Cantor (or Musical Rabbi)

We cannot wait to welcome a new clergy team member to our temple family as a cherished leader, partner, and friend. We are a heimish, eclectic, and friendly Reform congregation. We will be breaking ground on our new temple building. Our new facility has a smaller footprint than our current campus built more than 40 years ago; it will be modern and warm, secure and welcoming, flexible and multi-functional. Our new home will not only be beautiful, but it will enable us to live out our vision of a home that is not only sustainable, but that is a hub for care, learning, tikkun olam, and for building relationships with one another. We are a congregation that takes Judaism seriously; that focuses both on relevance and depth of tradition; that is energized by innovation and experimentation; that cares deeply for one another and centers relationships in all efforts; that loves to laugh and find joy together no matter how difficult or dark the moment in the Jewish world. We look to the future with hope and possibility. We are looking forward to welcoming a clergy partner, either a Cantor or a Musical Rabbi, who will not only lead the musical life of the congregation and direct our B-Mitzvah program, but who will also be a true clergy team member in the fullness of what that means: relationship-building, pastoral care, teaching and programming for all ages, and more. We seek someone who will inspire our community musically and Jewishly, who is a talented songleader and singer who is comfortable leading with guitar, who cherishes tradition and also loves to innovate and experiment, and who is a true partner and collaborator. We also look forward to learning about the passions of our new Cantor or Musical Rabbi and seeing those passions flourish here at Temple Chai! One particularly special thing about our community is the incredible partnerships between clergy and staff and between our professionals and our volunteer leaders. We are blessed with a wonderful group of lay leaders and volunteers who truly “get it,” who value clergy and staff not only as professionals but as human beings, and who love to love their clergy. What a particular joy it is to serve a community that leads with its values and prizes relationships and consensus-building. Three of the most important things a cantor needs to know about our congregation are: 1. Relationships, inclusivity, and care are at the center of everything we do, and members cherish close relationships with each other and with clergy and staff, 2. We are a singing community and a praying community that prizes meaning and connection above polish and perfection & 3. We are dedicated to experimentation and innovation, as well as spiritual exploration, at the very same time that we embrace a more “traditional” sensibility around prayer and ritual practices than many Reform congregations. Three of the primary goals of our synagogue are: 1. To continue our path to a strong and sustainable future based on our vision of meaningful relationships and warm welcome, depth of spirituality and learning, and Jewish joy, 2. To engage and inspire our members and the broader community with meaningful programming and true caring & 3. To infuse our entire community, including families and youth, with love for Judaism and our traditions. Cantorial Job Description: Bimah (Shabbat and Holiday) Responsibilities, including:  Leading and/or supervising music for all of Temple’s Shabbat, High Holy Day, Festival, Tot, Family and other services; Working with the choir, youth choir, as well as lay and other professional musicians to provide music for congregational events; and Supervising volunteers who read Torah and Haftarah. Leading and empowering volunteers in planning our Purim Schpiel B-Mitzvah Program: Envisioning and implementing a groundbreaking B-Mitzvah program that is transformational for students and families; Ensuring the instruction and preparation of all B-Mitzvah students, through direct personal instruction and/or supervision of staff members involved in the program, including mentors and administrative staff; and Maintaining administrative responsibility for all aspects of B-Mitzvah programming, including ongoing communication with B-Mitzvah families and monitoring student progress. Education and Religious School: Developing and implementing a music curriculum for Early Childhood Center and religious school that supports the vision of the Temple and the schools; Maintaining a significant presence in our Sunday morning Religious School program and weekday ECC leading and teaching song and prayer, in partnership with educators and Senior Rabbi, Leading and/or supervising music and t’fillah in the religious school; Training and coaching teen song leaders; and Teaching adult education classes, in coordination with the Senior Rabbi. Life Cycle and Bikkur Cholim: Leading and participating in life cycle events of congregants; and Partnering with rabbis and lay leadership in all areas of bikkur cholim (Cantor will be “on call” to meet the needs of Temple’s congregation in coordination with the Senior Rabbi), Synagogue Leadership, Administration and Community, Participating with other professional staff in the management and administration of synagogue activities, including working within an established budget; Joining with clergy team and educator as a presence and leader for our retreats and immersive experiences, Participating in community events; and Working with guest artists and membership to provide music throughout Temple programming. Salary (including parsonage): $110,000-$160,000 Commensurate with Experience. Percentage of retirement contribution in addition to salary, including parsonage: 15%. Start Date: July 1, 2025. Full-time. Chair(s) of Search Committee: Jeannie Duncan, [email protected] & Ron Fischler, [email protected]. Senior Clergy: Rabbi Emily Segal. Please email cover letters, resumes and sound files to: [email protected] & [email protected]. Please cc to: [email protected]. https://www.templechai.com.

(2/6/25)