justice is central to our communal ethos. Some examples of current social action initiatives include:
  • Participating in an initiative called SEA Change to examine practices that have an impact on racial equity in our own communal spaces and to work to advance anti-racist policies in the wider community.
  • We work in coalition with Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Interfaith Power and Light, and other organizations to educate and advocate for reduced greenhouse gas emissions, building on numerous green commitments in our program and within our building and grounds.
  • Our Haiti Project helps support a K-9th grade Christian school in Leogane, Haiti, including five service missions by Adat Shalom members to Haiti since 2010 and several visits to our community by the school’s principal.
  • Over the years, we have had four Israeli Shlichim on our staff who have been an integral part of the educational and social life of the community.
  • Our adult Jewish Studies Program is taught by our clergy and outside scholars, with as many as 75 attending a single class. Periodic retreats combining study, worship, recreation, and social time, both at retreat centers and on our campus, attract over 200 members of all ages.