Who We Are
The Marks JCH of Bensonhurst, known as the JCH, is a center of community life in Brooklyn, rooted in Jewish values and fostering an inclusive environment. We help at every life stage, providing critical services that lift people out of poverty, as well as innovative programing that educates and inspires our community members. The Marks JCH is a full-scale human service agency, providing social services, older adult services, resettlement support, job placement in addition to being a Jewish community center offering children’s, youth, family, and cultural programs. Marks JCH prides itself on its 360-degree holistic service model, providing services for the whole family, meeting the needs of low- and moderate-income New Yorkers, specializing in helping refugees and immigrants.
Are you an experienced, inspiring leader who is passionate about advancing Jewish education, fostering Jewish pride and enhancing our Jewish peoplehood? Are you a visionary, team builder with a track record of success? If so, this could be your next career move. We seek an experienced leader for the position of Director of Jewish Life & Learning to build Jewish life, education and programs for community members of all ages at Edith and Carl Marks JCH of Bensonhurst. This position is in Brooklyn, New York and reports to the Executive Director/CEO. The Director of Jewish Life & Learning is a dynamic, innovative, creative self-starter with a passion for Judaism, Jewish education and Jewish life. Edith and Carl Marks JCH of Bensonhurst Director’s of Jewish Life and Learning will connect deeply with individuals from a wide range of Jewish backgrounds and cultivate a community with diverse and varied expressions of Jewish life, increasing the overall visibility and presence of Jewish values and culture using innovative programming and instruction throughout the Marks JCH community.
How You’ll Help Us Be Successful:
- Become a thought partner in exploring ways to lift up, enrich and enhance Jewish Life at the Marks JCH of Bensonhurst - a center of Jewish engagement for the Russian-speaking Jewish community of Brooklyn; create meaningful and innovative ways to bring Jewish Life to the forefront that align with current trends and community needs.
- Provide guidance and support to the RSJ community members on day-to day Jewish questions and choices, including ritual and life cycle integration into their lives.
- Develop, market, outreach, and implement all Jewish Life & Learning programs including monthly community Shabbat programs across demographic groups, and Jewish holiday/cultural celebrations.
- Develop and strengthen Jewish content and curricula, with a particular focus on programming for youth and families, Early Childhood, Senior Adults, Camp, and Teens
- Serve as a resource to all departments to infuse and expand Jewish content, including Israel, and quality in their particular area of services
- Develop, facilitate, and lead informal Jewish educational programs and events in conjunction with constituency program staff
- Develop and deliver new programs across Marks JCH, including but not limited to Hebrew classes; a speaker series on Jewish topics and Israeli History; Current affairs and Culture and Jewish educational opportunities
- Prepare Jewish Holiday programming for the staff and the community, for example, staff holiday luncheons, Yom Ha’atzmaut, etc.
- Responsible for sourcing and bringing to Marks JCH of Bensonhurst speakers, trainers and cultural providers for Israel and Jewish engagement from local, national and international sources
- Prepare and run training for program staff to increase their Jewish knowledge and strengthen their ability to impart Jewish traditions, culture and values to program participants
- Identify, acquire and, as necessary, develop Jewish educational materials for use in programming, and for display/distribution throughout the Marks JCH, on website, and as part of other publications
- Additional duties as assigned by supervisor
What You’ll Need To Be Successful:
- Minimum Bachelor’s Degree, Masters in Jewish Education a plus
- Experience in program development and delivery
- Comfortable in a public speaking role
- Strong working knowledge of Jewish values and traditions
- Ability to work with both children and adults
- Ability to work comfortably with all sections of the Jewish community
- Knowledge and experience of working with the Russian Speaking Jewish Community
- Ability to communicate effectively with staff, lay leaders and program participants
- Understanding of key and current trends in the areas of Jewish community and Israel
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Self-starter with comfort taking initiative
- Passion and commitment to Marks JCH’s’s vision of being the Jewish destination
This is a full-time position, salary commensurate with degree and experience ($90,000-$100,000)
Send resume and cover letter to Alex Budnitsky, CEO/Executive Director: [email protected]
We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sex, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, sexual orientation, veteran status, military status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Marks JCH of Bensonhurst is a beneficiary agency of the UJA Federation of New York.