Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York, Temple Emanu-El Center for Interfaith Engagement and Social Responsibility
Facilitates, leads, and supports new and existing interfaith study groups.
Institution Type: | Nonprofit |
Location: | New York, United States |
Position: | Director |
Mission:
In this complex historical moment – one of decreasing religious affiliation, rising anti-Semitism, and increasing moral bewilderment – we must lift up a voice of leadership and religious perspective on the important issues and conversations of our time. Religious leaders and organizations have a responsibility to open their doors, to promote an environment of mutual tolerance and understanding, and to shape civil discourse.
Job Description:
· Beginning July 1, 2023.
· Drawing on Temple Emanu-El’s many existing relationships with other City houses of worship and clergy to cultivate new interfaith study groups and support existing ones.
· Drawing on the Director’s own expertise in the field of religious texts, to facilitate and lead these study groups in partnership with clergy of the congregations involved.
· Managing the Center’s budget and logistical needs.
· Additional teaching responsibilities in Temple Emanu-El’s Skirball Academy (adult education).
· Full-time, reporting to Temple Emanu-El’s Senior Rabbi.
· Supported by administrative assistant, and where needed, Temple Emanu-El’s operations staff.
Job Qualifications:
· Advanced degree in comparative religion or biblical and cognate studies.
· Familiarity with Jewish text, practice and belief.
Background:
The Temple Emanu-El Center for Interfaith Engagement and Social Responsibility is a new endeavor to explore the role of religion in today’s complicated world.
The ability to galvanize individuals from various faith communities takes a step beyond bringing together religious leaders, which other organizations already do. Our Center will reach out to congregants, offering a variety of engagement opportunities from learning, reflection, and meaningful interaction bridging religious divides, to organizing action on pressing social issues.
Unique among City synagogues, our current interfaith efforts assemble Jewish, Christian and Muslim congregational members in study, dialogue and worship, and provide a foundation for the next critical endeavor of coalition building around shared concerns.
The Center will assume as its starting point joint study of the sacred texts of our various traditions. Sacred text can serve as a convening agent to understand each other’s beliefs and values as well as the cultural challenges faced by each group. Such sharing will build an understanding of our differences in a safe environment, encouraging dialogue and fostering trust. Developing trust is an essential precondition for opening the door to deeper conversations on difficult topics.
For some, this deeper interfaith connection and understanding will suffice. But the conversation can also lead from shared beliefs into unified actions for those concerned with social justice and the challenges of our time that cut across faith such as climate change, immigration, gun reform, domestic violence, and inclusion. This faith-based initiative also will attract those unaffiliated for whom social justice issues are especially compelling, enabling their voices to be heard.
Our location in New York City allows us to draw broadly from the many educational institutions in our area, as well as potentially those across the country and around the world. Over time, we may seek partnerships with Columbia University and New York University, the Hebrew Union College, the Jewish Theological Seminary and Union Theological Seminary. Working with Temple Emanu-El’s Streicker Cultural Center, we will convene conversations on religion and its potential to inform discourse around the key issues of the day.
The Center also may organize tracks designed for individuals from specific fields such as law, business, education, medicine, media, and politics to consider the issues their expertise can impact. The core commitment will be to engage across faiths.
Center programming will aim to combat hate and violence through education and alliances, our two best tools in answering the extremism polarizing our society today, translating beliefs into actions that promote social justice and help disseminate socially responsible thinking about the issues that face us.
Salary and Benefits:
· $80,000-100,000 commensurate with degree and experience.
· Generous PTO (paid time off), as well as all major federal and Jewish holidays.
· Paid parental leave.*
· Paid Family Leave.*
· Retirement plan with employer matching.*
· Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance.
· Flexible spending account (FSA) for unreimbursed medical expenses.*
· Life insurance.*
· Short-term disability.
· Tuition Reimbursement.*
· Free temple membership and free religious school.
· Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
· Discounts to temple and Streicker Center programs.
· Great colleagues who share a passion for making a difference.
*subject to waiting period.
Congregation Emanu-El requires all employees to be vaccinated and those who are eligible to be boosted. The temple will continue to work with its medical advisor to maintain health and safety policies in accordance with CDC and NYS/NYC Department of Health best practices.
Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. The Congregation does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.
Contact: |
Please send resume or questions to Rabbi Joshua Davidson at jdavidson@emanuelnyc.org. |
Website: | https://www.emanuelnyc.org/ |
Primary Category: | Religious Studies and Theology |
Secondary Categories: | Area Studies |
Posting Date: | 01/10/2023 |
Closing Date | 05/01/2023 |