Rabbi Careers

Maryland Hillel is seeking a Senior Jewish Educator who will bring contagious energy and passion for Judaism and Israel to our team. We are looking for someone who believes strongly in the value of pluralism and nurturing a community with diverse and varied expressions of Jewish life, and who can connect deeply with students from a wide range of Jewish backgrounds. The Senior Jewish Educator will build and nurture relationships with students previously uninvolved with Jewish life across campus.

They will work closely with the senior program team to advance Maryland Hillel’s educational vision and identify and develop opportunities for learning and growth for our students and staff. The Senior Jewish Educator will also engage directly with student leaders in several of our student groups and projects in a mentorship capacity and will work in collaboration with our staff team in multiple areas of student life to bolster opportunities for Jewish education and experience in our various communities.

What You’ll Do:

• Build relationships with students through meaningful conversations and by creating connections to opportunities to participate in Jewish life on campus. A significant portion of these students should be previously uninvolved in Jewish life.
• Serve as lead educator for the Jewish Learning Fellowship program (meets one evening per week).
• Develop and facilitate curricula for educational workshops and classes targeted towards engagement populations, including Greek life and North Campus (first-year students).
• In collaboration with staff and student leaders, ensure that Jewish holiday observances and celebrations on campus are in line with Hillel’s educational vision. Serve as staff point person for major holidays, including the High Holidays.
• Staff Shabbat ~2 times per month, including Shabbat at the RHC and off-site Shabbat experiences.
• Advise Ometz, Maryland Hillel’s Conservative student group, and Ruach, the Reform student group, providing educational and ritual guidance, mentorship, and programmatic support.
• Engage students in conversations, experiences, and opportunities to further Hillel’s vision of Jewish diversity and pluralism.
• Staff Birthright Israel and Alternative Break trips during winter, spring, and/or summer breaks.

A Typical Day May Include:

• Having coffee in the student union with a student you met during campus move-in.
• Joining a sorority for dinner at their chapter house and leading a conversation about an issue connecting Judaism to a relevant topic in their lives.
• Brainstorming with a staff member on how to bring Jewish ideas and values into an upcoming program.
• Meeting with other religious community leaders on campus to plan an interfaith service project.

What You’ve Accomplished:

• Rabbinic ordination or an advanced degree in Jewish studies, Jewish education or a related field.
• 4+ years of relevant work experience. Experience in community organizing, Hillel, youth movements, camping, or experiential Jewish education is a plus.
• Proven success in community building and outreach, and previous experience in program visioning and implementation.
• Training and experience in counseling, administration, development/fundraising is desirable.
• Commitment to a pluralistic approach to Jewish life.
• Entrepreneurial energy and passion for Judaism and Israel.
• Ability to prioritize and balance multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excitement to be a part of a large, diverse team of staff.

What You’ll Bring to the Job:

• A strong knowledge base of Jewish content, ranging from traditional Jewish texts to contemporary Jewish wisdom, culture and unconventional Jewish sources.
• Expertise in leading complex conversations about Judaism and Israel in a way that is approachable and meets students at various points in their personal Jewish journeys.
• A commitment to creating an inclusive, vibrant and pluralistic Jewish community.
• A strong entrepreneurial spirit. Things may not always go according to plan, but you must be willing to take risks and learn from your wins as well as your losses.
• Confidence initiating and running programs, and comfort asking questions.
• Creative problem-solving, proactive communication, and collaboration.
• Ability to collaborate across teams both inside and outside of Hillel.