Rabbi or Cantor of Westminster (Progressive) Synagogue

Working closely with our Senior Rabbi, Rabbi Benji Stanley, you will play a leading role in continuing to develop our community particularly in the areas of Avodah (participatory and meaningful services)¸Chinuch (excellent learning for all ages), Chesed (care and lovingkindness) and Chaverim (meaningful connections and relationships).
A key focus of your role as Rabbi / Cantor will be to warmly and passionately guide our members and their families through their important lifecycle events such as B’nei Mitzvot, conversion, marriage and bereavement. In addition, you will teach adults and children, lead services, meet and engage with new and potential new members, deliver pastoral support as required, work closely with lay leaders to develop them to take an active role within our community and provide an inspiring and relational approach to Judaism within our community.
Through the work that you do, you will help to build and deliver a Jewish home for our members, and your leadership and enthusiasm will inspire our members to become more engaged with the community and their Judaism.
You will work with a fantastic staff team, who all look out for one another professionally, care for one another personally and are passionate about delivering an excellent service for our community – as a team.

The key duties of the Rabbi / Cantor are listed below. This is not an exhaustive list, and the role will vary according to the requirements of the community and the strengths and interests of the successful applicant.
Religious and Spiritual life
● Prepare and officiate Shabbat and Festival services throughout the year.
● Together with the Senior Rabbi, collaborate with our Rites & Practices committee to develop our services to maximise participation and meaning for the community.
● Together with various teams, take an active role in training and developing members to participate further in our services.
● Provide an inspiring, relational and accessible approach to Judaism for our community.

Lifecycle events
● Working closely with the Head of Youth Education, take a leading role with the majority of B’nei Mitzvot in the community, including meeting the children and families regularly, leading rehearsals, liaising with tutors and leading the service on the day.
● Working closely with the Head of Community and Adult Education, take a leading role with the majority of Or Chadash (conversion) candidates in the community, including regular meetings with the candidates, up until accompanying to the Beit Din.
● Lead a share of funerals in the community, including providing pastoral care to the families.
● Occasionally officiate at weddings and baby blessings.

Community & Lay Leadership Development
● Work with the trustees, relevant lay leaders and professional staff to continue developing Westminster Synagogue as a Synagogue of excellence and inspiration.
● Work with trustees and relevant lay leaders of the community to develop other members to become active, quality lay leaders, making a meaningful impact on the Synagogue, whilst engendering highly skilled leadership.
● Meet and welcome interested or new members to the community.
● Contribute to shaping and enacting the evolving vision for our community.
● Build strong relationships with members of the community across all ages.
● Actively participate in community activities.

Education
● Deliver a wide range of education to community members of all ages.
● Together with the Senior Rabbi, Director of Adult Education and the Head of Youth Education, assess and develop education programming for the community to help us continue to be a centre of educational excellence.

Pastoral Care
● Work with the Rabbi and Community Wellbeing Manager to ensure excellent pastoral care is being provided to all members of the community.

The Wider Community beyond WS
● Collaborate with other Rabbis / Cantors and communities to share experiences and learn best practice.
● Take a role in representing the community at relevant community, inter-faith and other forums to ensure we have a voice and are represented.

Please be in touch for a copy of the full job description.