Assistant/Associate Rabbi (with Music Director/Education roles)

Hello Rabbis! After a decade of transition, Temple B’nai Torah is finding our footing again as a spiritual and caring community. The lay leadership and our Senior Rabbi are seeking an Assistant/Associate Rabbi who can creatively and collaboratively guide our community. We envision our clergy co-creating the musical, educational and worship experience of our congregation alongside our Senior Rabbi. We have three distinct needs. We will fill them with one, two, or three individuals who have a passion for the work, the Pacific Northwest, and our community. A full-time position will fill all these roles. A part-time position must fill the Pulpit/Pastor Care role and may also fill the Music Director or Education roles described below.

• Music Director: Music is an integral part of our community that supports connection, worship, and joy in the community. We have a rich history of diverse musical offerings and experiences from singer-song leaders to klezmer bands to our long-time Rabbi playing his standing bass to camp-style songs. We had a full-time Cantor for nearly 40 years. Musical leadership at TBT will maintain and grow our long tradition of rich and varied offerings and bring their own musical twists and tunes to TBT. Working with the Senior Rabbi, temple staff and volunteers, create and implement a shared vision for music at Temple B’nai Torah, focus on the musical programs for Friday and Saturday Shabbat services, religious school, other events and celebrations, and High Holidays. We are looking for a passionate, people-loving, musical individual who enjoys bringing music to Jewish spiritual and celebratory events. The individual must be willing to try new things as well as support the community with much-loved traditional favorites in the spirit of a modern reform temple.
• Religious School Leadership: Our Religious School is an integral part of how we express our values in our larger Temple B’nai Torah community of families. Our education program creates a rich and engaging environment for Jewish learning and is the backbone that supports learning, friendship, and connections between children, their families, and the wider TBT community. We are very proud that our synagogue has inspired more than 15 rabbis, cantors, and Jewish professionals over the years, including our current Senior Rabbi. Working alongside the Senior Rabbi, temple staff, teachers and volunteers, our new Rabbi will lead – or grow to lead – our religious school. At a minimum, a Rabbi filling this role who is new to the education world will uphold the vision and manage the weekly, ongoing responsibilities of running the religious school at Temple B’nai Torah.  For a Rabbi joining us with passion and skills for Jewish education, we offer the opportunity for leadership and ownership of the religious school. This is an exciting time to be part of Temple B’nai Torah! Since shifting to a Shabbat-based Religious School program three years ago, enrollment has increased significantly. We are building an early childhood center (for ages 6 weeks – 5 years) in summer of 2024, which will have a separate Director. The Religious School Administrator will collaborate as appropriate with the Early Childhood Center Director, but the schools will be managed separately. About our Religious School program: Our PreK-8th grade programs take place on Saturdays from 9:30am – 12:00pm. Our 9th-12th grade program takes place on Wednesday evenings from 6:00pm – 8:00pm. 3rd-6th graders learn Hebrew in small groups of 2-5 students during the week that meet either at TBT or on zoom.
• Pulpit/Pastoral Care: Our Rabbis play a central and dynamic role within our community, serving as spiritual leaders, teachers, and guides. Like most reform congregations, we are committed to adapting traditional Jewish practices to contemporary life, embracing inclusivity, and promoting social justice. Our Associate/Assistant Rabbi will fully participate in the spiritual leadership and guidance of the community, from the pulpit and with empathic pastoral care. The specific duties and responsibilities of the Assistant/Associate Rabbi will be worked out by the Rabbis.

Salary: $100,000.00-$125,000.00 annual for all 3 roles. If interested, please apply with resume and cover letter sent to [email protected] with the subject line [Your Name] – Asst/Assoc Rabbi. https://www.templebnaitorah.org. 

(2/13/24)