Careers

Join the dynamic and creative Education team at Temple Israel of Boston as the RYFTI (Reform Youth Federation at Temple Israel) Youth Group Advisor! We are seeking a passionate and driven person for this part-time role to work closely with the youth group board and to help the teens accomplish their goals. The responsibilities of the advisor ebb and flow with the arc of the year. We meet as a teen community at The Tent every Monday night and RYFTI meets during one of the class periods. RYFTI also meets on Sundays bi-weekly and the advisor has a check-in meeting with the co-presidents bi-weekly as well. The RYFTI Advisor will also meet weekly with the Tent Director to check in on progress and to ensure good communication. A significant part of the work is checking in on teens at appropriate times throughout the week and working with them to plan and prepare for team meetings that they will lead. In the lead up to large events these hours increase significantly as the advisor provides comments, check-ins and final-checks for program plans. The three major events throughout the year are Fall Kallah in November, Winter Weekend in March, and Clergy Weekend in May.

RYFTI is The Tent’s teen-led youth group. RYFTI’s Core Board is made up of teens who have applied and been elected by their peers to serve for a year as they work together to create fun, meaningful, and inclusive social and Jewish programs. RYFTI’s values are based in creating deep relationships with one another in which open and honest feedback is shared, and collaborating to create the type of Jewish community founded on respect and inclusivity that teens want to be part of.

The RYFTI Advisor works closely with all members of RYFTI’s Core Board, helping to develop their leadership and relationship-building skills, plan programs proactively, inclusively and strategically, and facilitate open feedback through the year. They work especially closely with the Co-Presidents and VP’s to help them plan and facilitate goal-based meetings in which Team Members are given a voice and Teams work together to fulfill their responsibilities. The Advisor also works closely with the Tent Director to make sure that all RYFTI events and plans coincide appropriately with The Tent schedule, goals and budget. These two work closely together around planning RYFTI events, especially Kallot.

This position is 8-10 hours per week and the salary for the year is $10,000.

This position will begin at the end of August 2024 through the end of May 2025

The person in this role must be available on Mondays 5:45 – 8:30 p.m. with flexibility to work in the evenings and on weekends when needed.

Other important dates are the weekends of November 8-10 2024 and May 9-11 2025

How to apply

Duration: Summer 2024 (June 17-August 23). Please see camp website for specific sessions

Working Hours: Flexible, Full Time (9-5) or (830-430)

Compensation: $15-25/hour depending on experience

Location: Temple Israel of Boston, 477 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA

Overview:

Temple Israel of Boston is seeking enthusiastic and dedicated educators to join our team for the summer of 2024. The summer camp counselors and junior counselors will play a vital role in facilitating summer programs, engaging with campers, and fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment within our community.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Deliver engaging and interactive camp activities and programs for preschool campers of various ages (2.5-6) within the framework of Jewish education.
• Create age-appropriate curriculum materials, lesson plans, and resources that align with the educational goals and values of Temple Israel of Boston.
• Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment that promotes intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and personal growth among students.
• Establish strong relationships with students, families, and fellow educators through effective communication, collaboration, and support.
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and support to students as they explore and deepen their understanding of Jewish traditions, values, and identity.
• Participate in staff meetings, training sessions to enhance teaching skills and understanding
• Collaborate with other educators, clergy members, and staff to coordinate and integrate educational activities, and events within the broader community.
• Maintain accurate records of student attendance and allergies within classroom and communicate regularly with co-directors/parents/guardians regarding students
• Adhere to Temple Israel’s policies, procedures, and safety guidelines to ensure the well-being and security of all students and staff members.

Qualifications:

• Previous experience in teaching, education, or youth programming
• Love of being around young children and excitement in facilitating groups of joyful kids
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment
• Flexibility, creativity, and adaptability in designing and implementing educational programs.
• Commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for students from diverse backgrounds and abilities

Expectations:

• Commitment to working full time or part-time 
• Dedication to upholding the mission, values, and ethos of Temple Israel of Boston
• Willingness to undergo background checks and comply with all safety and security protocols.
• Passion for education, youth development, and fostering a vibrant Jewish community

Temple Israel of Boston is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.

