New Job Post - Temple Emanu-El Dallas, Songleader

SUMMARY
Temple Emanu-El is a vibrant Reform Jewish community that strives to be a place of sacred encounter. It is a place where learning, prayer and deeds change people’s understanding of themselves, of their world and their responsibilities in it. Formed in 1872, Temple Emanu-El is the largest congregation in the Southwest and is among the largest in the United States with close to 2600 member families. You can learn more about Temple Emanu-El at https://www.tedallas.org/

Temple Emanu-El is seeking a dynamic, experienced Songleader to enrich our already robust music culture. The Songleader will primarily work with the Early Childhood Education Center (“ECEC”), Youth Learning + Engagement (“YL+E”, Temple’s youth and teen community), and Atid (Temple’s Young Adults Initiative). The Songleader will report directly to Rabbi Amy Ross, Senior Director of Education and Engagement, with musical coaching and direction from Cantor Vicky Glikin (Senior Cantor). The Songleader will also work closely with and be mentored by Shelly Sender, Director of the ECEC, and Cantor Leslie Niren (Associate Cantor). This is a full-time position, subject to full benefits, a moving stipend, and professional development resources.

JOB DESCRIPTION FOR SONGLEADER
ECEC:

• Responsible for leading groups in Jewish and secular singing sessions
• Develop a culture of song and ruach throughout the school and family engagement events
• Co-lead Tot Shabbat services on either Friday nights, Saturday mornings or Saturday evenings once per month
• Serve as music teacher for classes for children ages infant and older
• Serve as song leader for all the Jewish Holidays and major events, such as Grandfriends Day and weekly Friday Shabbat celebrations
• Creatively enhance the school’s current song repertoire
• Incorporate musical instruments into the music curriculum
• Host jam sessions for students, campers and staff
• Infuse spirit and enthusiasm into the school and camp community
• Work full time in the summer camp

YL+E:

• Responsible for planning and implementation of music and t’fillah education in YL+E’s Sunday morning program in collaboration with Cantors Glikin and Niren and the Director of Youth Education
• Supplement Hebrew education with music facilitation, specifically of prayers and blessings in curriculum
• Co-lead youth and family Shabbat and holiday worship including High Holy Days, Sababa (K-2), 3-6 Shabbat, 7th & 8th Grade Shabbat, Teen worship, and B’Yachad (special needs)
• Participate with Cantors Glikin and Niren in the leadership of Kol Shir (youth choir), Teen Shir (teen choir) and Jam Sessions (middle school)
• Build and cultivate relationships with musical students and mentor them to become musical leaders in our congregation
• Assist the Directors of Youth Education and Family Engagement and Education organize and implement youth and teen engagement opportunities as needed and as available
• Coordinate and direct the annual YL+E Variety Show, showcasing the many varied talents of our youth and teens

Other:

• Co-lead worship experiences for Atid, Temple’s Young Adults Initiative
• Facilitate adult jam sessions
• Develop song leading opportunities for interested teens
• Help to envision new ways to enrich Temple with music
• Service on faculty of Greene Family Camp highly encouraged
• Participate in the musical life of the congregation in ways that meet the candidates interests and abilities

REQUIREMENTS
• Experience working with children of different ages
• Strong musical background and ability to read music
• Training and experience in song leading
• Comfortable working in a small & large group setting
• Knowledge of school and camp songs and the ability to lead
• Excellent guitar skills
• Desire and ability to work with children indoors and outdoors
• Ability to relate to peers
• Good character, integrity, and adaptability
• Enthusiasm and passionate
• Professionalism and a collaborative spirt
• Self-starter, ability to exercise initiative
• Willingness to be mentored, to grow and to learn

DALLAS: A Wonderful Place to Call Home
What’s it like to live in Dallas? We’ll begin with the obvious. Dallas is a conservative city and home to the nation’s 43rd president, except for the fact that the City of Dallas has a widely popular Democratic mayor, and Dallas County has voted Democratic in the past two presidential elections and in every U.S. Senate election since 2008.

Dallas is isolated from the East and West Coasts, except for having the world’s fourth busiest airport and flights to just about anywhere, not to mention a steady stream of cultural, retail and culinary imports from Rodeo Drive to Broadway. We’re known for a world-class symphony and championship sports in state-of-the-art stadiums.
Jews in Dallas? Well, our congregation and this city grew up together, ever since our founding in 1872. We weren’t all here then: Our current clergy team hails from New York, Boston, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles, and includes one outnumbered Dallas-ite–but we’ve all made Dallas home. As a member of Dallas’ warm and welcoming Jewish community, you’ll be able to shoot baskets and work out at the recently remodeled JCC and volunteer at the Jewish Family Service Food Pantry.

Dallas is, quite simply, a complex, vibrant, modern city that will steal your heart. What draws us to her isn’t easy to explain: Is it that she’s created the nation’s largest arts district chock-full of beautiful buildings designed by the world’s foremost architects? Could it be the wildly successful beautiful new downtown park or the stunning architectural landmark science museum? Perhaps it’s the graceful bridge to unite disparate parts of the city. Or the remodeled farmers’ market to celebrate the bounteous growing season that leads to a renaissance in farm-to-table cuisine. Or reviving inner city neighborhoods into cool, urban, eclectic places to live.
Speaking of neighborhoods, you can afford to live here - in a cool neighborhood, within walking distance of restaurants and shopping. And while you’re at it, take a run on our beautiful trail fashioned from railway right-of-way, kayak on our in-town lake or canoe through one of the country’s largest urban bottomland hardwood forests. More importantly than brick and mortar, though, nice people like you come to Dallas because you will never meet more wonderful, caring people. They will feed you for months when you are in crisis, dance with you at your simchas, ask you how you are and really mean it. You will find friends to build community with and create families of expats just like you. What’s so great about Dallas? We think it’s obvious.