Overview
The Gamliel Institute, the educational arm of Kavod v’Nichum (KvN), is the center for study, advocacy, and training concerning Chevrah Kadisha and related Jewish end-of-life practices. The Institute educates, guides, trains, and accredits Jewish communal leaders, and fosters the development of a corps of Chevrah Kadisha professionals and volunteers. The Mission of the Gamliel Institute is to empower its students to lead in the reclaiming of Jewish traditions, rituals, liturgy, and practices along the entire continuum of care at the end-of-life by building on the Prague Chevrah Kadisha model.
The Gamliel Institute’s program of Jewish education is based on, and includes, texts, liturgy, and traditional practices from over 2,000 years of history, and includes historical evolution, political realities, and proven organizing and educational strategies. It covers the entire end-of-life continuum – dealing with life-threatening illness, legacy and preparation of ethical wills, preparing for death and the time of death, care for the body – taharah and shmirah, care for relatives and friends, funeral and burial, mourning, grieving, remembering and providing comfort – with underlying themes of communal obligation, care for the poor and elderly, consumer protection, and Jewish continuity.
For more information about the Institute, its program, and courses, visit www.gamliel.institute.
The Position:
The Gamliel Institute is currently seeking candidates for the position of Academic Dean. The Dean of the Gamliel Institute shall be appointed by and, report to, the Board of KvN, and will work closely with the Executive Director of the Institute and The President of the Board of KvN. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
1. Overseeing of the Institute
2. Coordinating course development and insuring appropriate content
3. Hiring and supervising teaching faculty
4. Recruiting and advising students and monitoring their performance
5. Supervising Rabbinic relationship development
6. Actively participate in the grant writing process and in concert with Kv’N to assure that the goals of the entire organization be consistently coordinated. All grants will be submitted with the approval of the KvN Board.
The Candidate:
The ideal candidate will be from a Rabbinic background with experience in the formation and administration of, plus participation with, a Chevrah Kadisha group; familiarity with taharah and shmirah liturgy; the teaching of Jewish end-of-life issues. S/he will also have experience in organizational management, development, and fundraising, grant writing, and philanthropic solicitation.
Of Note:
The Dean of the Gamliel Institute is presently a volunteer position, as are the eight Gamliel Institute staff roles except for teaching remuneration from student tuition. This is a prime opportunity for someone who wishes to participate in changing the landscape of Jewish end-of-life care in North America by reclaiming the Mitzvot — the Jewish traditions, practices, rituals, and liturgy — of Chevrah Kadisha work.
The position requires little travel as our classes and meetings are held online through conferencing software. The Institute staff meets annually in June as part of the National Chevrah Kadisha conference conducted by Kavod v’Nichum, this year in Bethesda MD.
kerry.swartz@gmail.com
About The Gamliel Institute
Comprehensive Jewish end-of-lifecycle studies.