Religious School Teachers

Tikkun Olam Starts Here: Building a Just World Through Experiential Jewish Learning

Are you a creative educator who thrives in a collaborative environment and longs to watch students blossom into confident Jewish leaders who embrace their heritage and make a difference in the world? If so, we want to hear from you!  If you do not yet consider yourself an educator but would like to teach, we also want to hear from you! At Temple Shalom, we weave a tapestry of experiential Jewish learning, social justice, and inclusive community to ignite young minds and hearts. 

Temple Shalom's Religious School is seeking passionate teachers to join our team and help us inspire the next generation of Jewish leaders. We serve nearly 300 students from babies to teenagers in our supplementary program located outside of Washington D.C., where Silver Spring meets Chevy Chase, MD. Connect with [email protected] to learn more!

Here's what makes Temple Shalom special:

• Radically Inclusive: We strive to always work on ourselves as we actively celebrate the rich diversity of our Temple Shalom family. This includes LGBTQ+ Jews; Jews and Families of Color; those who are Jewish-adjacent, not Jewish; and individuals from all backgrounds and identities. We welcome everyone to explore Jewish life with curiosity, joy, and a sense of belonging.
• Creative & Engaging: Think classroom field trips to explore justice issues around the Washington D.C. metropolitan area; dynamic retreats and Shabbatonim (Temple sleepovers); experiential learning activities that have students experience past moments of Jewish history; and hands-on cooking, gardening, sports, and painting electives that encourage teachers and students to get creative!
• Collaborative & Supportive: You'll join a team of passionate educators who believe in fostering a warm, nurturing environment where everyone feels valued.

What you'll do:

• Craft engaging lesson plans that spark curiosity and connect Jewish traditions to students' lives.  We have past lesson plans and curricula to look to for inspiration.
• Cultivate a safe, warm, and inclusive classroom where every voice is heard.
• Collaborate with the clergy and educational leaders to ensure lessons are deeply rooted in Jewish tradition yet relevant to today's world.
• Participate in professional development opportunities to keep learning and growing.

What we're looking for:

• A basic knowledge of Judaism (and/or a yearning to learn more) for Sunday Judaic Studies positions.
• For weekday Hebrew positions, fluency in reading Hebrew (but not necessarily speaking fluently), along with knowledge of some basic Hebrew words (like: Shalom, Shabbat, Tanakh, Lulav, Torah, etc)
  
• A passion for Jewish life, culture, and values.
• A collaborative spirit and a desire to work with a diverse team.
• Excellent communication skills to connect with students and parents.
• A willingness to learn and grow with support from our experienced educators.
• Comfort with working in a radically inclusive Reform Synagogue.

Compensation - Based on Education and Experience:

• Sunday Teaching Compensation Weekly Range: $65-$116 per week
• Tuesday & Wednesday Afternoons Weekly Range: $120-$175 per week

Benefits:

• Opportunities for continued professional development.
• Access to the clergy at Temple Shalom.
• Opportunities to join Temple Shalom for holidays and Shabbat, including joining us for all Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services.
• Opportunities to staff retreats and Shabbatonim (for additional compensation).
• Discounts on Religious School for your children (only if applicable).

Temple Shalom Religious School Schedule:

• Sunday Morning Religious School  (Kids’ Time, PreK, K-5th) 9:00-11:30
• Sunday Evening Religious School (6th-10th Grade) 6:00-8:00
• Tuesday Afternoon Hebrew School (3rd-7th Grades) 4:30-6:00
• Wednesday Afternoon Hebrew School (3rd-7th Grades) 4:30-6:00
• Wednesday Evening Hebrew School (3rd-7th Grades) 6:30-8:00

Statement on Hiring Qualifications:

Frequently cited statistics show that women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities and others from underrepresented groups apply to jobs only when they meet 100 percent of the job qualifications.  Temple Shalom encourages individuals to break those statistics.  No candidate ever meets 100 percent of the requested qualifications.  We look forward to your application.

Ready to join our vibrant community? 

Send your resume and a brief cover letter expressing your passion for Jewish education to Rabbi Josh Gischner (he/him/his) at [email protected] and to [email protected].  We look forward to getting to know you!

P.S. Check out our website TempleShalom.net and to learn more about us!