Jewish Student Advisor

Smith College•College Place, WA

1d•$64,387 - $87,112•Onsite

About The Position

Oversee Jewish Life on Campus, provide advising and guidance in an extraordinarily diverse campus environment that is multifaith, pluralistic, and secular, in which community members access Jewishness through both religious and secular means. Be a resource for all Jewish students of varied backgrounds, affiliations, political, and cultural identities. Preside over Jewish religious services. Collaborate with director and CRSL team to promote initiatives in the areas of interfaith collaboration, spiritual flourishing, religious literacy, contemplative practice, ethical reflection. Implement a wide range of activities and educational opportunities for student religious practice, spiritual development, cultural identity formation, and other areas which promote well-being. Help students build essential capacities in alignment with Smith’s strategic plan, such as self-awareness and the ability to engage across difference. Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Requirements

Master's degree required (or in process with equivalent experience).
Broad understanding of Judaism, Jewish history, and Jewish liturgical texts required, including ability to lead services and guide others in singing and prayer.
Familiarity with the particulars of kashrut necessary to be able to supervise kosher dining.
3-5 years of direct work experience in the Jewish world or affiliated responsibilities, preferably in a higher education setting and/or with emerging adults.
Crisis intervention and dialogic skills.
Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Ability to deal with sensitive personal and interpersonal subjects and material.
Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; exercise effective independent professional judgment; ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with students, student organizations, faculty, staff, and external vendors; and relate successfully in one-on-one and group situations with persons of diverse backgrounds and interests.
Skill with electronic outreach and marketing, ability to plan and promote programs.
Excellent listening skills.
Able to identify growing edges and set goals, open to feedback.
Ability to initiate and follow tasks through completion.

Nice To Haves

Rabbinic and/or Cantorial Ordination or PhD in Jewish Studies or a related discipline preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Provide spiritual counsel and religious guidance for all Jewish students of varying levels and types of observations of Judaism.
Organize and lead weekly Shabbat prayers and major Jewish holidays (such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Pesach, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah), and give dvar torah reflections throughout the year as needed.
Provide religious leadership and pulpit leadership on major holidays (provide or seek out and oversee pulpit support as needed).
Plan and execute meaningful religious services for community.
Help students navigate the challenges and opportunities of being a religious and cultural minority.
Facilitate dialogue between groups when there may be tension.
Provide education to the wider community on legacies and contemporary realities of antisemitism, making and suggesting best intervention strategies.
Consult with CRSL staff about issues of importance to the Jewish community.
Provide pastoral care to non-Jewish as well as Jewish students and help facilitate other CRSL Programs related to CRSL mission such as center-wide efforts in support of human rights in higher education and beyond.
Collaborate with local community on programs related to Jewish life.
Model savviness in engaging across differences of perspective and identity with a wide range of constituents, including not only students but also administration, campus leadership, alums, prospective students and their communities/families.
Collaborate with CRSL staff on broader CRSL efforts and programs.
Provide outreach and spiritual care to Jewish students.
Provide education and engagement opportunities to a wide range of religious orientations.
Liase with faculty from the Religious and Jewish Studies Department as well as other departments when there are intersecting goals.
Oversee Kosher Kitchen and help supervise cooks, consult with dining about kosher needs.
Oversee other aspects of adherence to Jewish law and ritual.
Liaise with students who elect not to participate in Jewish life at Smith to ensure that their religious needs are met within the broader community.
Partner with local synagogues.
Partner with Jewish student professionals at MHC, Amherst, and at UMass-Hillel and to engage Smith students with regional, national, and international Jewish student networks, organizations, and opportunities.
Advise “SCJC” the student Jewish organization, and other Smith organizations as appropriate; including helping with planning logistics, providing guidance in leadership formation, and helping oversee group process.
Liase between CRSL leadership and organization about programming, collaborations and interfaith engagement.
Attend weekly leadership meetings to provide guidance as needed, consult with group leadership.
Organize all weekly Shabbat services, leading at least two services per month.
Organize and support festivals.
Provide infrastructure for and participate in the organization of High Holiday services, the building of a campus sukkah and required ritual items, nightly Hanukkah candlelighting and party, Smith Passover seder.
Plan and execute meaningful religious services for community.
Provide spoken and sung offerings, offer inspiring Dvar Torah reflections.
Collaborate with students and other stakeholders to determine service content.
Provide a welcoming and compassionate presence to students in individual and group settings.
Offer spiritual guidance through a lens of equity and justice.
Maintain regular appointments with students who request them and hold office hours for periodic consultations.
Liase with other campus care providers as needed/ is appropriate.
Help students explore Jewish identity, help potential converts through discernment process.
Collaborate with team members on all aspects of the CRSL mission and participate in the planning and implementation of college-wide programming related to Diversity, Equity and inclusion.
Other duties as assigned.
Participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.