Overview

Temple Beth David, located in Rochester, NY, is an egalitarian, contemporary Conservative synagogue. Check out our website at www.tbdrochester.org

We are an oasis for Jewish learning, prayer, sharing, and celebrating with family and friends. Temple Beth David is an intimate smaller shul — about 150 households identify themselves as members — where one person can make a big difference. We are an active lay congregation.

We care for each other, care for our wider community and care about what happens in the world. We hope that our next rabbi will continue delivering sermons that delve into what is happening in our world and how our teachings help us to deal with it. We care about Jews everywhere – in our local community, Israel and the wider world. Our members and friends include Jewish and interfaith couples and singles, members of the LGBTQ community.

This position is for an experienced rabbi, and is a 60% of full-time position. Please be assured that we don’t expect full time work for partial pay! We all know that some weeks, especially during holidays, will be full-time and other weeks will offer a much lighter schedule!

We’ve asked members across the age and family spectrum to describe what’s important to them in a rabbi. Here are a few of their responses:

True relationships with members, including children, teens, young adults, middle years and seniors.

  • Someone who is accessible to our members, someone who will be there when needed. Especially someone who can support congregants facing illness or the death of a loved one.
  • A rabbi who puts people before rules.
  • Someone who is interested in our future as a congregation.

Detailed Rabbinical Job Description

Lead Worship and Torah Study

  • Facilitate with members or lead Shabbat morning services.
  • Facilitate or attend weekly Torah study (currently led by a member)
  • Prepare and deliver weekly sermons or participatory community teachings on Shabbat and holidays
  • Chant Torah and Haftarah, as needed or desired. We have a strong cadre of congregants who read Torah; we use the Triennial cycle.
  • Facilitate or lead services for all Jewish holidays, including, but not limited to High Holy Days, Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot
  • Coordinate with Ritual Committee and Cantorial Soloist to prepare for and lead High Holy Day services, including presenting sermons
  • Prepare special holiday teachings
  • Participate in planning and organizing special Holiday programs, and events

Pastoral Care/Life Cycle Events

  • Support ill/frail congregants who are in hospitals, nursing homes, and in private homes
  • Provide spiritual guidance for Temple members
  • Prepare for and officiate at temple member life cycle events
  • Oversee process/preparing individuals for conversion to Judaism

Supplemental Religious Education

  • Teach one weekly session for religious school students, in collaboration with a staff educator.

Additional Responsibilities

  • Act as Mara D’Atra for the community, in cooperation with the synagogue president
  • Plan, organize, and teach special presentations and learning
  • Review requests for tzedakah and provide assistance from the Rabbis Discretionary Fund
  • Oversee sections related to holidays and halakhah for Temple publications
  • Provide column and other information for synagogue newsletter (published 6 times per year)
  • Attend and participate in monthly Board of Trustees and/or selected committee meetings, as requested
  • Take part in community relations, including participation on the Rochester Board of Rabbis and participate in community-based programs and events
Timing Expectations: 60% of full time
Rabbi Qualifications: Our rabbi is asked to follow the standards of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
Work Remotely: no
Qualifications:
  • Ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary, Ziegler School or other rabbinic school.
  • Three years of directly related congregational experience is desirable.
  • Be non-judgmental and accepting, demonstrating a deep commitment to providing a welcoming, spiritual environment for our Jewish community.
  • Be learned in areas of Jewish religion, Torah, history, literature, culture, and spirituality
  • Be an outstanding communicator, able to create and deliver sermons and teachings in a concise, passionate, meaningful, and relevant way.
  • Have an engaging and dynamic personality.
  • Exhibit leadership skills.
  • Be friendly, personable, approachable, and able to relate well to others.
  • Demonstrate a strong commitment to the state of Israel.
Position Start Date: July 15, 2017
Send resumes and cover letter to:

rabbisearch@tbdrochester.org

Rabbi Search
Temple Beth David
2131 Elmwood Avenue, Suite 204
Rochester, NY 14618