Overview

Temple Israel of Alameda seeks an ordained Jewish Spiritual Leader who will be an integral part of sustaining and growing our community and the Congregation’s Jewish identity. The Spiritual Leader represents a key figure in our leadership team, tending to the spiritual life of the Congregation through fellowship, education, and leading services. A community builder, the Spiritual Leader will imbue the love of Judaism and tradition across generations. The Spiritual Leader should be collaborative, innovative and creative, while showing an openness to and respect for our Jewish practice.

Part-time hours are negotiable, target is 30hr/week on average (more at HHD, less in winter).

General Responsibilities 

  • Collaborate with our Ritual and other Committees on matters of worship and education of our members
  • Lead or co-lead with lay leaders erev Shabbat on scheduled days: High Holy Day, and other holiday and festival worship services and observances
  • Lead and/or participate in life cycle events of congregants including but not limited to:
    • Perform wedding ceremonies and rituals for all, including interfaith and same sex, members
    • Perform pastoral and life cycle duties and visits to the sick

B’nai Mitzvah Program 

  • Work with parent(s) and Education Director to ensure students are fully prepared for their B’nai Mitzvah
  • Tutor B’nai Mitzvah students to lead services (including giving a drash – avg 4 students a year)
  • Help students choose and oversee a special b’nai mitzvah project

Education Responsibilities 

  • Lead Torah study on same weekends as when leading services
  • Create and lead adult education programs, 12 sessions per year
  • Participate in the Religious School
  • Attend monthly Tot Shabbat activities

Temple Leadership, Administration and Community Responsibilities 

  • Lead professional staff meetings
  • Work with lay leadership to create and participate in community events
  • Attend monthly Board and Ritual Committee meetings
  • Work collaboratively with the Education Director, Office Manager, and congregational leadership
  • Attend monthly meetings of the Alameda All Faiths Coalition (local interfaith group)
  • Report to the Board of Directors, through the President.
Timing Expectations: Part-time hours are negotiable, target is 30hr/week on average (more at HHD, less in winter).
Community Description:

Temple Israel is a 102-year-old Reform congregation of 106 families located in Alameda,
California. We are a welcoming center of Jewish life where members, newcomers and visitors of
all ages and cultural backgrounds are encouraged to participate in Jewish practices, spirituality,
learning and culture. We continually strengthen our connections to each other and join together
to care for the greater community, Israel, and the world.

Our strongest committees are Education, Membership, Ritual, and Social Action, and these
reflect our values. Our school is oriented towards building Jewish identity and student success.
We have active clubs and chaverot where members meet to knit, play board games, read books,
or just have tea. Our community is proud of our past, and keeps an eye towards the future,
looking for innovation to keep our services fresh. And, finally, from raising hundreds of bags of
food for the food bank (we only have 106 families, but delivered over 200 bags) to actually
cooking and delivering hot meals to the local women’s and children’s shelter, to holding forums
on racial equality, our membership is devoted to Social Justice.

Work Remotely: no
Qualifications:
  • Experience in synagogue leadership as shaliach tzibur/leader of prayer
  • Training and demonstrated skills in pastoral counseling, CPE training desired
  • Experience in leading wide range of life cycle rituals
  • Strong working knowledge / proficiency in Hebrew, nusach and liturgy and ability to leyn from Torah
  • Hebrew literacy experience teaching both children and adults
  • Comfort and familiarity with Reform liturgy and the Mishkan Tefillah/HaNefesh series
  • Knowledge of prayer books (Mishkan Series)
  • Knowledge and competency in computer usage (including Microsoft Office, recording audio files, using Zoom and other communication tools)
  • Desired - Ability to sing and lead congregants in singing
Position Start Date: July 1, 2022
Benefits:

Temple Israel of Alameda offers a competitive salary and benefits package commensurate of
experience and hours, includes medical, dental, vision and disability insurance, parsonage,
vacation and professional development and conferences.

Send resumes and cover letter to:

President@TempleIsraelAlameda.org

About Temple Israel of Alameda

Temple Israel is a 102-year-old Reform congregation of 106 families located in Alameda,
California. We are a welcoming center of Jewish life where members, newcomers and visitors of
all ages and cultural backgrounds are encouraged to participate in Jewish practices, spirituality,
learning and culture. We continually strengthen our connections to each other and join together
to care for the greater community, Israel, and the world.

Our strongest committees are Education, Membership, Ritual, and Social Action, and these
reflect our values. Our school is oriented towards building Jewish identity and student success.
We have active clubs and chaverot where members meet to knit, play board games, read books,
or just have tea. Our community is proud of our past, and keeps an eye towards the future,
looking for innovation to keep our services fresh. And, finally, from raising hundreds of bags of
food for the food bank (we only have 106 families, but delivered over 200 bags) to actually
cooking and delivering hot meals to the local women’s and children’s shelter, to holding forums
on racial equality, our membership is devoted to Social Justice.