Rabbi or Cantor
Location: Springfield, MO 65742
The first priority of the position is religious services as recommended by the Ritual committee. We seek someone who is adaptable and able to meet the religious needs (mostly Reform, and Conservative) and spiritual needs of this congregation.
The person must be able to relate to, attract and teach children in the Sunday and/or Hebrew school classes. The Leader must be able to build relationships with adults for Torah study, conversions and adult Bnei Mitzvah.
Celebrate and honor our Jewish traditions and their spiritual meaning by performing weddings, funerals, and other life cycle events
Help create an inviting atmosphere
a. Welcomes all who want a Jewish experience
b. Welcomes inter-faith, Jewish - by - choice, and non - practicing families
c. Accepts and supports each person to practice and live their Jewish spiritual values
d. Appreciates this diversity and encourages it to add to the community
e. Encourages growth with guidance without dictating the directionPastoral Care – Walk with people during their troubled times and celebrate with them during their joyful times.
Desirable Personality Characteristics and Skills: The spiritual leader will be outgoing, approachable, non-judgmental, and genuinely interested in all persons of any sexual preference and ability. The leader must be able to reach out and integrate different social or political perspectives so that members do not feel as if they have been excluded, or shut out from the congregation. We are a varied congregation, with varied Jewish beliefs, and also interfaith and Jewish – by – choice families. Our spiritual leader needs to be flexible and adapt to our congregation and community, to welcome the challenges of finding common ground by incorporating prayer, liturgy, worship, and education from all the different branches of Judaism. We are seeking someone who can embrace our congregation and change along with it as we all grow in our Jewish values.
Basic skills are to speak, read and chant Hebrew trope well, since the leader will be working with children and Bnei Mitzvah students. The candidate needs to be familiar with Jewish history, tradition, and culture. It is necessary to have a good work ethic with time management skills that are based on the needs of the community. Since one of the primary job responsibilities is the Shabbat service the candidate must be able to prepare a D’var Torah that enhances the words of the parashah, and is able to represent it from different points of view. Our spiritual leader will have the vision to energize our community even through the separateness of Covid distanced homes and create partnerships that strengthen our Jewish principles in our country.