Dublin Hebrew Congregation Job Description: Rabbi
 

JOB TITLE:  Rabbi 

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LOCATION:  Dublin Hebrew Congregation, Ireland

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REPORTS TO: Rabbinate Committee of the DHC

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WORKING HOURS:   Full Time

 

SALARY: Generous salary plus accommodation plus car

 

BENEFITS: 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays;   Pension

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Dublin is a vibrant, young, progressive and welcoming city with a unique culture and outlook on life. The Jewish Community is relatively small but we have a rich past, a vibrant present and an exciting future.

 

We are seeking an inspirational and charismatic Rabbi/Rebbetzen team to lead our community, looking after the spiritual, religious, educational, and pastoral needs of our members. There are over two thousand Jews in the greater Dublin area but most of them are not engaged with the Synagogue or involved in community activities and we would like to encourage and increase their involvement in community activities, both religious and social.

 

The selected candidates will be highly self-motivated, energetic, well-organised and have excellent communication skills.  They will utilise these skills to inspire, challenge and engage our members and their families with empathy, warmth, enthusiasm and innovative thinking.

 

This is a role that will excite and challenge the highest calibre candidate. It offers huge potential to make a lasting contribution to a community and indeed a country that has consistently welcomed change and opens its arms to new ideas, initiatives and people from all over the world.

 

JOB SUMMARY

• To provide religious leadership and pastoral care to the Dublin Jewish Community 

• To re-engage those members who have become disengaged with the DHC, its services and events

• To reach out to Jewish people in Dublin and beyond who are not currently engaged with the Jewish Community

 

Principal Responsibilities:

 

Religious Leader and Halachic Authority

• Representing and communicating Jewish law on a daily basis and acting as the religious authority for Ireland within the parameters set by Halacha and the minhag of the DHC

• Playing a full part in and attending all religious services

• Taking a lead role in leining and davening at services 

• Devising and implementing short, medium and long term strategies for the re-engagement and growth of the Community in collaboration with the DHC Executive

• Delivering sermons on Shabbat and Yomtov that educate, inform, challenge and inspire members of the congregation

• Officiating at funerals, stone-settings, shivas and other life cycle events

• Mentoring boys and girls and their families for their bar and bat mitzvahs

• Preparing engaged couples for marriage and officiating at the wedding ceremony

• Kosher supervisory work as needed

Teacher

• Supporting and encouraging members of the community in developing greater knowledge and understanding of Judaism, Halacha, Jewish traditions and practice through dialogue, education and personal involvement

• Setting goals for, initiating and delivering adult education programmes

• Engaging with and fully participating in children and youth programmes

• Giving shiurim and other content as and when required

 

Pastoral Care 

• Visiting the sick and comforting the bereaved, providing on-going support where necessary

• Liaising with the local Welfare Board to provide support to those in need

• Providing preventative counselling and crisis intervention for those in need

• Referring cases for specialised help to relevant community bodies when necessary

 

Communication and Teamwork

• Maintaining communication and working closely with the synagogue office and lay leadership to ensure the smooth running of the DHC

 

Community Development

• Identifying resources required to grow engagement with the DHC from current members and potential ones from the wider community while working with the DHC Executive to determine the potential level of engagement

• Developing projects to reach out to the less committed inside and outside the community

• Supporting and promoting the fundraising endeavours of the community

• Developing, planning and running community events for key festivals

 

Ambassador for Judaism and the Dublin Jewish Community within the local and national environment

• Taking an active role in local and national interfaith activities

• Representing the Irish Jewish Community at Governmental and National events 

 

Personal Development

• We are supportive of the Rabbi’s need for ongoing study and inspiration in order that he may, in turn, be able to inspire members of the community 

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This job description does not encompass the complete duties and should be treated as a guide to the duties that the Rabbi is expected to perform. This job description may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the community at any time after full discussion with the Rabbi.

 

The successful candidate must be available to work unsocial hours including weekends.

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Person Specification

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Qualifications

Essential:  Semicha from a recognised orthodox yeshiva

Desirable:  University degree                                                                                                  

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Experience 

Esssential: Experience of working in a Jewish Community

Desireable: Experience as a communal Rabbi                                                                           

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Special Aptitudes                                   

Esssential: 

• Ability and willingness to lein and daven

• Deliver inspiring sermons

• Provide spiritual leadership

• Educate

Desireable:  

• Ability to create and manage change

 

Personal Qualities

Esssential: 

• Approachable

• Excellent judgement

• Excellent time-keeping

• Discrete

• Organised 

• Ability to work as part of a team with professional staff and lay leaders.

• BasicIT skills

• Innovative

• Self-motivated

• Warm and hospitable

• Inclusive  

• Willingness to be involved in all aspects of community life

• Able to relate to people of all ages and all levels of observance 

• Excellent oral and written  communicator

Desireable: 

• Smart appearance

• Melodic voice 

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