Jewish Chaplain (Casual)

Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial socio-economic and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty administration and staff.

Job Description:

Amherst College invites applications for the Jewish Chaplain position. The Jewish Chaplain is a part-time casual non-benefited position. The expected range for this position is $30.00-33.00 per hour.

The salary offered will vary based on a number of factors including but not limited to relevant education training and experience tenure status and other nondiscriminatory business considerations. Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Click here for Benefits Information.

The Jewish Chaplain serves a vital function in the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life (RSL) within the division of Student Affairs by supporting our Jewish community which includes students staff faculty alumni parents and families. The Chaplain will work to create an inclusive vibrant and pluralistic Jewish community effectively engaging students across diverse expressions of Jewish identity and serving as a resource in this pluralistic setting. The Chaplain serves as an advisor to the Amherst Hillel student group Amherst for Israel Jews for Peace and other students involved in Jewish life on campus maintaining regular contact with student leaders and members of these groups through mentorship collaboration and support. While primarily focused on Jewish programming and Rabbinical care the Jewish Chaplain also contributes to interfaith contemplative and service programs sponsored by RSL. The Chaplain provides a welcoming ministry to a diverse student population and College community and takes appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce by participating in the Colleges efforts to create a respectful inclusive and welcoming work environment. The position primarily requires weekday work hours with the exception of attending Hillel for approximately half of their Shabbat dinners on Fridays and participating in some evening and weekend programs at times to be determined based on the Chaplains and students availability as well as the high holidays. Flexibility and availability for select additional evening and weekend programs (e.g. panels vigils Baccalaureate etc.) is expected. This is an in-person and on-campus position.

10 hours/week during the academic year

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities

Programs:

Provide Jewish religious holiday and cultural programming on campus and make all reasonable efforts to accommodate the religious and spiritual needs of Jewish students as well as faculty and staff

Support students in preparation and attend weekly Shabbat dinners and holiday celebrations

Support and attend student-initiated programs including evenings weekends and holidays

Advocate for and advise on the ongoing development of Jewish resources on campus

Seek and share opportunities from local and national organizations for immersive Jewish experiences including conferences service opportunities travel to Israel and other relevant locations

Collaborate with the various other Chaplains within the RSL to bring an intersectional framework to programming in service of Jewish Life.

Ensure meaningful and diverse opportunities for Jewish expression and consistently promote a welcoming and lively pluralistic Jewish community

Create programs that educate about and celebrate the diversity of Jewish life on campus and in this world

Participate in Religious & Spiritual Life programming (e.g. interfaith panels and service events Baccalaureate vigils retreats)

Participate and serve on College committees as eligible and able

Advising:

Advise Hillel Amherst for Israel Jews for Peace and other student groups related to Jewish life including leadership development and mentoring with their student leaders

Develop strategies for contacting and serving uninvolved/under-involved students

Provide one-on-one and group spiritual counseling and rabbinical care to students and when time allows to faculty and staff by request

Serve the campus community in times of crisis

Administrative:

Hold regular office hours

Attend regularly scheduled Religious & Spiritual Life staff meetings OICR team meetings and Student Affairs division meetings.

Communicate in a timely manner with students and staff balancing weekly hours between on-campus commitments and responsive attention to communications

Stay current with trends in chaplaincy by maintaining membership in the Association for Chaplaincy and Spiritual Life in Higher Education (ACSLHE) or comparable organizations and by taking advantage of professional development opportunities offered by Jewish organizations.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelors degree

• Trained in the Jewish tradition and able to facilitate Jewish study prayer and gatherings

• Organizational and pastoral care skills

• Ability to teach Jewish tenets and provide a welcoming ministry to a diverse student population and the College community

• Previous professional work and/or volunteer experience preferably in a Jewish organization and/or working with college-age adults

• Self-motivation and the ability to work independently while also appreciating supervision and teamwork

• A commitment to creating an inclusive vibrant and pluralistic Jewish community

• Ability to effectively engage students at all levels in Jewish life and to serve as a resource in a pluralistic setting

• Ability to work flexible hours to engage students and attend events

• Strong oral written and non-verbal communication skills

• An ability to manage logistics and multiple tasks with competing deadlines.

• Creative problem-solving.

• Successful completion of required reference and background checks

Preferred

• Masters degree in Jewish Studies Rabbinic studies ministry or theology

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter online at Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Amherst College is committed to an inclusive hiring process and will provide reasonable accommodations for candidates throughout the application and interview process upon request.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.