Overview

Temple Ohabei Shalom, a vibrant, multigenerational Reform synagogue of over 300 families just outside of Boston, seeks an innovative and energetic assistant clergy member to support educational and social justice initiatives for all ages and to collaborate with Rabbi Audrey Marcus Berkman to lead our community in prayer, learning, lifecycle events, and pastoral care.

We’re a warm, haimish, welcoming congregation in a deeply historical place; we are about to celebrate our 180th year. Yet this position presents an opportunity to be innovative. The whole world is being reinvented right now, and the Assistant Rabbi will be a thought partner in what it means to be a synagogue community: how to meet the needs of people in this moment and how to connect them to each other and to the wisdom of our tradition. Congregation members are a diverse group who include Jews by birth, Jews by choice, interfaith families, and a range of ethnicities and nationalities. Our members are engaged, involved, and eager to learn, and our strong, experienced staff work well together and are open to new ideas.

Responsibilities:

  • Education and Religious School Responsibilities:  Partner with lay leadership to develop Adult Learning opportunities, and teach regular Torah study and adult learning classes.  Teach weekly in the Ansin Religious School (grades  K-7). Coordinate teen programming (grades 8-12) including classes, Confirmation, social groups, social justice and community building activities Visit the preschool classrooms regularly to co-lead preschool Shabbat, holiday celebrations and family engagement opportunities. Work with education staff to provide innovative events, speakers, and family worship programs for families with children of all ages.
  • B’nai Mitzvah Program: In collaboration with our Religious School director, design and implement the B’nai Mitzvah program including: classes, family handbook and materials, mitzvah projects, community-building programs, student/family events. Evaluate students to ensure that they are fully prepared. Oversee all aspects of B’nai Mitzvah training including regular Torah & Trope study meetings with students.  Hire and supervise tutors as needed.  Teach adult B’nai Mitzvah students as needed.
  • Worship:  In collaboration with Rabbi Berkman, create and lead Shabbat, High Holy Day, B’nei Mitzvah, and holiday services, including offering sermons and learning sessions. Create  and co-lead High Holy Day Youth and Family Services in conjunction with our Music Educator.
  • Community Engagement: Collaborate with Rabbi Berkman on providing pastoral support to the congregation. Develop relationships with congregants, and partner with Rabbi Berkman to proactively engage new and prospective members. Cover for Rabbi Berkman in her absence, including officiating at various life cycle events for congregants. Partner with our Social Action committee chairperson to bring dynamic social justice programming and activism to the TOS community.

 

Work Remotely: no
Qualifications:

A successful candidate must be able to relate and engage with our diverse membership with varying levels of knowledge and observance, and to collaborate with our dynamic team of educators and staff.

  • Ordination from a recognized seminary
  • Demonstrate a deep commitment to providing a welcoming, spiritual environment for Jews of all backgrounds and members of interfaith households
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, project-management and time-management skills
  • Passion for learning, teaching, and working as part of a team including professional staff and lay leaders
  • “Self-starter” – able to assess ongoing needs and to be flexible with scope of responsibilities
  • Proficiency in Hebrew, and familiarity with Torah/Haftarah trope preferred
  • Proficiency in the Microsoft 365 suite and general competency in computer skills.  Strong administrative skills.
Position Start Date: July 1, 2022
Benefits:

This position offers competitive benefits including but not limited to health insurance, retirement savings plan, temple membership, parsonage, paid time off, family leave, generous staff discount for preschool and/or afterschool program, professional dues and professional development.

Salary Range: Compensation commensurate with experience: $85,000 - $100,000
Send resumes and cover letter to:

To apply, interested candidates should prepare a cover letter and a current resume to the TOS Search committee - search@ohabei.org. 

About Temple Ohabei Shalom

Progressive in attitude yet traditional in practice, Temple Ohabei Shalom is an inclusive Jewish community committed to nurturing, sustaining, and touching Jewish lives through lifelong learning, joyful worship, and repair of the world in word and deed.