Senior Jewish Educator at the Center for Jewish Life - Princeton Hillel

Role Overview

As the Senior Jewish Educator - Director of Learning and Inspiration at the Center for Jewish Life Princeton Hillel you will bear primary responsibility for enriching the Jewish journeys of Princeton students and helping them co-create a Jewish community that is intellectually vibrant spiritually alive and deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and values. This role centers on both a powerful outcomea Princeton Jewish community that nurtures belonging purpose and joyand a bold methodology: empowering students to shape their own Jewish lives and to become the architects of a pluralistic and inspiring Jewish future.

This role invites you to paint on a wide canvas: guiding the what how and who of Jewish student lifefrom transformative Jewish learning and inclusive ritual to soulful community building and immersive travel experiences. At the heart of this work is relationship-building: forging authentic caring connections with students across backgrounds and ideologies and becoming a trusted presence in their lives. You will serve as a mentor cheerleader guide and pastoral companionoffering warmth wisdom and steady support as students navigate questions of identity purpose and belonging.

You will bring CJLs vision of nimble pluralism to lifewelcoming students exactly as they are while guiding them to grow in compassion curiosity and commitment. Just as importantly you will help students become leaders. Through mentorship and modeling you will foster a culture in which students take responsibility for one another and for the community experiencing first-hand the joy and integrity of Jewish leadership. Reporting to the Executive Director the Senior Jewish Educator will serve as a senior member of CJLs program team and play a central role in shaping strategy partnerships and programming related to Jewish education spiritual life and student leadership development.

This position offers a rare opportunity to lead in one of the most intellectually demanding and spiritually dynamic environments in the world. Success in this role will position you as a rising voice in the Jewish communal world and as a model for the next generation of Jewish leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Student Engagement & Community Building

• Build deep lasting relationships with a diverse array of Princeton students through 1:1 meetings small group conversations and immersive Jewish experiences.
• Supervise the student life team including two JLIC staff and one Israel Fellow.
• Provide personal guidance pastoral care and mentorship that meets students where they are while inspiring them to grow Jewishly and ethically.
• Serve as primary advisor to Kesher CJLs Reform minyan and help support student-led Shabbat holiday and prayer experiences across denominations.
• Attend and help lead Shabbat services and dinners 23 times per month contributing to CJLs warm and welcoming communal atmosphere.
• Help students feel at home in Jewish life with particular attention to those from historically marginalized communities or less intensive Jewish backgrounds.
• Support Jewish student affinity groupssuch as those focused on race ethnicity gender sexuality or disabilityand help cultivate a Jewish community where all students can explore their identities fully and joyfully.
• Support the growth and programming of Israel-related student groups representing diverse political and cultural perspectives.
• Collaborate with students to design and implement high-impact Jewish programs that integrate Torah spirituality music food justice and more.

Jewish Learning & Teaching

• Oversee and teach in the Jewish Learning Fellowship (JLF) program and develop other innovative and exciting new learning cohorts and electives that reflect CJLs pluralistic approach to Jewish learning.
• Work with the program team to create a robust and dynamic educational calendar that elevates Jewish texts values and contemporary relevance.
• Partner with student leaders and the rabbinic team to shape holiday and lifecycle programming that is meaningful inclusive and rooted in tradition.
• Serve as a resource for students and staff on questions of Jewish identity thought and practice modeling intellectual and spiritual depth.

Immersive Experiences & Travel

• Plan and coordinate all CJL student tripsincluding trips to Israel and domestic social justice/service-learning tripsensuring strong educational framing recruitment logistics and student leadership.
• Staff key travel experiences and support pre- and post-trip engagement reflection and integration.
• Lead or help coordinate CJLs annual Jewish-themed theater trip to New York or regional venues with a focus on arts as a vehicle for spiritual and communal inspiration.

Strategic Leadership

• Lead together with the Executive Director strategic planning and visioning for CJLs educational and spiritual programming ensuring alignment with CJLs mission and the evolving needs of Princeton students.
• Support Co-Create CJLs initiative to empower students as Jewish social entrepreneurshelping them develop creative ideas to welcome in new populations and broaden Jewish engagement on campus.
• Oversee grant applications and funding reporting related to student learning and Israel engagement including working with Hillel International and other partners.
• Liaise with Princetons Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students (ODUS) and other campus departments in support of student initiatives and broader university partnerships.

