Overview
Since 1881, The New York Board of Rabbis (herein NYBR) has shaped the future of Jewish life in New York, educated rabbis and the public, and responded to the changing needs of the Jewish community. Today, the NYBR is the largest inter-denominational rabbinic body in the world with over 750 members.
For over 140 years, the NYBR has provided opportunities for rabbis of different denominations to come together for study, professional, and leadership development. The NYBR offers professional and personal support and mentoring, which help ensure that the Jewish community is provided the highest level of rabbinic commitment. The NYBR’s mission has always been to serve as a bridge of strength and promise among individual rabbis, rabbinic networks, and the greater Jewish community.
Over the last decade, there have been seismic shifts in the demographics of New York’s Jewish community including the decline in affiliation in some traditionally Jewish neighborhoods and the establishment of new congregations in other areas. How the Jewish community gathers, participates, and connects is changing as well.
The NYBR is concerned about the welfare of the entire community and seeks to better understand the needs of rabbis at this pivotal moment. There are rabbis outside of the traditional community structures, working in new and different rabbinates who are serving their communities in a range of roles and capacities. These emerging leaders would greatly benefit from the support of their colleagues, thereby enhancing their grassroots work.
The Jewish Community Organizer position is office-based in New York City and has been created as part of a grant from UJA-Federation of New York.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Understand the targeted neighborhood landscapes for Jewish engagement and build strong relationships with rabbis
• Create outreach strategy and structure to help build and establish new relationships and strengthen existing partnerships
• Assess opportunities within the neighborhoods to meet the needs of the communities and of the rabbis
• Create networks and communities of practice for rabbis and their communities
• Build relationships with local groups, community leaders, and agencies that can be helpful in achieving the initiative’s goals
Required Qualifications:
• BS/BA degree is required; graduate degree preferred
• Strong organizational skills, verbal and written communications skills, and the ability to interact
• well with others in a multicultural team-oriented environment
• Those with extensive experience working with rabbis are encouraged to apply
• Excellent relationship and network-building skills
• Demonstrable ability to work efficiently and responsibly, in a fast-paced environment, with good
• analytical problem-solving skills and responding effectively and efficiently to changing priorities
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google software
• Exceptional attention to detail and knowledge of other languages is a plus