Rabbi

Temple Beth Shalom is an affiliate of Reconstructing Judaism in search of a rabbi to begin Summer 2026. Temple Beth Sholom (TBS) is dedicated to being a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive center for Jewish life in Salem, Oregon, and its surrounding areas. Our membership is diverse in practice and varied in observance. Our congregation includes about 170 membership units (families, seniors, couples and singles) from all corners of the United States and around the globe, and from many different backgrounds.  As an affiliate of Reconstructing Judaism, Temple Beth Sholom facilitates the search for meaning in Jewish heritage through the discovery and observance of Jewish values and practices within a contemporary setting. TBS is a community synagogue. As the only non-orthodox synagogue in Salem (the only other community is Chabad), we seek to be a “big tent”; meaning that a rabbi should expect to serve people with a range of Jewish literacy and relationships to Jewish ritual practices. While the vast majority of our members locate themselves on the left side of the political spectrum, there is a range of views and responses to the stressors of the times we live in so the rabbi must be inclined toward being an empathetic, pastoral presence for all; and navigating their personal callings in the realm of social justice action with the needs and perspectives of the community.  TBS is currently looking for a full-time rabbi. Our key qualities for a rabbi are empathy, providing a sense of welcome, good communication skills, being a leader within the community, being thoughtful, intellectual, showing maturity, a good sense of humor, as well as being musical and inclusive. Our most important areas for rabbinic involvement are supporting the growth of the TBS community; serving as a spiritual leader; educational leader; motivator (getting people involved); be welcoming; congregational growth; building relationships in the greater community; commitment to finding new ways to ensure that active TBS participants in certain events/groups are invited / welcomed to other areas of TBS, to ensure strong membership bonds (i.e. ensure religious school families participate in other TBS functions or groups, so we don’t just lose the family after B’Mitzvah time, increase participation from those who attend Pesach seder only, increase involvement from those who only attend services, etc.)  Our proposed salary for this position is highly negotiable, with an initial range of 70,000-95,000 dollars per year including parsonage. TBS also provides benefits including pension, Social Security reimbursement, convention subsidy, 24 vacation days, 3 full weekends (Friday-Sunday) off per year, and 8 national holidays. TBS provides the rabbi with two days off per week, preferably consecutive days. Our congregation/community are particularly proud of our strong inclusive community, a recent fundraising campaign for solar panels on our building, strong lay leadership, respect for religious diversity, and continuity of services. We believe our strengths are being a caring and supportive community with dedicated leaders and a strong desire to be and offer more to the Salem Jewish community, as well as supporting the rabbi. Our main weaknesses are cultivating new leaders and a lack of volunteer coordination. Our short-term goals are to hire a rabbi, increase community involvement, and continue our trend of growing the congregation. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Leading Friday night and Saturday morning services (Saturday services are currently the 1 st and 3rd Saturday of each month), Service leadership includes chanting/singing and giving & a regular D’var Torah, Leading Festival services and High Holy Day services, with help from a committee of lay leaders, Teaching in the Religious/Hebrew school (Currently, the Rabbi serves in an advisory/mentorship role for the education director but has taught in the past. The Rabbi also typically leads “Rabbi’s Circle”, the first 45 minutes of our religious school, a daily prayer and Saturday service prayer and singing circle to teach the children the daily/Saturday morning prayers and learn new songs.  Last year, the Rabbi led this approximately 75% of the time. The Rabbi is also involved with B’nai Mitzvah preparation.), Prepare students for B’nai Mitzvah (Currently just with D’var Torah, a tutor in the community has been responsible for teaching prayers and Torah portion & Rabbi also assists the student in leading the service as needed), Visits to hospitals, care facilities, etc., Adult education (Monthly Musar, Talmud study, Torah study, Spiritual practices, Coordination with Jewish Cultural Education Committee, other classes/presentations & Attend board meetings monthly), Lead lifecycle events, including britot milah, baby namings, marriages, conversions, burial practices, and funerals & Advisory participation with some committees, primarily Religious Practices Committee. The Search Committee has requested that all applicants submit the following documents: A cover letter & An updated resume. Important: While the position is open to all, the applications are being processed according to the parameters of the RRA placement guidelines. Candidates must apply directly to: Rabbi Elliot Skiddell, Interim Director of Rabbinic Placement, Reconstructing Judaism and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association: [email protected]. https://tbsholom.org/. 

(12/3/25)