Orthodox Rabbi at Harvard Hillel

Hillel International•Cambridge, MA

About The Position

Harvard Hillel seeks a dynamic, relationship-centered, intellectually curious Orthodox Rabbi to shape a vibrant Orthodox Jewish community and contribute to the life of Harvard’s diverse Jewish community. The rabbi will be a committed and inspiring exemplar of Torah and mitzvot, making Jewish tradition intellectually compelling, spiritually meaningful, and accessible to students with varied backgrounds and experiences. The position serves as a trusted teacher, mentor, and pastoral resource to Orthodox students while building relationships with non-Orthodox students and contributing to a pluralistic Jewish community grounded in curiosity, respect, and belonging. Working with students, student leaders, and Hillel colleagues, the rabbi will create opportunities for Torah learning, Shabbat and holiday experiences, mentorship, and communal leadership. The role includes advising the Orthodox Student Minyan, partnering with the broader Cambridge Orthodox community, hosting students at home, and contributing an Orthodox perspective to shared Jewish life at Harvard. A candidate’s wife who is interested in helping build Jewish community at Harvard is also welcome to apply for a separately paid complementary role. Depending on interests and experience, that role might involve learning with students, hosting meals, building relationships, and planning and leading programs. The rabbi role is the priority, while applications from couples interested in complementary service are welcome. Harvard Hillel is home to more than 500 Jewish undergraduates and 1,800 Jewish graduate students. Its mission is to help students build meaningful Jewish lives through relationships, learning, leadership, and community. Hillel International serves Jewish students at nearly 1,000 colleges and universities and works to foster enduring connections to Jewish life, learning, and Israel and to develop future Jewish leaders. Hillel is an equal opportunity employer committed to an accepting and inclusive environment.

Requirements

Orthodox rabbinic ordination and deep textual knowledge.
Deep personal commitment to Torah, mitzvot, and the flourishing of Orthodox students and community.
Ability to teach traditional Jewish texts with rigor, creativity, and intellectual sophistication.
Demonstrated ability to build meaningful relationships with students 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 the limits of one’s knowledge, and continue learning alongside students and colleagues.
Experience designing, facilitating, and evaluating Jewish learning and community-building experiences.
Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills, and 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 is valuable.

Responsibilities

Develop meaningful relationships with Orthodox and non-Orthodox undergraduate and graduate students, and provide mentorship, pastoral care, and opportunities for Jewish learning and growth.
Be an accessible, consistent presence in students’ lives and meet them without assumptions about their backgrounds, observance, beliefs, or prior Jewish learning.
Teach rigorous, intellectually ambitious, spiritually resonant Torah responsive to students’ questions and interests.
Create sustained learning opportunities through shiurim, informal conversations, and regular chavruta study; foster curiosity, humility, and respect in learning.
Advise the Orthodox Student Minyan by offering shiurim, drashot, chavrutot, halakhic and hashkafic guidance, and practical organizational support.
Partner with student leaders to develop a welcoming, vibrant minyan in which students take increasing ownership of communal life, religious practice, and programming.
Contribute an Orthodox perspective to pluralistic Jewish life at Harvard and engage with students, rabbis, and colleagues across the Jewish community through shared learning, programs, conversations, and gatherings.
Host students regularly at home for Shabbat and holidays, collaborate on holiday programming, and organize at least one off-site Shabbaton for the Orthodox community.
Model warmth, care, humility, and approachability; handle questions, disagreements, and conflicts with curiosity and a commitment to working toward solutions.
Remain open to feedback and consider others’ perspectives.
Collaborate with rabbinic and student life teams to develop and execute programs, support student-led initiatives, and advance shared engagement goals.
Contribute ideas, follow through on commitments, communicate proactively, and strengthen the Hillel team’s work.
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 to strengthen student experiences and resources.

Benefits

Competitive salary of $135,000 for the rabbi role.
If a wife is separately hired for a complementary role, that position carries an independent salary of up to $40,000.
Health insurance.
Tax-deferred retirement plan.
Life and disability insurance.
Flexible spending plan.
Generous vacation and sick time.
Parental leave.
A network of students, parents, university partners, and colleagues who can serve as professional resources and partners.
Professional development, mentoring, and Jewish study opportunities.
Colleagues and support from across the Hillel movement.
Domestic and international travel opportunities.
Stipends for Shabbat hosting experiences.
Hillel and university swag.