Jewish Educator

Position Title: Jewish Educator

About Touro Synagogue

Vision and Mission: Touro Synagogue is a mission- and values-driven synagogue in New Orleans, Louisiana built on a vision of reform Jewish values actualized to inspire present and future generations. Touro’s mission is to create an inspiring and inclusive haven for individual, family, and communal connection to Reform Judaism and to each other. Grounded in our enduring history and guided by our innovative and progressive spirit, Touro’s community embraces an ever-evolving expression of Jewish faith, hope, possibility, meaning, and impact within our walls and beyond. Transformative prayer, expansive thought, fearless engagement, and love are the core values of Touro’s multifaceted Jewish living as a congregation including spiritual, educational, community engagement, social justice, musical, and family activities.

Congregation: Touro’s congregation is filled with beautiful contradictions – an elegant, historic sanctuary and an intimate, embracing chapel; an active group of knowledgeable sages and a vibrant young adult community; a love of enduring Jewish traditions and a drive for spiritual innovation and forward motion; a commitment to the inner life of our congregational family and a constant energetic force that engages in the work of building a more complete and just world.

Touro’s congregation exceeded 700 multi-generational households for the first time in 2024, with membership growth up 23% in the last five years, largely from young families. Touro’s thriving congregation of multi-generational engagement and our progressive approach to Judaism and community have enabled us to attract a diverse mix of young people in their 20s and 30s, active families, empty nesters, retirees, racially and ethnically diverse families, many interfaith families, and previously unaffiliated Jewish families. Inclusivity is a core value at Touro, where every member is warmly welcomed. This is reflected in our Voluntary Annual Support Program (VASP), allowing households to contribute at a level that feels comfortable and meaningful. This approach ensures newer and younger members can join without financial pressure, fostering a sense of belonging.

Worship Style: Touro Synagogue reflects the spirit of New Orleans: musical, eclectic, and deeply spiritual. Shabbat evenings bring the community together with lively, participatory services for all ages, followed by a complimentary shared dinner. Monthly, we host a lay-led, traditional egalitarian Shabbat morning minyan in partnership with Chavurat Or’leans, featuring programs for tots, youth, and a shared lunch. This fosters leadership development and broadens our community's inclusivity.

Our clergy and education team craft special services for young families on holiday mornings. Each year, Jazz Fest Shabbat celebrates Shabbat with local musicians, creating a unique spiritual and musical experience now in its 33rd year and open to the public. We are also a place that is constantly evolving. The congregation and clergy are curious about and open to new music and methods that inspire transformative prayer.

Working at Touro: Touro’s staff of 14 includes clergy (Senior Rabbi, Associate Rabbi, Cantor) with support from professionals that oversee finance, building use, communications, membership, education, events and programming. The work culture of Touro Synagogue is infused with joy and purpose. Each team member is cherished by others for who they are and the gifts they bring, and congregants regularly express gratitude and affection towards those who serve our institution professionally.

New Orleans is a unique city, rich in history, culture, and pride. Touro Synagogue as an anchor institution in the city, along with those who call it home, are deeply immersed in the life and rhythms of New Orleans itself. (For example, in addition to the Jewish holidays that are so richly observed amongst the congregation, so too are Mardi Gras / Carnival Season and Jazz Fest, as Touro serves as a hub for the community during these times due to our location in the center of the city.) For these reasons, serving Touro Synagogue as a professional is unlike any other experience of Jewish communal work and is full of exuberance, connectivity, and meaning.

The Opportunity

Touro Synagogue is excited to welcome a passionate and visionary educator to shape, expand, and inspire our dynamic youth and teen education programs, fostering meaningful connections and lifelong Jewish learning.

Position Overview:

The Jewish Educator position at Touro Synagogue represents a crucial addition to our educational team as the visionary director for youth and teen learning and engagement at Touro. Touro Synagogue is home to a plurality of Jewish households in New Orleans, and we have experienced significant growth over the last five years, particularly among families with children. Touro’s Jewish Educator will be the architect and leader of educational programming for this growing population of youth and teens and their families, in close partnership with the rest of the clergy (Senior Rabbi, Associate Rabbi, and Cantor), all of whom are deeply committed Jewish educators. The Jewish Educator will also build meaningful and compassionate relationships with Touro’s congregants, especially those enrolled in education programs.

Touro’s Jewish Educator will supervise and be supported by Assistant Educators and will have a hand in structuring that support.