Operations & Event Coordination

• Coordinate logistics for Kesher and Koach High Holy Day services.
• Manage or oversee administrative tasks tied to educational events speakers and venue coordination.
• Support key student initiatives such as Challah for Hunger ideally by mentoring junior staff or student leaders who run such programs.

Who You Are

• You are a deeply committed Jewish educator with passion for working with emerging adults and the creativity to bring Torah and Jewish life alive in a pluralistic setting.
• You have experience teaching and facilitating in Jewish educational spacesformally or informallyand are skilled at adapting content to meet diverse audiences.
• You are a warm and caring mentor with a pastoral sensibility and high emotional intelligence.
• You are a strategic thinker who thrives on team leadership collaborative planning and empowering others.
• You are comfortable navigating diverse approaches to Israel and Jewish identity and understand how to model respectful discourse and inclusion.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree required; rabbinic ordination or advanced degree in Jewish education strongly preferred.
• 48 years of relevant experience in Jewish education Hillel congregational life Jewish camping or experiential education.
• Proven success in managing programs leading teams and mentoring others.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A deep connection to Israel as part of Jewish life and comfort leading complex values-based conversations about Israel on campus.
• Comfort working in a pluralistic environment and supporting students across denominational and ideological spectrums.

What Youll Receive

• A salary of $100000-$120000 depending on experience and qualifications.
• A network of students parents and university partners who will inspire you and become lifelong professional resources and partners.
• Opportunities for professional development coaching and Jewish study.
• Colleagues and support from across the Hillel movement.
• Travel opportunities both domestically and internationally
• A comprehensive benefits package including health insurance Tax Deferred Retirement Plan Life AD&D and Long Term Disability insurances Flexible Spending Plan generous vacation/sick time and parental leave.

About the Center for Jewish Life Princeton Hillel

The Center for Jewish Life (CJL) is Princeton Universitys home for Jewish life and learningan inclusive pluralistic community where students explore Jewish identity deepen their connections to tradition and cultivate a sense of meaning purpose and joy. CJL is affiliated with Hillel International and is a proud partner of Princetons Office of Religious Life.

Princeton University is recognized globally for its academic excellence bold research and distinguished faculty. Within this environment of intellectual rigor and innovation the CJL nurtures a Jewish community that is equally committed to learning ethical action and spiritual growth. The university is home to approximately 500 Jewish undergraduates each bringing their own questions commitments and aspirations to campus Jewish life. The CJL engages upwards of 90% of that Jewish undergraduate population.

CJLs mission is to empower Princeton students to lead lives of Jewish meaning and purpose. Through prayer learning celebration advocacy and service CJL provides students with transformative experiences that support them as individuals and as part of the global Jewish people. We are proud to be a home for students across every background and belieffrom secular to Orthodox Zionist to critical lifelong Jews to those just beginning their journey.

More than just a campus Hillel CJL is a national model for what Jewish life can look like when creativity rigor pluralism and spiritual depth are brought together with care and intention. Our vision is clear: We envision a generation of Princetonians who carry Jewish purpose resilience and responsibility into the world. And our unofficial motto expresses our ethos: CJLWhere students grow in the service of their Jewish community and of humanity.

As a leading Hillel CJL is known for innovation deep community partnerships and its commitment to pluralism. We seek to model what is possible for the Jewish futureand we invite our students to help build it here and now and for the rest of their lives.

About Hillel International

In 1923 Rabbi Benjamin Frankel started Hillel with humble means a noble mission and a breathtaking vision: to convey Jewish civilization to a new generation. Today Hillel International continues to enrich the lives of Jewish students and is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world at nearly 1000 colleges and universities across North America and around the world. As Hillel evolves as an organization the mission remains steadfast: to create lasting connections with every Jewish student that foster an enduring commitment to Jewish life learning and Israel and train them to become the next Jewish leaders.

Hillel is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an accepting and inclusive environment for all.