Rabbinic Job Description - Yeshurun Hebrew Congregation

JOB DESCRIPTION FOR RABBI AT YESHURUN HEBREW CONGREGATION

TITLE:	Rabbi
SALARY:	Competitive
REPORTS TO:	Chair of the Board
JOB PURPOSE:	To provide religious, spiritual, pastoral and educational leadership and to develop the spiritual, educational and communal life of the community and extend its reach and reputation.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Yeshurun Hebrew Congregation is a well-established, mature, and Zionist modern orthodox community, with an enviable reputation for friendliness and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

We are seeking an inspirational Rabbi/Rebbetzen team to lead and inspire the community in their knowledge and practice of Judaism, empowering existing members whilst at the same time attracting new members to the synagogue and encouraging members to increase their engagement with the synagogue and community.

The successful candidate will be highly self-motivated, energetic, well-organised, and have excellent communication skills. They will utilise these skills to inspire, challenge and engage our members with empathy, warmth, enthusiasm and innovative thinking, and to reach out to a community of diverse observance, whilst upholding the ethos, customs and practices of Orthodox Judaism.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Services

Play a full part in, and attend punctually, all religious services including daily minyanim (unless acceptably engaged elsewhere), which will include leading the davening and leyening as required and maintaining the customs and practices of Yeshurun relating to services including Ashkenazi Nusach with Ivrit pronunciation.
Ensure there is a daily Minyan for all services, taking the lead working with lay leadership and encouraging members to support services
Widen community participation in the services, including teaching members to layen and daven
Offer online activities and communication using modern communication channels.
Work with the Gabbai to plan services to ensure the shul delivers a range of services that aim to meet members’ expectations with particular emphasis on:-
- A vibrant and inclusive main Shabbat service catering for regulars, occasional attendees and visitors.
- Engage in the development of ‘Alternative’ services, such as explanatory services to the main service, to include but not limited to young families and youth.
- To provide an inspiring youth programme of activities and services to educate participants.
- To develop regular meaningful children’s and family services offering a structure that encompasses fun and education.

Religious life

To provide spiritual leadership to the community through personal example as well as leadership of prayer and study at a level appropriate to, but stretching of the community.
To encourage religious and spiritual development of all groups in the community, irrespective of level of religious observance and knowledge.
Encourage and support members increased participation in all aspects of the community including religious services
Setting goals, initiating and delivering adult education programmes on a wide range of topics, including Judaism, Jewish ethics and values, Jewish history, Israel.
To encourage the development and extension of Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah programmes, mentoring boys and girls and their families.
To continue the advancement of the involvement of women in the religious life of the community, including offering support and encouragement for women’s services, the Bat Mitzvah programme and engagement in the general religious services.
To give appropriate sermons on Shabbat and Chagim that educate, inform, challenge and inspire members, having regard to the diverse needs and interests of the community.
To help programme events and visiting speakers on Shabbat and Chagim to ensure that the community has regular opportunities to celebrate key Jewish occasions together, whilst being able to work within the budget constraints as advised by the Board.
To maintain shiurim and learning opportunities appropriate for members of the community wishing to engage in Jewish learning, and taking into account the demographic and diversity of the community.
To encourage increased community involvement in the planning of, and participation in, community events, including members who are not regular service attendees.
To encourage and reinforce the Community’s identification and links with the State and people of Israel, in conjunction with the relevant volunteers and lay leadership.
To make halachic decisions for the community taking into account the diverse observance of the community, whilst upholding the ethos, customs and practices of Orthodox Judaism.
Prepare engaged couples for marriage and officiate at the wedding ceremony.

Pastoral

To maintain overview of and active involvement in the welfare activity in the community, including contacting new parents, new and prospective members, housebound, sick, isolated, elderly and bereaved members or those who otherwise require pastoral support.
Conduct/attend lifecycle events, including brit mila, pidyon haben, marriages, funerals, shiva, stonesettings etc.
To offer support and advice to associated activities in the area that enhance the Jewish opportunities of local people (eg North Cheshire Jewish Primary School and Nursery).
To maintain and develop virtual tools for community cohesion, education and information.
To be regularly available for consultation by members in need on a regular basis, having a regular presence in the Rabbi’s office provided for his use.
Advising and assisting converts to Judaism in conjunction with the Beth Din.
Engage with external bodies, both Jewish and non-Jewish, to promote the synagogue, knowledge of Judaism, interfaith relations etc.
Liaise and work with the many volunteer groups within the community.
Where appropriate, and within the expertise of the Rabbi, provide preventative counselling and crisis intervention for those in need and know when and to whom to refer cases for specialised help.
A commitment to maintaining excellent communication and working with the lay leadership and synagogue office to ensure the smooth running of the shul.
Supporting and promoting the fundraising endeavours of the community.
The ability to create and execute events within financial guidance provided by the Board.
Be an ambassador for Judaism and the community within wider society.
To provide hospitality to all members of the community particularly over Shabbat, Yom Tov and other festivals (with the Rebbetzen if appropriate) working within the budget restraints set out by the Board.

This job description does not encompass the complete duties and should be treated as a guide to the duties that the Rabbi is expected to perform.

This job description may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the community at any time after full discussion with the successful candidate.

The role and responsibilities will be regularly reviewed by the jobholder, and the Chair and Honorary Officers, to ensure that the various roles integrate effectively, in providing the spiritual and religious guidance required by Yeshurun.
The Rabbi will be expected to attend quarterly professional team meetings and line management meetings to ensure that he is working in line with this job description, and working effectively with the rest of the team.
The successful candidate must be available to work unsocial hours including weekends.