Essential Duties:

• Develop a strategic plan for each discrete educational offering for youth, teens, and families, including curriculum, staffing, budget, and communication, in keeping with Touro’s values and Jewish tradition;
• Direct and support diverse suite of educational programming, including:
  • Shabbat Rocks, our version of “Tot Shabbat”: This Shabbat morning prayer and education program is designed for our youngest members (ages 0-5) and their grown-ups. Families attend monthly, enjoy a musical and accessible morning service led by clergy and educators, participate in a tactile or kinesthetic learning activity, and stay for Shabbat lunch with the rest of the community. (Directed by Jewish Educator, leadership shared by clergy and assistant educators)
  • Kehilah KIDoshah, our Shabbat childcare program that is so much more: During Kabbalah Shabbat, our children sit with their families through L’cha Dodi, and then they are escorted to Kehilah KIDoshah during which they have their own Shabbat experience which includes music and singing, learning, and community building. Kehilah KIDoshah also takes place during our monthly Shabbat morning minyan. (Directed by Jewish Educator, led by assistant educators and caregivers)
  • Sunday Yamim Yafim, our weekly Sunday School program for PreK-5th Grade (Directed by Jewish Educator)
  • Uptown Hebrew, our weekly Hebrew School program on Wednesday for 3rd-6th Grade (Directed by Cantor in partnership with Jewish Educator)
  • B’nei Mitzvah Programming: a meaningful journey for our students and their families and for many, the most intensive Jewish experience of their lives to this point. It includes several orientation events beginning with a Kabbalat Siddur ritual, weekly Hebrew study in small groups and individually, composition of a D’var Torah, creation of a Tikkun Olam project, a week-of run-through, and of course the big day. (Directed by Cantor in partnership with Jewish Educator)
  • Wednesday Yamim Yafim, our bi-weekly education program from 6th-9th Grade (Directed by Jewish Educator, shared leadership by clergy and assistant educators)
  • Confirmation for 10th Grade (Led by Senior Rabbi)
  • Seminar Offerings for 11th and 12th Grade (Directed by Jewish Educator)
  • Madrichim Program both for Yamim Yafim on Sundays and Uptown Hebrew on Wednesdays. (Directed by Associate Rabbi and assistant educators)
  • Belle Adelman-Cannon Center for Teen Leadership: Belle Adelman-Cannon was a beautiful spirit who grew up at Touro and whom we lost in a tragic accident in 2023 when they were 17. The center honors Belle’s memory with a mission to support, nurture, and empower our teens in their journey toward becoming Jewish leaders of all kinds. (Directed by Associate Rabbi)
• Lead weekly education team meetings with full-time staff to ensure full cohesion and coordination of these offerings, providing leadership, guidance, and support to the education team;
• Manage budget and scholarships:
  • Develop, manage, and monitor the education department's budget, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and priorities;
  • Oversee and administer the scholarship process, ensuring equitable access to and awareness of financial aid for participants in educational programs;
• Orient and nurture part-time staff and faculty to create the ideal environment for learning and deliver on the objectives;
• Stay current with Jewish educational best practices through continued learning and professional development, by attending appropriate conferences, and communicating with peer institutions, etc.
• Communicate clearly and compassionately with families on a regular basis to maximize engagement with the programs and overall goals;
• Shepherd prospective families through a process of orientation that excites them about Touro and the Jewish life we are cultivating with our youth and teens.

Skills & Mindsets:

• Relationship-Building: Develop strong, positive connections with youth of all ages and their families to foster trust and engagement.
• Commitment to Learning: Approach challenges with curiosity, seeking knowledge and understanding to inform decision-making.
• Growth and Continuous Improvement: Seek opportunities for personal and professional development, and continuously strive for excellence.
• Strong Organizational Skills and Attention to Detail: Manage multiple tasks and issues effectively, ensuring accuracy and thoroughness in all responsibilities and interactions.
• Strong Written and Verbal Communication Skills: Clearly and effectively convey information in a variety of formats to diverse audiences.
• Authentic and collaborative style: Partner effectively with colleagues, contributing to a positive and supportive work culture, delivering feedback with kindness and clarity, and celebrating the gifts of others;
• Inclusivity and Open-Mindedness: Embrace diverse perspectives and create a welcoming environment for individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.

Experience:

• A Master’s Degree in Jewish Education is preferred.
• 3-5 years of professional experience in a Jewish communal setting such as a congregation, summer camp, or Jewish day school is preferred. (This experience may have taken place before graduate school, which is a wonderfully welcome path.)

Compensation and Benefits:
This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position with a start date of July 1, 2025. Touro Synagogue offers a competitive salary range of $85,000–$125,000, commensurate with experience, along with a robust benefits package. This includes a 15% contribution to the pension plan, comprehensive health insurance, and optional self-paid life and income disability insurance. Additional compensation includes an annual allowance for professional conventions, reimbursement for professional expenses and organizational dues (including ARJE), a housing allowance, and access to a family leave policy to support work-life balance. The position also includes four weeks of vacation annually, plus two personal days (PTO), ensuring time for rest and renewal. Additional considerations may include coverage of religious school or youth group trip fees for immediate family members, tuition benefits for Jacobs Camp or another URJ camp, and a sabbatical to be discussed after the initial contract period.

How to Apply:

Please complete the application form, including uploading necessary documents (resume and cover letter). Click this link to access the form.

If you have any issues accessing the form or submitting your application, please contact Beth Lavin, Search Committee Chair, at [email protected]. If you are an ordained clergy member interested in this position, please refer to the listing available through CCAR.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Equal Employment Opportunity has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental principle at Touro Synagogue where employment is based upon professional capabilities and qualifications without discrimination due to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetics, age, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

This policy of Equal Employment Opportunity applies to all policies and procedures relating to recruitment and hiring, compensation, benefits, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.