Overview

Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Community in St. Louis, MO seeks a half-time rabbi. We are a progressive, highly participatory congregation of approximately 55 members who are committed to learning and deepening our understanding of Judaism. We seek a rabbi to facilitate our worship and learning and to increase our understanding of what it means to live a more meaningful Jewish life in St. Louis and the U.S. Our community ranges in age from the mid-30s to the mid-90s, with a majority in the Baby Boom generation.

Primary responsibilities:

  • Lead 2 Shabbat morning services per month, including chanting/reading Torah and leading a Torah-based discussion.
  • Attend monthly First Shabbat Friday potluck dinner and lead a brief teaching/conversation.
  • Attend lay-led 3rd (and occasional 5th) Shabbat of the month morning adult learning programs.
  • Lead High Holiday and other Jewish holiday observances/services.
  • Tend to the pastoral and life cycle needs of the congregation.
  • Facilitate adult learning.
Timing Expectations: Lead 2 Shabbat morning services per month; attend and lead discussion at one Friday night Shabbat dinner per month; lead all high holilday services and other holiday observances/services throughout the year as mutually determined with the Ritual Committee and Board; tend to the pastoral and life cycle needs of the congregation. Note: We are primarily an "empty-nester" congregation and do not offer a formal religious school program. We are blessed to have an active Rabbi Emeritus who also assists with pastoral/lifecycle duties and is willing to fill-in whenever needed.
Rabbi Qualifications: As a progressive and inclusive community, we prefer that our rabbi be willing to perform interfaith marriages and to drive on Shabbat. Our community observes a Kashrut policy that calls for all meals to be vegetarian with vegan options. Fish can also be served at the discretion of the host.
Community Description:

We are a community in the truest sense of the word. Our tent is broad and open. Our worship engages us in thoughtful dialogue and lively conversation. Music, the arts and social justice are central to our experience of
Judaism.

We are the only Reconstructionist community in the St. Louis area. This branch of Judaism is a progressive, modern approach to Jewish living that integrates a deep respect for traditional Judaism with the insights and ideas of contemporary social, intellectual and spiritual life.

As an inclusive and egalitarian community, we welcome Jews by choice, minority Jews, non-Jewish partners and LGBT Jews.

Shir Hadash is oriented toward adult participation and we’ve decided to keep that the focus of our services and programming. Because we’re small, there’s a homey feeling here – yet there are enough of us that you can participate at a level you feel most comfortable. We currently employ a part-time (10 hrs/week) administrator and are blessed to have an active Rabbi Emeritus who currently tends to our pastoral and life cycle needs and fills in wherever needed.

We meet at the JCC, so we’re right in the center of the Jewish community, which numbers more than 60,000 and offers a wide array of organizations, schools, and services the Jewish Federation, Jewish Family & Children's Services, Holocaust Museum and Learning Center, Jewish Community Relations Council, Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community (Day) School, Center for Jewish Learning (formerly CAJE), and more.

Work Remotely: no
Qualifications:

We seek a rabbi who has been ordained by an accredited seminary. We welcome applicants at any stage of their career -- from newly-ordained through semi-retired -- and those of any background or affiliation who are comfortable with embracing and guiding our community in the practices, tenets and teachings of Reconstructionist Judaism.  We love to sing, so musical/song leading ability is a plus, but not required. We contract annually with a cantorial soloist for the High Holidays and have several members of our community who assist with song leading.  In order to meet our pastoral needs we prefer that our rabbi reside in or near St. Louis.

Position Start Date: July 1, 2017
Benefits:

Paid vacation; convention allowance; professional dues; relocation assistance

St. Louis has a large and dynamic Jewish community numbering more than 60,000 and offers many opportunities for personal and professional growth. We will also assist candidates, if desired, with finding supplemental employment opportunities within the St. Louis Jewish community.

Salary Range: $45,000-50,000
Send resumes and cover letter to:

Lois Zuckerman, Rabbinic Search Committee Chair, lois@rx-business.com