Synagogue Youth Director

Youth Director (Part-Time)

Congregation Shearith Israel, the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, is seeking a part-time Youth Director.  The purpose of this position is to help children form strong, positive connections to Judaism and our Synagogue, transmit our traditions to the next generation, and build community.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Creating a Fun and Content-rich Youth Group Experience
  • Prepare and lead substantive and compelling Shabbat, holiday, mid-week educational, and social activities with Jewish themes for youth (all ages) and young families
  • Liaison with lay committee members, youth leaders, and synagogue staff
  • Attend most Shabbat and holiday groups and special youth activities
  • Form meaningful rapport with the young families
  • Collaborate with counterparts at local peer synagogues
  • Create and share a long-range planning calendar
  • Recruit, hire, and oversee Shabbat and Holiday group leaders as needed
  • Provide weekly and ad hoc updates to Executive team and stakeholders
  • Solicit feedback and develop participation and satisfaction metrics
  • Recruit participation through in-person and phone outreach, social media (WhatsApp, Facebook), and email

The successful candidate should have the following experience, skills and qualities:

• Relevant educational background
• Teaching/education experience
• Experience in Jewish youth programming/education, leading synagogue youth, preferred
• Willingness/ability to attend synagogue most, if not all, Shabbatot and holidays
• Strong organizational and time-management skills; able to prioritize/multi-task/follow-through
• Professionalism – writes and communicates properly and effectively, uses technology appropriately, honors time commitments and deadlines, has the highest integrity and personal ethics

Compensation range of $25-40/hour, commensurate with experience. Total weekly time commitment varies depending on activities and is expected to range from 5 to 20 hours per week (with 2 hours onsite on Shabbat).  Position can be hybrid, with ability to meet deadlines, communicate with office staff during business hours (short Fridays), and occasional evening calls/Zoom meetings.

We are America’s first Jewish congregation, founded in 1654. We are very proud of our unique place in history and our rich Western Sephardic tradition (prior Sephardic familiarity not required).  Everything we do—whether in our ritual or our cultural, social or educational programming—reflects a commitment to our high standards.

For more information and/or to express interest, please contact Bonnie Barest, Deputy Executive Director via e-mail at [email protected] or 212-873-0300 x209.