Solo Rabbi

Beth Shalom Synagogue creates a welcoming, spiritual and educational home for Conservative Judaism in Columbia. Beth Shalom Synagogue represents the spiritual home for G-d, Torah and Conservative Jewish Life in Columbia. Through strong Rabbinic leadership and an engaged congregation, Beth Shalom will continue to make Judaism a vital and integrated part of daily life now and for future generations. Our purpose is to help navigate this Jewish life, enabling families and children to enjoy the wonders of the synagogue, through hands-on learning, praying, celebrating, all the while nurturing a lifelong love and appreciation for all things Jewish and our relationships with the greater community around us. 5 Skills/Qualifications necessary for the position: Rabbi as: 1. Religious Motivator, 2. Spiritual Leader of Worship, 3. Teacher (tied with #2), 4. Congregational Leader & 5. Pastor (tied with #4). Any  combination of the above 5 skills would make a successful fit for our congregation. Beth Shalom is a labor of love for our congregants, not only because we love Judaism, but because many of us sat with our parents, grand parents and extended family during services. It feels like a second home to many of us. We want Beth Shalom to survive and thrive for our children and hope that our Rabbi, in collaboration with our Board, will engage members and non members to become a part of our community, participate and love Beth Shalom.  We have relied on our Rabbi to provide a safe space in which to explore personal and spiritual challenges. We are an intellectual congregation with many scholars from the University of South Carolina, and look to help us wrestle with this complicated world. A Rabbi that is equally wise and learned, trustworthy and discrete is essential to meet this need. The wish for a Congregational Leader, speaks to our enjoyment of well run and stimulating services, simchas and High Holidays. We have a deep bench of lay leaders who can and have led services well; however, there is a yearning among the congregation for someone who is comfortable and organized on the bema. We want a Rabbi who has a sense of leadership and the skills to take us with them. Collaboration with those attending services including the “regulars”, the “sometimes” and the “ twice per year” folks is critical. Equal attention should be paid to each group. A successful congregational leader will bring all three groups with them. Our ideal Rabbi would lead engaging services, sermons and holidays that appeals to a range of ages. We recognize this is a tall order. Each Rabbi will bring their own skill set, strengths and weaknesses. Another important initiative is to prioritize pastoral counseling and care and to tend to the sick, assist grieving families, and provide a safe space for folks seeking spiritual advice. As congregational leader, this Rabbi should take charge of weekly Shabbat and holiday services. The Rabbi will assume the role of congregational leader with the authority on the bema and Halacha. We seek leadership that will bring more flexibility, transparency, and a more modern sensibility to traditions. We would like to see more congregational participation in services, programming and volunteering. We seek a Rabbi that is not just the spiritual leader, but a motivator who can demonstrate that a membership to and participation in Beth Shalom life is worthwhile. We believe in strong Rabbinical spiritual leadership but one that is egalitarian and recognizes all the skills our members have to offer. We love that our congregants, young and old, participate weekly in services. We stream all services on Zoom and Facebook. Compensation: $135,000 plus benefits items to be negotiated. No housing provided. Ideally, our new Rabbi would start no later than July 15, 2025. Full-time. Search Committee Co-Chairs: David Lovit, [email protected] (803) 269-9600 & Bruce Filler, [email protected] (803) 960-0222. www.bethshalomcolumbia.org. 

(11/22/24)