Rabbi Careers

Overview

The four top responsibilities of our new Rabbi:

• Leadership: Helping to lead the congregation with spiritual practices as well as practical ideas that help us continue to grow.
• Membership: Helping to retain current members while attracting and integrating new members, especially younger families and individuals.
• Education: Delivering and supervising education programs for various ages and providing Rabbinical leadership to Temple Sinai’s religious school and programs.
• Pastoral Care: Reaching out to congregants, including visiting and calling those who are ill or homebound, to provide connections, counsel, and guidance.

RELIGIOUS DUTIES

We’re looking for a Rabbi who is passionate about Judaism and transmits that passion from the pulpit and their interactions with all members of the congregation. The Rabbi will encourage congregants to participate in Jewish life and will be able to place the activities of the synagogue and the congregation in the larger context of Jewish Tradition, Teaching, Learning, thought, and morals. The Rabbi will be able to explain to congregants how Judaism infuses and enriches our daily lives.

Shabbat: Our members prefer hybrid (both in-person and Zoom Friday Night and Saturday Morning Services) to make it possible for all members to celebrate Shabbat together, whether or not they are able to travel to Shul. Temple Sinai Services have traditionally been a mix of Hebrew and English using the Siddur Lev Shalom Prayer book. We encourage our Rabbi to make the Service relevant and meaningful, integrating social issues and current events into the weekly sermon. We would like congregants to come away from services renewed, less stressed, and feeling that they were participants in the service, not merely an audience. Our members respond best to interesting, relevant, and innovative services, sometimes with various themes, i.e., music, outdoor Shabbat, social action, commemorations, honoring people, events, etc.

The Rabbi is the Mara D’atra and will work closely with the Ritual Committee to satisfy the congregation’s best interests.

The Rabbi is an integral member of the Ritual Committee and will attend, be a spiritual mentor, and active participant in the monthly Ritual Meetings.

Since we do not have a year-round Cantor, the Rabbi is responsible for leading Friday night and Saturday morning Shabbat Services. The Rabbi is expected to be the Torah reader on all occasions when Torah is read at a scheduled service. This may be done either from the Torah or Chumash. There is the same expectation for Haftarah and Megillah. Our members share in this responsibility when encouraged to do so.

The Rabbi will encourage, inspire, and welcome our members to attend Shabbat Services.

High Holiday and Other Holidays:

The Rabbi will…

• Coordinate with the High Holiday Cantor and the Ritual Committee to officiate at High Holiday services.
• prepare and deliver Sermons on Rosh Hashanah, Erev Yom Kippur and Yom Kippur (day).
• Coordinate with the Ritual Committee regarding scheduling and preparation of Torah and Haftorah readers at the High Holiday Services, and lead and engage congregants in delivering other holiday observances.
• Inform the synagogue leadership and office of vacation requests and time off. The Rabbi will also coordinate his absence with the Ritual Committee so lay leadership can be arranged, as necessary.

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL & B’NAI MITZVAH

Temple Sinai has a small but active Religious School. Students in Alef through Dalet meet every Sunday morning and one Tuesday evening a month for Jewish Enrichment. In addition, our Little Sprouts Class of 3 – 5-year-old children meet once a month.

The Rabbi will oversee our small Religious School, getting to know and creating a positive connection with each student and the Religious School family. In coordination with the Board of Education and the Religious School teachers, the Rabbi will provide leadership and support as the Religious School Director to achieve the common goal of student Jewish education and character development.

The Rabbi will work with the Board of Education and teachers to develop standards and expectations for the B’nai Mitzvah students. The Rabbi will be responsible for the preparation of the B’nai Mitzvah. This shall be done with consideration of the child’s ability.

The Rabbi will liaise with the B’nai Mitzvah student/family and Religious School teachers.

PASTORAL

Our Rabbi must have a strong commitment to pastoral duties. This includes being mindful of the health and well-being of the Congregation’s members and their families, including calling, sending cards or emails, and visits to sick and house-bound members on a regular basis. They must be a good listener and develop a connection with each of our members. They will be visible throughout the week and available to meet with congregants by appointment.

The Rabbi shall maintain confidentially of all information of a personal nature of which they become aware.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Our members crave learning and appreciate the knowledge and wisdom of our Rabbi and want to learn from them. The Rabbi will hold a variety of interesting and thought-provoking adult education classes for varying ages and interests, designed to enhance members’ Jewish connection and to assist members in integrating the Jewish lifestyle into their homes.

Several groups in the community do useful and meaningful work. They include the TriBoro Ministry and South Jersey Board of Rabbis. We want our Rabbi to be a force in the community – someone who is known and respected and who actively participates in these community groups, as well as JCC events and other community programs.

LIFE CYCLE EVENTS

The Rabbi leads life-cycle events such as Baby Naming, B’nai Mitzvah, Confirmation, Weddings, Funerals, and Shiva Services for Temple Sinai members. The Rabbi should ensure someone else can lead these life-cycle services if unavailable.

They will also conduct Conversion classes as needed and officiate at the Conversion ceremony.

RELATIONSHIP WITH OFFICERS, BOARD MEMBERS, AND STAFF

The Rabbi will develop a strong working relationship with the Executive Board, Board of Directors, Religious School Educators, and Administrative and Custodial Staff. They will communicate frequently with the President(s) and Executive Board and attend monthly Board Meetings.

MEMBERSHIP

The Membership Committee meets monthly and is responsible for membership recruitment and retention. We create programming and policies to recruit, welcome, and integrate new members into synagogue life. We are also concerned with retention, encouraging members to participate in congregational activities. Temple Sinai members range from young families to retired seniors. Among our members are authors, artists, comedians, chefs, musicians, doctors, lawyers, business owners and more.

The Rabbi will collaborate with the Board of Directors and the Membership Committee to increase and retain members, including speaking to prospective members, welcoming new members, and participating in outreach events for non-members.

The Rabbi will make a concerted effort to get to know each congregant by name and circumstance, involving them and showing appreciation for all they have to offer.

The Rabbi will partner with office staff to reach out to members to acknowledge birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions.

FUNDRAISING

The Rabbi shall serve as an advisor for the Fundraising committee and will participate in those programs as appropriate to enhance congregants’ participation.

The Rabbi will share ideas and resources and communicate with the Fundraising Committee as appropriate.

OTHER DUTIES AND QUALITIES

• Establish and maintain (flexible) office hours
• Be computer literate or take classes to facilitate computer literacy
• Endeavor to attend all synagogue-related events
• Oversee Kashrut in the Kitchen
• Administer Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund at the discretion and report annually to the board on donations and disbursements

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