Employment Opportunities with the Society for Humanistic Judaism
Editor – Humanistic Judaism Magazine
The Society for Humanistic Judaism is seeking an editor-in-chief for Humanistic Judaism, our quarterly magazine that is distributed both in print (twice a year) to about 2,000 households and digitally (four times a year) to those households together with a wider online reach. Must be knowledgeable about Judaism and the Humanistic approach to Judaism and have the creative ability to introduce exciting ideas to members, subscribers, and prospects.
Position is part-time as an independent contractor.
Compensation is $1,000 per issue. Position begins immediately.
Qualifications:
- Excellent writing and editing skills;
- Knowledge of Judaism and Humanistic Judaism, including philosophy and practices;
- Ability to keep to a publication schedule;
- A network of potential contributors and/or an understanding of the landscape from which to draw them;
- Skill in developing and implementing topics and approaching prospective contributors;
- A vision for what Humanistic Jews and family/allies might find meaningful in a magazine;
- Willingness and ability to engage with an editorial board and SHJ staff to help strategize about growing and engaging a wider subscriber base;
- College degree required.
Responsibilities:
- Oversee the production of four, 24-page magazine issues a year;
- Communicate with an editorial board to help plan issues, identify themes, and identify contributors, and work closely with the SHJ Rabbi and Executive Director;
- Solicit articles (contributors currently volunteer their content);
- Provide deadlines to contributors and collect their articles, including short author bios, and edit as needed;
- Write a note from the editor for each issue, and contribute additional pieces if/when you deem necessary (in consultation with the editorial board and SHJ staff);
- Balance the providing of an open forum of opinions with the mission of sharing Humanistic Judaism in a positive light;
- Collaborate with the volunteer Community News Editor to get brief blurbs and photos from affiliated Humanistic Judaism communities for that section of the magazine (usually 4 pages);
- Respond to letters to the editor, either privately or in print in future magazines;
- Collaborate with a graphic designer to produce professional-looking finished products;
- Together with SHJ staff, board, and editorial board, help grow the subscriber base beyond just SHJ members, through the ongoing professionalization of the magazine, better sharing of content online, and visioning for the future.
To apply, please email a cover letter, resume, and writing samples to SHJ Administrative Assistant Kathy Tschirhart at info@SHJ.org. Thank you!
Employment Opportunities in the Humanistic Jewish Movement
Oraynu Congregation for Humanistic Judaism – Rabbi
Job Description
July 2020
Nurture and build Oraynu as a thriving community in a manner consistent with Secular Humanistic Judaism;
Provide Oraynu members a strong sense of Jewish identity and belonging to a community that gives secular Jews a voice in a diverse world;
THROUGH
a) Spiritual and philosophical leadership, and pastoral support
b) Program development and execution
Responsibilities
General
• Liaise to the broader community
• Actively strive to create a culture of harmony, tolerance and inclusiveness among members
• Encourage wide participation by Oraynu members in congregational activities and events by recommending / establishing committees and working with individual members
• Participate in activities and committees charged with encouraging the retention of members
• Participate in raising the profile and visibility of Oraynu, and its philosophy of Secular Humanistic Judaism.
• Contribute articles to the congregation’s newsletter and other publications, as appropriate
• Communicate openly and regularly through established channels with Oraynu’s Board of Directors, Philosophical Review Committee, School Committee and staff
• Participate with and advise the appropriate committees in hiring and evaluating staff needed to deliver the educational, cultural and liturgical services of the congregation, with the exception of the positions for which the School Principal and YFD is (are) responsible
• Participate in outreach activities for attracting prospective new members to Oraynu.
Spiritual and Philosophical Leadership
• Chair the Philosophical Review Committee which determines the philosophical direction for all of the congregation’s educational and cultural curricula, programs, position statements, publications and the liturgy and observances for the Jewish holidays and life cycle events
• Recommend which holidays / festivals that the congregation celebrates and take a lead role in preparing and / or reviewing the liturgy and observances for these adult observances
• Create and deliver an address at major Oraynu events, such as the B’nai Mitzvah ceremony, High Holiday services, the family Seder and others
• Participate in the Children’s School by attending periodically (e.g. on special occasions and holidays) to observe and to maintain a Rabbinic presence with the school-children.
• In conjunction with the YFD provide at least one congregation-wide event each year.
Pastoral Support
• Provide pastoral care to congregants, as requested and as available, including offering comfort to the bereaved and ill in accordance with the Board policy which defines the basis for “free services” and “fee-for-service”.
