Overview
The Rabbi of Temple Beth Rishon serves the religious, educational and pastoral needs of the congregation. With a clear view inward and a presence in the larger Jewish community, the Rabbi is the emotional and spiritual leader of the congregation. The congregation seeks an individual who sees this position as a life calling.
SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS:
- Primary responsibility for the organization and conduct of religious services at Temple Beth Rishon. This includes delivery of sermons that are inspiring and thought-provoking. The Rabbi works closely with the cantor, rabbinic intern and cantorial intern to create a warm and welcoming environment during religious services.
- Direct involvement in the educational programs at the synagogue. This includes the religious school and early childhood education program, bar/bat mitzvah preparation program, the confirmation class and adult education program. The Rabbi provides guidance and counseling to the staff who have responsibility for each program and works directly with students.
- Serves the congregation in a pastoral and counseling role. This includes lifecycle events and the needs of congregants in crisis. The Rabbi understands the diverse nature of the congregation, is committed to the needs of all members of Temple Beth Rishon, and is supportive of interfaith families. The Rabbi helps each person live a Jewish life that reflects their own level of comfort.
- Active involvement in outreach activities. The Rabbi’s responsibilities include welcoming new members, serving as an inspiration for, and a participant in, fund-raising activities, planning major religious events at the synagogue, and active engagement in the larger religious and secular communities.
- Functions as the leader of the professional team at the synagogue. The selected individual participates in the meetings of the Administrative Committee, Board of Trustees and professional staff. Communication with the membership via synagogue publications and meetings is essential.
The Rabbi should be a visionary, and a moral compass for the congregation, inspiring engagement and commitment to Jewish life at Temple Beth Rishon.
Temple Beth Rishon, Wyckoff, New Jersey
Founded in 1975, Temple Beth Rishon is an unaffiliated, liberal egalitarian Jewish congregation located in northern New Jersey. We welcome all who want to participate in a vibrant Jewish community, including those from diverse Jewish backgrounds and interfaith families. We seek to draw from the best ideas from all the branches of the Jewish faith. Worship services weave traditional and contemporary approaches to prayer while music enriches our services and enhances our spiritual experience. Our Shabbat prayer books are Siddur Hadash and Etz Hayim. We follow the prayer book Mahzor Hadash during the High Holidays. The congregation has embraced a formal rabbinic and cantorial intern program for the past 12 years. Our community and clergy take pride in mentoring these interns and supporting the seminaries that ordain these men and women.
A passion for Jewish learning is evident in our flourishing preschool, religious school, and adult education programs. Our congregation has successfully recruited highly motivated and charismatic preschool and religious school directors. Their energy level is contagious. Innovative social and cultural events are ongoing for our entire congregation. The congregation’s commitment is displayed by the recently completed two story, state of the art education wing that complements our modern and inspiring sanctuary built in 1980 and rededicated in 2002. A high vaulted ceiling and beautiful stained glass windows accentuate our bimah. The seating capacity is 325 during a Shabbat service. During the High Holidays our sanctuary expands to accommodate 1400 people. For the past ten years we have simulcast our High Holiday services to college students, elderly and those unable to attend due to health reasons. TBR’s ballroom has hosted numerous lectures, weddings, and fundraisers for our membership as well as various neighboring Jewish communities and agencies. Our beloved Rabbi of 22 years retired in June, 2017. We have an interim Rabbi with a one year contract. Our rabbinic search committee is dedicated to finding a full time Senior Rabbi by July, 2018.
Temple Beth Rishon now includes 440 families, with many interesting and accomplished congregants. Bucolic northwest Bergen County offers outstanding academic and recreational venues. Our public schools are nationally ranked in addition to many Jewish day school offerings such as: Gerard Berman Day School (Solomon Schechter of North Jersey), Solomon Schechter of Bergen County, Bergen County High School of Jewish Studies, and the Frisch School to name a few. Ramapo College, William Paterson University, state parks and lakes for hiking and boating, as well as skiing are all easily accessible from our town. Nationally recognized Hackensack University Medical Center and Valley Hospital are easily accessed for excellent healthcare, all the while being only thirty miles from New York City. Temple Beth Rishon will provide our new rabbi with an exceptional opportunity to share her/his personality, wisdom and leadership skills with an educated, supportive community that is eager to learn from, celebrate with and grow alongside its new spiritual leader. May God continue to bless our community by enabling the Search Committee to blend the needs and desires of our congregation with the passion and vision of the rabbinic candidate.
For additional information, contact Ira Lamster, Chair Rabbinic Search Committee, Temple Beth Rishon at IBL1@cumc.columbia.edu.
We are looking for a full time Senior Rabbi. See above under position description for additional qualifications.
Please email resumes and cover letters to Mr. Ira Lamster: ibl1@cumc.columbia.edu
