Interim Rabbi

Temple Beth El (TBE), a Conservative synagogue in Portland, Maine, is seeking a passionate and engaging interim rabbi who will help guide and support the congregation at a key juncture between the retirement of our long-time rabbi and the search for a new permanent rabbi. The interim rabbi will help to maintain the positive momentum that TBE has built over the past several years, allowing us to continue building community and bringing people together. Since 1947, TBE has been a place of connection for Jews in Portland. Whether in prayer, learning, celebration, mourning, or pursuit of a more just world, our members and friends come from diverse backgrounds, and each has a role to play in creating the beautiful tapestry that is our synagogue. TBE is home to more than 300 member units and many more friends, neighbors, and community partners. We love bringing Judaism to life, whether in our building or the community. Our services and celebrations are simultaneously relaxed and lively, participatory and reflective, earnest and light-hearted. We pride ourselves on welcoming everyone who walks through our doors warmly. TBE is at a critical moment of congregational transition as our beloved rabbi of 29 years retires. The ideal candidate would provide support during that transition process and help us think through what the TBE community would benefit from most in a new permanent rabbi. This role will include supporting our community engagement process in the summer / early fall of 2024, providing guidance to help members constructively process a change in rabbinic leadership, and advice about how our existing strategic plan can inform the search for a permanent rabbi. The ideal candidate would also be comfortable handling a wide range of pastoral care responsibilities for members and non-members, including counseling, hospital and hospice visits, one-on-one meetings, support during times of loss, and lifecycle events (including conversion). Finally, the ideal candidate would be a strong public speaker and educator, both with sermons (high holiday and otherwise) and less formal speaking and teaching. On a day-to-day basis, the rabbi serves as a primary collaborator with the board, other lay leaders, and staff, providing important context and connection to Jewish values as decisions are made and initiatives are implemented. The rabbi works closely with the executive director to lead our congregation. The rabbi oversees the education director and Hebrew School staff, but not the administrative and facilities staff, who report to the Executive Director. The rabbi attends weekly staff meetings and helps develop programming. We are particularly interested in candidates with significant experience in the pulpit, who have previously served as an interim rabbi, and/or have completed Interim Ministry Network training. Candidates can find a complete description of our expectations for the interim rabbi, and details about our synagogue and community here: https://images.shulcloud.com/16192/uploads/Files/Rabbinical-search-files/TBEInterimRabbiQuestionnaire.pdf. Although we are not restricting our search to members of the Rabbinical Assembly (RA), the Rabbi is expected to comport themselves in accordance with the laws and traditions of Conservative Judaism as observed by our community. We will only review applications from candidates eligible to join the Rabbinical Assembly. We are seeking a candidate who can begin on July 1, 2024. This position offers a salary of $130,000 plus benefits, including generous paid time off. A resume, cover letter, and requests for additional information may be sent to Sara Kahn-Troster, Search Committee Chair, at [email protected]. https://www.templesholom.com. 

(2/13/24)