Beth Israel looks to welcome a new spiritual leader. Beth Israel (www.bethi.org) is an unaffiliated Conservative Jewish community which has served as the center of Jewish life for Fayetteville, NC and the surrounding 10 counties since 1910. Our synagogue serves 100 military and civilian Jewish families due to our proximity to Fort Bragg, the nation’s largest military installation.
Beth Israel's egalitarian philosophy encourages members to have a strong sense of personal ownership of their Jewish identity and involvement in the Synagogue as volunteers, members and active event participants. We are a diverse, modern and multi-generational Jewish community that acts to connect our population to Jewish educational, cultural, social, and spiritual programs and maintain strong and inclusive interfaith ties.
Beth Israel provides weekly regular and Holiday/High Holiday services, a Sunday School program with educator volunteers from the community, Hebrew school, Bar/Bat Mitzvah classes, Conversion classes, on-going adult education classes, youth programming, a popular First Friday Shabbat potluck and variety of community-wide programs throughout the year.
Position
This is an exciting position at a pivotal time for the Beth Israel Congregation. This professional will serve as the full time Rabbi providing active engagement and demonstrated professional leadership in implementing a wide variety of educational, community-building, and Jewish life programs.
This position requires someone who will embrace life in Fayetteville and is comfortable acting as a visible representative of the Jewish community while demonstrating a strong commitment to mitzvot. The ideal candidate will be organized and able to direct a small staff (1.5FTEs) and engage with a 15+ group of committed volunteers. Professional and responsive to the direction and guidance of the Board of Directors, as well as attentive to the needs of community members. The Rabbi must demonstrate strong vision and follow-through for engaging programming.
Beth Israeli requires a Rabbi able and willing to connect and relate to a wide range of Jewish identification, including: interfaith families, young and mature families, transient populations and military service members. S/he will genuinely and energetically project a warm, joyful and welcoming “come as you are" persona, embrace the importance of family, community, and volunteerism that is necessary to sustain Beth Israel. The ideal candidate will act as a leader and role model to expand the walls of the synagogue; reaching out to currently unaffiliated families and individuals to offer opportunities for exploring and deepening their Jewish connection and working to build a stronger partnership with Fort Bragg.
Responsibilities
Reporting to and supported by the Board of Directors, the Rabbi will partner with staff and volunteers to fulfill this role through many avenues. Among his/her many responsibilities, the Rabbi will be expected to provide leadership in these key areas:
Lifecycle/Pastoral: Visitation of sick/elderly on an on-going basis, Individual/Family counseling, Participate in life-cycle events, Meaningful spiritual guidance
Community Outreach: Cultivate volunteers leadership, Active relationship-building with membership and wider Jewish community, Continue/expand Interfaith leadership, Tikkun Olam & community service programs
Religious Responsibilities: Shabbat services, Holiday and High Holiday Services, Torah reader & Haftorah/Dvar Torah , Training of new lay service leaders
Education: Principal of the Hebrew School/Sunday School, Adult education and conversion classes, Bnai Mitzvah training
Membership/Administrative: Regular communication with Board & Congregation, Monthly & semi-annual Rabbi’s Report on activities and the vision for the community, Plan and manage expenses within the budget allocated, Assist the Board and community leadership with membership & development efforts