Orthodox Rabbi at Harvard Hillel

Hillel International•Cambridge, MA

About The Position

Harvard Hillel seeks a dynamic, relationship-centered, and intellectually curious Orthodox Rabbi to shape a vibrant Orthodox Jewish community and contribute to Harvard’s diverse Jewish community. The rabbi will teach Torah, mentor and provide pastoral care to Orthodox students, and build relationships with students across religious practices, beliefs, and backgrounds. The role calls for an inspiring exemplar of Torah and mitzvot who can make Jewish tradition intellectually compelling, spiritually meaningful, and accessible. Working with students, student leaders, and Hillel colleagues, the rabbi will develop learning opportunities, Shabbat and holiday experiences, mentorship, and communal leadership. The rabbi will advise and develop the Orthodox Student Minyan, participate in pluralistic Jewish life at Harvard, host students for Shabbat and holidays, organize at least one off-site Shabbaton for the Orthodox community, and serve as Harvard Hillel’s liaison to the broader Cambridge Orthodox Minyan. The position also involves collaboration with Hillel teams and local Jewish institutions and community partners. The position pays $135,000 and includes comprehensive benefits, professional development, mentoring and Jewish study, travel opportunities, and stipends for Shabbat hosting. A spouse or partner may apply separately for a complementary paid role, with an independent salary of up to $40,000. Harvard Hillel serves more than 500 Jewish undergraduates and 1,800 Jewish graduate students. Hillel International is an equal opportunity employer committed to an accepting and inclusive environment.

Requirements

Orthodox rabbinic ordination and deep textual knowledge, with the ability to teach traditional Jewish texts rigorously, creatively, and with intellectual sophistication.
Deep personal commitment to Torah, mitzvot, and the flourishing of Orthodox students and community.
Demonstrated ability to build meaningful relationships with young adults across a wide range of Jewish backgrounds, practices, and perspectives.
Ability to represent and teach from an Orthodox perspective while engaging non-Orthodox students and colleagues with warmth, curiosity, respect, and intellectual openness.
Pastoral sensitivity, including the ability to listen carefully, offer thoughtful guidance, navigate sensitive conversations, and support students through questions of identity, faith, relationships, and personal growth.
Intellectual curiosity and humility, including willingness to ask questions, acknowledge limits of knowledge, and continue learning.
Experience designing, facilitating, and evaluating Jewish learning and community-building experiences.
Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively with student leaders, colleagues, and community partners.
Willingness and ability to host students for Shabbat and holiday experiences.
Bachelor’s degree.
Membership in good standing in a rabbinic alumni association with established ethical guidelines.

Nice To Haves

Experience in Hillel, experiential Jewish education, Orthodox communal settings, youth movements, or camp.
A spouse or partner interested in applying separately for a complementary paid role helping build Jewish community at Harvard.

Responsibilities

Build relationships with Orthodox and non-Orthodox undergraduate and graduate students and provide mentorship, pastoral care, and opportunities for Jewish learning and growth.
Teach Torah through shiurim, informal conversations, and regular chavruta study, fostering rigorous and responsive learning.
Advise the Orthodox Student Minyan by providing teaching, drashot, chavrutot, halakhic and hashkafic guidance, and organizational support.
Partner with student leaders to build a welcoming, vibrant, and increasingly student-owned minyan.
Contribute an Orthodox perspective to pluralistic Jewish life through shared learning, programs, conversations, and communal gatherings.
Host students regularly for Shabbat and holidays, collaborate on holiday programming, and organize at least one off-site Shabbaton for the Orthodox community.
Model warmth, humility, approachability, openness to feedback, and a collaborative approach to questions and disagreements.
Work with rabbinic and student life teams to develop programs, support student-led initiatives, advance engagement goals, communicate proactively, and follow through on commitments.
Serve as Harvard Hillel’s liaison to the broader Cambridge Orthodox Minyan, supporting scheduling, financial coordination, and student participation.
Build relationships with local Jewish institutions and community partners.
Be willing and able to host students for Shabbat and holiday experiences.