Overview

Temple Beth El of City Island (yourshulbythesea.org) is seeking an interim spiritual leader (part-time) to start July 1 (negotiable).

We seek someone open-hearted and musical, who loves to daven in Hebrew and English and enjoys teaching, whether from the pulpit or in zoom classes.  We seek someone to take us through the calendar year, celebrating all major holidays in shul (including 2 days of Rosh Hashanah) and two Friday nights a month in shul.  We will be searching for permanent clergy this year, for which you will be welcome to apply.  We have a team of lay leaders to support your efforts and cover your off weeks.

We are a small (but mighty!) unaffiliated shul on an island off the coast of the Bronx.  City Island is easily accessible by car from the Bronx and Westchester. We have congregants from Queens, Rockland County, and the lower Hudson Valley who regularly attend services.

City Island has a small-town vibe in the big city, with one main thoroughfare, many restaurants, several churches, and one synagogue.  We have a congregation of varied backgrounds, and we welcome all humans with open arms.  We are all adults (no Hebrew school), and you can see what we’ve been up to by checking our website above.  Our davenen is musical, spiritual, and eclectic.

Rabbinical students, searching rabbis, cantors, retirees, and those seeking a second job are encouraged to apply.  The candidate should be ready to provide pastoral care, teach a six-week course on zoom for fall or spring, and interact with congregants on the island, the tri-state area, and the wider world.  We have members who are hundreds and thousands of miles away who attend via zoom only.

Join us as we reimagine ourselves for the future as we approach our 90th anniversary.

We anticipate this to be approximately a 1/3 time position (.3 FTE)

Please send your resume and any questions to yourshulbythesea@gmail.com

Salary Range, depending on final job duties = $25,000 to $35,000

Type of service are you envisioning: Our shabbat services tend to run 1-and-a half to two hours. We hold additional services and/or events for Chankkah, Purim, Passover, Shavout, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, Simchat Torah, Tu Bishvat, Tisha B'Av. We hold full services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
How do you do Jewish : Our synagogue is non-denominational, though we have members who identify as Renewal, Reform and Conservative.
Why you need a rabbi: Although we have a primarily older congregation, we hope to have a rabbi willing and able to perform all lifecycle events, for out-of-contract fees.
Timing Expectations: This paret time position will most likely include: Two Friday night shabbat services; all high holiday services; Torah study class; Additional classes of approximately 4 to 6 sessions a semester.
Rabbi Qualifications: As a non-denominational, progressive, independent synagogue, we would like a rabbi/spiritual leader who can and will perform interfaith marriages
Community Description:

City Island is a small, tight knit village-like community that doesn't feel like a New York City neighborhood. A primarily working class/middle class neighborhood, City Island is also a quick get-away for New York City folks who may want to spend the day by the water, on a boat, or out for good seafood. Our temple is a small building on the main street, currently undergoing some updates and repairs, with a lovely little sanctuary. We currently have a band at most of our on-site services (current rabbi on piano, with a guitar, bass and ukulele player and 3 harmonic voices).

Work Remotely: no
Qualifications:

For this interim position, we seek:

  • An ordained rabbi and/or cantor, or a rabbinical student who
  • Is Musical
  • Has Knowledge of Jewish Renewal
  • Has basic technology skills
Position Start Date: July 1, 2023
Salary Range: $25,000 - $35,000
Send resumes and cover letter to:

The Board, at - yourshulbythesea@gmail.com

About Temple Beth-El (Your Shul By the Sea)

Temple Beth-El (TBE), “your shul by the sea,” is a stimulating non-denominational, welcoming place for observance of Jewish traditions. Jewish Renewal is the style of our deeply spiritual, innovative, all-inclusive and open-minded worship. During this COVID period, our offerings are either on Zoom only, or take place at shul, with a Zoom option.

To members we offer Torah study, mystical teachings, meditation, ethics study, social gatherings and rabbinic office hours.