Rosh Yeshiva, Farber Hebrew Day School - Yeshivat Akiva
Who we are…
At Farber Hebrew Day School - Yeshivat Akiva, we cultivate a rich learning environment rooted in Modern Orthodox, Zionist principles. Farber is more than a school; we are a close-knit community dedicated to nurturing young minds from Early Childhood through 12th Grade. We are committed to delivering a comprehensive education encompassing both Jewish and secular studies, based on Torah values and academic rigor.
What we are looking for…
We are seeking an Orthodox Rabbi for the senior religious leadership position overseeing our Early Childhood through 12th Grade institution. This individual will work collaboratively with our administrative team to inspire and promote the strong educational and Judaic values of our school. The visionary Rosh Yeshiva candidate should have YU smicha or equivalent. He must possess qualifications, personality, and energy to serve as the spiritual leader of the school, responsible for the school’s religious identity and acting as a proactive ambassador to prospective and current school families and our surrounding Jewish community. He will work in partnership with the school’s Dean of Academics, who is responsible for the school’s academic rigor. Farber’s new leader will champion and embody the school’s Modern Orthodox values and hashkafa and move the school forward toward its mission. He will be fully committed to the growth and success of our overall community.
Responsibilities include:
- Report directly to the Board of Directors
- Serve as religious figurehead of Farber Hebrew Day School - Yeshivat Akiva
- Authority over all halachic issues
- Represent the school’s hashkafa
- Infuse all school activities with Torah, Jewish values, and school spirit
- Coordinate closely with the Dean of Academics (who is directly responsible for school’s academic rigor)
- Work closely with Director of Recruitment and Enrollment, Development Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Office Manager, and Board President
- Enable Administrators and staff to utilize their strengths and realize their own leadership capacities
- Cultivate teamwork within the school
- Serve as a role model to students
- Communicate regularly with faculty, staff, students, parents, and the broader Jewish community
- Connect meaningfully with school administration, parent body, community members, and other stakeholders
- Engage actively in the growth and sustainability of the school
- Collaborate with other community institutions and their leaders, including local Synagogues and Rabbeim, the Jewish Federation of Detroit, and other Jewish organizations to promote the Modern Orthodox Jewish Community in Metro Detroit
Why consider a move to metro Detroit?
Detroit boasts a vibrant Jewish community encompassing several neighborhoods. There are many different shuls, community institutions, Kosher restaurants, Kosher shopping options, and beautiful nature trails and lakes to explore! Detroit is home to four professional sports teams and an active arts and music scene. The Detroit community offers a favorable cost of living and a robust job market in a variety of professions.
Detroit has one of the most engaged and committed Jewish communities in the United States. The community is represented among the leadership of many of the most important national and international Jewish organizations, including the American Joint Distribution Committee, AIPAC, Bar Ilan University, Jewish Agency for Israel, ORT, Technion, and Jewish Federations of North America. The Detroit Jewish community is spearheaded by the prominent Jewish Federation of Detroit (JFD), which has remained committed to its own residents, providing essential social welfare support while also investing in the next generation and the growth of the Jewish community including in Farber Hebrew Day School - Yeshivat Akiva. Farber partners closely with JFD and has been the recipient of its support in programming and funding.
The Farber Hebrew Day School - Yeshivat Akiva school is a warm and inviting community. Every family matters and is an active participant in contributing to the success of the school and its students. The student atmosphere at Farber is that of a tight-knit family, with significant interaction and cohesiveness across the various grades. One hundred percent of parents recently surveyed feel that the school culture meets or exceeds their expectations due to the camaraderie among students and the culture of unity and family!
Thanks to the support of our community and the efforts of our advancement team, Farber has had several tremendously successful years in development, far exceeding our fundraising goals. Of particular note, we have received a transformative gift towards our educational support program. Farber recently announced a Sefer Torah campaign with plans for a Hachnasat Sefer Torah in the fall of 2024. We are inspired and excited to launch an endowment campaign in 2025 to help continue to secure our future.
Farber is a college preparatory school. It boasts robust programming supplemental to its classroom education, including weekly mishmar for both younger and older aged children, community STEM events, Girls on the Run, choir, Math Olympiad, YUNMUN, a family havdalah evening, and sports teams such as basketball, track and field, and baseball. Our extramural sports programming includes our participation in the Columbus Baseball Invitational, YU Saracheck Basketball Tournament, as well as our hosting of the annual Tanzman Basketball Tournament.
Our graduates have gone on to achieve success at various institutions across the globe. Many students matriculate to Jewish institutions like Bar-Ilan University, Yeshiva University, Stern College for Women, and Touro University. Students have graduated from University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, and Princeton University. We are proud of our graduates who have gone on to serve in the Israeli and American armed forces. Farber Hebrew Day School - Yeshivat Akiva graduates are leaders of industry, medicine, business, and Jewish communities.
To apply to become Farber Hebrew Day School - Yeshivat Akiva’s Rosh Yeshiva for the 2025-26 school year, please send a cover letter and resume to Amy Wasser, Senior Director of Prizmah School services, at [email protected].