Must have a UK permit to work in England.

JOB DESCRIPTION FOR REBBETZEN AT YESHURUN HEBREW CONGREGATION

TITLE:	Rebbetzen
SALARY:	Competitive
REPORTS TO:	Chair of the Board
JOB PURPOSE:	To work in partnership with the Rabbi to provide religious, spiritual, pastoral and educational leadership and to develop the spiritual, educational and communal life of the community and extend its reach and reputation, particularly to women and girls within the community.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Yeshurun Hebrew Congregation is a well-established, mature, and Zionist modern orthodox community, with an enviable reputation for friendliness and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

We are seeking an inspirational Rabbinic team to lead and inspire the community in their knowledge and practice of Judaism, empowering existing members whilst at the same time attracting new members to the synagogue and encouraging members to increase their engagement with the synagogue and community.

The successful candidates will be highly self-motivated, energetic, well-organised, and have excellent communication skills. They will utilise these skills to inspire, challenge and engage our members with empathy, warmth, enthusiasm and innovative thinking, and to reach out to a community of diverse observance, whilst upholding the ethos, customs and practices of Orthodox Judaism.

This job description should be considered in conjunction with the job descriptions for the Rabbi/Rabbinic couple.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

To provide charismatic and dynamic leadership spiritually, educationally, pastorally and religiously to encourage the growth of the community in numbers, engagement and Jewish practice in support of the Rabbi.
To provide support to the Rabbi and lay leaders, concerning all parts of community life and to work cohesively with and to become an instrumental part of the community organisation.
To create a strategy and particularly engage and build relationships with the women and girls in the community.

Services

To attend services on Shabbat and Chagim, including women’s services, offering guidance and a welcoming face to regular attendees and visitors irrespective of their level of observance, during and after the service at the kiddush, and be involved in the planning and running of children’s services on Shabbat and Chagim.
To be involved in discussions about the future of these services as a way of engaging women and girls in them.

Religious life

Together with the Rabbi, help to formulate and deliver diverse adult education programmes that appeal to a broad range of members of differing levels of religious observance, practice and knowledge, and that are designed to deepen their knowledge and commitment.
To encourage the Jewish development and growth of the community, through dialogue, education, personal involvement and teaching including programmes for women including Shabbat shiurim as well as for mixed group learning opportunities.
Together with parents to engage girls and their families in the run up to, during and after their Bat Mitzvah. This could include running or coordinating a yearlong Bnei Mitzvah programme, one to one learning, and working with families to create meaningful Bnei Mitzvah experiences.
Continue the advancement of the involvement of women in the religious life of the community, including offering support and encouragement for women’s services.
Within permitted halachic boundaries as defined by the Court of the Chief Rabbi and under the guidance of the Rabbi, to encourage and teach women in religious practice and mitzvot e.g. family purity, creating a Shabbat atmosphere in the home, women’s megillah reading, Simchat Torah hakafot etc. This is likely to include both formal and informal learning.
To work with the Rabbi and lay leaders in creating and delivering interesting cultural, social and educational events for the entire community. This may include, but not be limited to, events such as Shabbat UK, Purim, Tikkun Leil and community Shabbatons.
To engage with the children and youth of our community, together with their families.
To work with the Rabbi and the lay leaders as appropriate, to develop and implement youth and children’s activities and specifically a monthly or more frequent programme for girls post-Batmitzvah in shul on Shabbat.
To help inspire youth to become leaders in the younger Children’s services.

Pastoral

To engage, enthuse and inspire all members of the community as Rebbetzen. To work in conjunction with lay leaders, volunteers and other community members to create exciting programmes, increase commitment to the community, and to identify and implement opportunities for involvement.
To reach out to families that are both more and less active, through different methods, including increasing the number of volunteers at events. This includes reaching out to marginalised members.
To be a role model to women in the community, through all aspects of work, e.g. tefillah, community engagement and education.
Encourage women and girls to participate in all aspects of communal life.
To play an active role in tending to the religious, welfare, spiritual and emotional needs of all members of the Community and their families, e.g. new parents, new and prospective members, hospital visits, visiting the sick and housebound.
To work closely with the Rabbi, Liaison Team and lay leaders to ensure that the pastoral needs of the community are met.
To engage with community members at life cycle events whenever appropriate, e.g. weddings, funerals, stone settings, shivas and Bnei Mitzvot.
To create a warm and open home, and to provide hospitality as appropriate for community members for Shabbat and Yom Tov, in their home and at shul.
To welcome new members, reaching out and connecting with others.
To encourage and reinforce the Community’s identification and links with the State and people of Israel, in conjunction with the relevant volunteers and lay leadership.
Where appropriate, represent the community at cross-communal or non-Jewish events.
Work collaboratively and as part of a team – with the Rabbi and lay leaders, Guild, and Liaison network.
Work with volunteer groups involved in the catering of kiddushim and social events, providing support and kashrut advice.
Carry out any other reasonable duties as requested by the Chair or other designated senior staff/undertaking such other duties that occasionally fall within the purpose of the post
Maintain high levels of discretion and confidentiality at all times

This job description does not encompass the complete duties and should be treated as a guide to the duties that the Rebbetzen is expected to perform.

The job description may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the community at any time after full discussion with the successful candidate.

The Rebbetzen will be expected to attend quarterly professional team meetings and line management meetings to ensure that she is working in line with this job description, and working effectively with the rest of the team.

Must have a UK permit to work in England.