Director of Youth Education

The Director of Youth Education will organize, administer and promote Temple Sinai’s educational programs for Grades K-12, including the B’nai Mitzvah Program, in coordination and collaboration with other temple staff and lay leadership who work with youth, including but not limited to the VP of Education, Senior Clergy, Youth Group Director and Director of Early Childhood Education.
Temple Sinai’s religious school program is named JQuest. We chose the name JQuest in order to capture the spirit of Jewish learning, discovery, community, and fun that our students and families experience in Temple Sinai’s education program. JQuest is an exciting journey of Jewish learning and discovery for children and families and an opportunity to develop and strengthen Jewish identity, knowledge, and community. In JQuest, we seek to instill in our children and families a sense of commitment to and excitement about Jewish life and Jewish peoplehood. We strive to enable our children and families to understand the Jewish past while being inspired and empowered to create a Jewish life in the present that is committed to tikkun olam. The philosophy and atmosphere of JQuest invites our students to develop a love of Jewish tradition and the study of Torah, along with the questioning that our tradition encourages. Overall, our goal for children and families in JQuest is to be challenged, inspired, and energized by the power of Jewish ideas and traditions. As of February 2025, we have 94 students enrolled in JQuest.
Key Responsibilities

1. Program Oversight
   a. Continue to develop a JQuest program for grades K-12 and their families that is educationally sound, engaging and meaningful.
   b. Consult with Youth Education Program Committee on overall JQuest program ideas and problem solving.
   c. Plan the welcome of new students with Consecration, celebration of the 10th grade completion of formal learning with Confirmation, recognition of graduating seniors and an End-of-Year special event.
   d. Hire and supervise teachers and teen madrichim, investing them in the JQuest program through collaboration and professional development.
   e. Promote URJ summer and year-round programs and organize a spring Send-off Dinner for all participants.
   f. Foster a connection to Israel among students, parents, teachers and madrichim.
   g. Manage administration of JQuest program: preparation of enrollment materials, sharing with families and teachers the program’s rules and expectations, developing and monitoring the program’s budget, managing class scheduling and facility use.
   h. Encourage program and temple-wide involvement among parents and faculty.
   i. Communication and PR:
   i. Develop and maintain two-way relationships with all program participants through in-person conversations, e-mail, temple e-blasts and social media, as appropriate.
   ii. Promote the program through no-cost communal publicity outlets.
   iii. Strive to recruit new families and build program enrollment.
   j. Participate in planning and presenting temple-wide annual programming including Welcome Back Shabbat, High Holy Day family programs, Mitzvah Day, Intergenerational Shabbat, Shabbat Bachootz, Movie Night, Hands of Hanukkah, Purim Carnival, and Shabbat l’Morim.
   k. Organize student attendance at RAC L’Taken Social Justice Seminar.
   l. Attend Temple Sinai Board Meetings and Staff Meetings.
2. B’nai Mitzvah
   a. Assist with assigning B’nai Mitzvah dates.
   b. Plan and lead pre-B’nai Mitzvah workshops for families with Senior Clergy.
   c. Discuss with families their options and ways to make the B’nai Mitzvah experience personally meaningful.
   d. Discuss with families Tikkun Olam and possible mitzvah project ideas.
   e. Guide students in writing Divrei Torah speeches.
   Qualifications
   • Previous experience in Jewish education.
   • Strong knowledge of Jewish traditions, culture, and Hebrew language.
   • Proven ability to work with children, teachers, and parents in an educational setting.
   • Exceptional organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
   • Ability to work collaboratively with clergy, staff, and families.
   • A passion for fostering Jewish education and community engagement.