Director of Lifelong Learning
Posted on January 16, 2025
Congregation Mishkan Or - Beachwood, OH
Inclusive/Diverse, Reform
Congregation Mishkan Or was established by the members of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple and The Temple-Tifereth Israel on July 1, 2024. Congregation Mishkan Or is excited to announce an extraordinary opportunity for a dedicated and visionary individual to join our community as the Director of Lifelong Learning. Congregation Mishkan Or was established in 2024, following the momentous merger of our two historic Reform Jewish congregations, which combined have over 300 years of rich heritage. With 2000 family units, we are uniquely poised to build vibrant, unified Reform Jewish educational programming that honors our past and embraces the future. As the Director of Lifelong Learning (DLL), you will play a pivotal role in shaping the educational journey of our diverse community members. You will work collaboratively with our leadership, lay committees, and congregants to develop and implement innovative programs that nurture Jewish identity, knowledge, and values across all ages. This position offers a unique opportunity to create a dynamic and inclusive environment for spiritual growth and lifelong learning. This role includes serving as the curricular and administrative leader for a vibrant and multifaceted religious school program and supervising the Limmud Team, a group of seasoned educators who guide the congregation’s youth learning programs. While the primary focus of this role initially emphasizes youth and family education, the position is designed to evolve, incorporating leadership of Early Childhood and adult education initiatives. This individual will also be a vital member of the synagogue senior staff leadership team and in turn, will report to the Senior Rabbi. We are seeking a visionary leader who can reimagine Jewish education through innovative and engaging models that emphasize identity, relationships, and relevance. The ideal candidate will incorporate technology and experiential learning to meet the needs of learners across all stages of life. This role requires a creative thinker who is passionate about transforming educational approaches to inspire curiosity, joy, and lifelong Jewish learning within our community. We see the DLL as a dynamic and dedicated individual who will serve as an integral member of our senior staff leadership team, contributing to the synagogue-wide vision and strategy. The ideal candidate will inspire and mentor the Limmud team, fostering professional growth and collaboration. Additionally, they will partner with our lay leaders and lay community to develop and implement educational programming that aligns with the synagogue’s mission and goals. This role demands a leader who can seamlessly integrate into our community, drive innovative initiatives, and nurture a cohesive and engaging learning environment. We seek a highly skilled individual who excels in communication and organization. The ideal candidate will have a proven ability to lead a team, hire effectively, resolve conflicts, and make difficult decisions when required. It is crucial that the DLL is a team player with strong interpersonal skills, capable of building meaningful connections with students, parents, and teachers. The DLL should value communication, respect, and innovation. The ideal candidate is also technologically adept with experience to create a modern, dynamic, and effective educational environment that meets the needs of today’s learners. The individual should remain up to date with the latest technological advancements and trends in educational technology, and be able to adapt and implement these innovations effectively.The DLL should be proficient in using communication tools like email, video conferencing, and social media to enhance collaboration and engagement within the community. Strong candidates will also be able to use technology for data management and analysis to track student progress, assess program effectiveness, and make data-driven decisions. We are looking for a passionate and experienced Jewish educator who thrives in congregational life, approaches challenges creatively, and is eager to partner with our dynamic clergy team to transform our education and engagement initiatives. The ideal candidate will share our aspirations for cross-generational learning that excites, challenges, and enriches our diverse membership. Areas of Responsibility: Youth and Family Education, Family Engagement, Adult Education, growth opportunities & Partner with clergy and lay leadership to envision innovative adult learning pathways. Qualifications: We are seeking a candidate with demonstrated: Education: Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree in Jewish Education, Jewish Studies, or a related field is preferred, Experience: 3-5 years of leadership experience in Jewish education, Visionary Leadership: Passionate about inspiring curiosity, joy, and lifelong Jewish learning, and comfortable leading that charge, Curriculum Development: Strong background in developing educational curricula, Team Supervision: Proven experience in supervising and leading a team, Creativity: A creative thinker with a passion for exploring new educational approaches, Teaching Expertise: Skilled in teaching sacred texts, traditions, and values & Technological Proficiency: Technologically adept with experience integrating technology into learning environments. Salary Range: $95,000-110,000. Benefits: Twenty-seven days PTO, Flexible schedule, Parental leave, Waived tuition to Limmud programs, Generous healthcare coverage, Retirement plan with employer contributions, 50% tuition reduction at our preschool, Ganon Gil & Moving expenses up to $5000 reimbursable. Position Available July 1, 2025. Full-time. We can’t wait to meet you! To apply, please send your resume, vision statement, and any questions you have to Barb Smith ([email protected]). www.mishkanor.org.
A Letter from our Clergy: Dear Director of Lifelong Learning, It is with great joy and anticipation that we extend this invitation to you to join our vibrant and robust community here in Beachwood, Ohio. You wouldn’t know it, but when we founded Congregation Mishkan Or, we had you in mind. From the outset of our merger process, we knew we needed to commit to investing in transformational leadership for our learning programming, and we’re so thrilled to have finally reached the season when we could meet you! We see you as the steward for one of Judaism’s greatest joys: the pursuit of a lifetime of meaningful, enriching learning. At Congregation Mishkan Or, you’ll get to work with our energetic students, our dedicated faculty, and our engaged clergy. You’ll have the pleasure of working alongside involved and active lay partners, as well as with an excellent professional team. When we considered ways to do something special with our new congregation, we knew a Director of Lifelong Learning would unlock so much potential for our community. We see the DLL as a partner in making Judaism come alive for our members and their families, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll do here at Mishkan Or. With warm wishes and great excitement, and on behalf of our clergy team, Rabbi Elle Muhlbaum
(1/16/25)