How To Apply:

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information for two professional references to camp@tisrael.org by June 1, 2024. 

Who are we?

Temple Israel is looking for enthusiastic, imaginative, and skillful teachers to join our team of educators for the 2023-2024 school year. There are positions available in grades preschool – 7^th grade for Sunday mornings, with potential to teach in our grades 8-12, pluralistic teen program too.

In our religious school, kids 3 years old through 7^th grade can learn, grow, and find their own meaningful Jewish communities. We strive to build a community where everyone — kids, families, and our educators — can find their places in our ancient and ever evolving tradition. Our school is joyful, kid-centered, and flexible. Read more about us and our values.

Following our broader community’s commitment to Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI), our religious school is engaged in a culture-shift of our own. We are working towards a community where everyone can experience a sense of belonging. We are committed to building a faculty where the diversity of the Jewish community is well represented. Candidates of diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply as we hope to build a teaching team that is reflective of the diversity in our community. We strive to be an inclusive learning community where diversity is welcomed and differences are embraced.

Following our broader community’s commitment to Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI), our religious school is engaged in a culture-shift of our own. We are working towards a community where everyone can experience a sense of belonging. We are committed to building a faculty where the diversity of the Jewish community is well represented. Candidates of diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply as we hope to build a teaching team that is reflective of the diversity in our community. We strive to be an inclusive learning community where diversity is welcomed and differences are embraced.

Our REDI work is a communal commitment that includes mechanisms for feedback, accountability, and processes for teshuvah (restorative justice). When something comes up, we would like to know about it. Folks looking to provide feedback should contact Roberta Axeloons or Rabbi Suzie Jacobson, or another member of the TI clergy team, or Executive Director Dan Deutsch.

Qualifications of Interested Candidates

• Candidates to teach in our school should enjoy working with children and have prior successful experiences with kids. Formal teaching experience is not a requirement; folks interested in learning how to teach who are seeking training as new teachers are encouraged to apply.
• Familiarity with second language pedagogy, technology applications, curriculum development, and student assessment is desirable, but not required. Good command of Biblical Hebrew also a plus.
• Candidates should be comfortable adopting the curricular vision of the religious school as we seek to construct powerful educational experiences that are inclusive, joyful, and inspiring.
• Temple Israel Religious School has a commitment to professional development and offers a unique and yearlong learning opportunity to all its faculty. Ideal candidates will be collaborative teachers who relish the idea of working, growing, and learning alongside their colleagues.
• Bachelor’s Degree or relevant experience required.

We know that not all applicants will have all of the same experience or desired qualifications, and systemic inequities often discourage folks from marginalized identities from applying. If you are passionate about our mission and believe you have applicable and transferable skills from other industries, we encourage you to apply for this job. We’d love to hear from you. In your application, be sure to explicitly highlight how your experience, skills, and personal qualities have set you up to succeed in this role.

This position is part time. We offer competitive pay with teaching rates ranging from $55-85/per hour. Rates vary depending on experience and longevity at Temple Israel.

Schedule

Sundays 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. are the general Sunday hours, though individual schedules may vary based on assigned classes. Our teen program meets on Monday nights 5:45 – 8:30 p.m., and our religious school meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

How to Apply

Please submit a letter of interest and resume to Roberta Axeloons, Director of Elementary Education, at raxeloons@tisrael.org.

About Temple Israel

Temple Israel is widely recognized as the largest reform temple in New England, and it is one of the most prominent synagogues in the greater Boston area. With over 1,400 member families, our impact within the Boston Jewish Community runs deep. Temple Israel is known for offering an array of Jewish experiences and cultural and social programming, including interfaith inclusion and social justice activism. Our historic building is home to a K-12 Religious School and Teen Program, and a well-renowned preschool.