• Counsel congregants on spiritual and philosophical issues, as requested and as available, when requested, in accordance with the Board policy which defines the basis for “free services” and “fee-for-service”
Programming
• Develop and implement a program of educational, cultural, social action and community service activities for adult members in consultation with the appropriate congregational committees
Skills and Attributes
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to represent the Humanistic Jewish values of the congregation (internally and externally)
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to lead staff including the building of collaborative teams, working in partnership with volunteer Boards and committees and developing relationships with a multitude of diverse community institutions
• Planning and organizational skills with the ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives
• Ability to manage, mediate and resolve conflicts coupled with an ability to promote constructive interpersonal communication and dynamics
• Commitment to the philosophy of Secular Humanistic Judaism
• Commitment to the strength and growth of Oraynu Congregation
• Personal passion for Humanistic Jewish learning, values and community life
Qualifications
• Spiritual Leader: Ordained or otherwise recognized by an established Jewish seminary or appropriate rabbinic training program
• Program Director: Experience developing and leading programs that align to an organization’s tenets
Contact: Louise Sherman, louisejay@hotmail.com, 416-459-7890
Kol Hadash, Northern California Community for Humanistic Judaism
Executive Director — January 2021
Summary:
Kol Hadash is seeking an Executive Director to assume shared responsibility for the planning, execution, and follow-up of programming; nurturing and growing the organization; and representing the community together with the Board of Directors and other volunteers. The position is a one-third time with a salary of $25,000 per year.
Background:
Kol Hadash (“New Voice” in Hebrew) was founded in 1987 under the congregational model of Humanistic Judaism founded by Rabbi Sherwin Wine. Kol Hadash celebrates Jewish identity and culture consistent with a humanistic philosophy without reference to supernatural authority. Kol Hadash is a member of the Society for Humanistic Judaism (shj.org for more information), an international group of Jewish Humanist organizations. We offer member-led unique High Holidays, Passover, monthly Shabbats, and other ritual observances, as well as speaker and video programs that reinforce Jewish and humanist values. Our community actively supports the advancement of social justice, science, and rational thought.
Members also lead special interest groups including a Discussion Group, Book Club, and “Lunch Bunch.” Our current membership is mostly post-retirement age. Kol Hadash is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Berkeley, California (kolhadash.org for more information).
Organizational Vision:
Kol Hadash aims to provide a Jewish humanist voice to the broader Bay Area Jewish and non-Jewish communities, and support robust Jewish identity amongst atheist, agnostic, and/or previously unaffiliated Jews in the San Francisco Bay Area. We intend to grow so that our membership becomes younger and doubles in numbers (currently 37 households) over the next two years due to better marketing and expanded programming which appeal to younger households.
Duties:
The primary responsibility of the Executive Director is to assure smooth, gracious, professional, and sustainable operation of all aspects of the organization.
The duties, summarized below, may vary based on the background of the person selected, the level of volunteer engagement, and status of Covid-19 restrictions on in-person meetings. The Executive Director and the Board of Directors will work together to prioritize and assure that assigned tasks are consistent with the agreed-upon time commitment.
- Nurture and grow our organization using any of a variety of means (e.g., increase membership/participation, fundraising) such that it is financially and organizationally sustainable.
- Encourage participation of existing and prospective Kol Hadash members and volunteers.
- Work with the Board and volunteers to plan and carry out existing celebrations, observances, and programs; innovate appropriate new activities; and assure that all of our tasks and commitments are fulfilled.
- Fill in “in a pinch” on anything required when necessary.
- Liaise, and serve as our primary contact, in developing relationships with other Jewish, Humanist, and other communities.
- Maintain archived information and current records.
Additional details on individual programs, officers, committees, and volunteers are summarized in our Kol Hadash “Operating Manual,” which is available upon request.
Remuneration:
The Executive Director will be a one-third time employee with a salary of $25,000/year. The Executive Director, will work primarily out of their own home and supply their appropriate computer hardware and software, car/local transportation, and Internet service provider.
Qualifications:
Basic requirements:
- Knowledge of the history, culture, and observances of the Jewish people.
- Knowledge of, and commitment to, the philosophy of Humanistic Judaism.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Able to patiently, efficiently, and graciously coalesce input and opinions from a diverse group of members.
- Computer savvy, familiar with basic office software (e.g., MS Word, Excel), online communication via Zoom, and experience with social media.
The Ideal Candidate:
- Experience in non-profit management, fundraising, and event planning.
- Possess connections or background in the local or national Jewish community.
- Experience growing membership and participant base in a non-profit.
- Experience in developing and implementing strategic initiatives.
- Ability to manage, mediate, and resolve conflicts, coupled with an ability to promote constructive interpersonal communication and dynamics.
For further information or to apply: Email a cover letter, resume, and other supporting material to: Search Committee, Robyn Raymer, Kol Hadash President, at robynraymer@aol.com.
Screening of applications will begin January 18, 2021 and continue until a suitable applicant is hired.
Employment Opportunities in Secular Movement Organizations
Secular Student Alliance (on-going)
The Secular Student Alliance lists positions available throughout the secular movement. Click here to find listings for jobs and internships.