Overview
Position Description
The Jewish Leader position is a part-time, full-year role at approximately 10 hours a week. The position is one of the prominent faces of IFFP, bringing Jewish leadership perspective to IFFP. Major responsibilities include:
Primary responsibilities:
● Plan and co-lead Sunday morning Gatherings (worship) with the Spiritual Director an average of three times per month between September and May (Gatherings currently take place at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville)
● Work in cooperation with the Spiritual Director to plan and co-lead services on all major Jewish and Christian holidays
● Lead services on major Jewish holidays (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover, Simchat Torah, Sukkot, Chanukah, Tu Bishvat and others)
● Teach about Judaism as well as the intersections between Judaism and Christianity
● Work with the Spiritual Director to plan adult education programs, advise and contribute to the adult education program
● Advise Director of Religious Education on curriculum and contribute to youth and teen education programs
Additional responsibilities:
● Support interfaith couples and co-lead interfaith couples’ workshops
● Provide pastoral care, in coordination with the Spiritual Director
● Represent IFFP internally and externally
● Co-officiate at IFFP members’ individual life-cycle events and ceremonies with the Spiritual Director, outside the part-time schedule and with additional compensation
The Jewish Leader will report to the Board of Directors.
IFFP seeks a part-time Jewish Leader with a commitment to engaging interfaith families in Jewish education and practice, an ability to make connections between Jewish and Christian traditions, and demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and collaborate in a team environment.
About the Interfaith Families Project
The Interfaith Families Project (IFFP) is an independent community of interfaith families and others. A 501(c)(3) organization, we are committed to sharing, learning about, and celebrating our Jewish and Christian traditions. Started in 1995 and now in our third decade, we have grown to over 100 families from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. IFFP is a place where both Jewish and Christian partners can feel like equal members of the community; where both can celebrate and learn about both faiths and where we “teach not preach.”
IFFP seeks to develop our children, ourselves, and our community through opportunities for education about Christianity and Judaism, holiday celebrations, fellowship, spiritual gatherings, community service, and exploration of interfaith identity in an environment that encourages questions and respects different answers.
The core value of IFFP is respect–for each other, for Judaism and for Christianity. As a community, we celebrate, explore, question and enjoy both religious traditions. IFFP members neither reject our religious backgrounds nor seek a new religion that is a mixture of Christian and Jewish belief. Instead, we believe it is possible — and desirable — to honor our distinct religious traditions and to share those traditions with spouses, partners and children. Please view our Welcome and Community Inclusion Statement to learn more about IFFP and its values.
Qualifications
Being an ordained Rabbi with a degree from an accredited seminary is preferred, but not required; the IFFP community is willing to consider non-ordained individuals who credibly demonstrate the qualifications listed below. The ideal candidate will have the following expertise, skills and attributes:
Experience and Expertise:
● Extensive knowledge of Torah, Jewish history, traditions and culture
● Demonstrated ability to inspire learning through teaching
● Experience in leading rituals like High Holiday services, Passover Seders, and life events and in delivering sermons/reflections
● Experience and/or willingness to work with interfaith couples and families
● Skills in pastoral care
● Experience in comparative religion or interfaith dialogue is a plus
Skills:
● Effective communicator, in both large group public speaking environments and individual settings
● Able to effectively discuss ideas and events in the Jewish/Christian context
● Can connect and inspire people of all ages, including children and young adults
● Creative community-builder
● Comfort with using technology to communicate with IFFP Board, staff and community members
Qualities and Attributes:
● Belief in the IFFP mission, someone who is comfortable with people choosing both Judaism and Christianity and an ability to create an environment where people can be both
● Fully supportive of interfaith families and respectful of the IFFP community culture, including an appreciation of Christianity and openness to Christian customs and holidays
● Excellent interpersonal skills, including openness to feedback combined with a willingness to state one’s views
● Collaborative team player who will step in as needed to help the IFFP team
● Demonstrates a love of Jewish culture
● A sense of humor, openness and empathy
● Organizational skills
Application Process
Persons interested in this position may apply by sending a letter of interest and resume to Jill Fioravanti, Chair, Search Committee, at jillbfioravanti@gmail.com. IFFP will conduct interviews beginning in September and would like to select the new Jewish Leader by December 2019.
About The Interfaith Families Project
About the Interfaith Families Project
The Interfaith Families Project (IFFP)is an independent community of interfaith families and others. A 501(c)(3) organization, we are committed to sharing, learning about, and celebrating our Jewish and Christian traditions. Started in 1995 and now in our third decade, we have grown to over 100 families from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. IFFP is a place where both Jewish and Christian partners can feel like equal members of the community; where both can celebrate and learn about both faiths and where we “teach not preach.”
IFFP seeks to develop our children, ourselves, and our community through opportunities for education about Christianity and Judaism, holiday celebrations, fellowship, spiritual gatherings, community service, and exploration of interfaith identity in an environment that encourages questions and respects different answers.
The core value of IFFP is respect–for each other, for Judaism and for Christianity. As a community, we celebrate, explore, question and enjoy both religious traditions. IFFP members neither reject our religious backgrounds nor seek a new religion that is a mixture of Christian and Jewish belief. Instead, we believe it is possible — and desirable — to honor our distinct religious traditions and to share those traditions with spouses, partners and children. Please view our Welcome and Community Inclusion Statement to learn more about IFFP and its values.
