GLASGOW REFORM SYNAGOGUE RABBI VACANCY JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION Job Title: Permanent part-time Rabbi (circa 21 hours per week) Salary: Point 5-7 on current rabbinic pay scale, pro-rata Conditions: Start date and working pattern flexible, by agreement Responsible to: Chair of GRS Executive Deadline: Applications to be submitted to GRS Chair by email, no later than Monday 18 September 2017 1. Job Purpose GRS is looking for a very special Rabbi who is able to manage his/her time effectively and provide support to the community on a part time basis. He/she will have the charisma to inspire and lead the current membership at all levels and to attract new members to join the community. The Rabbi will be responsible for leading and giving guidance on all religious activities within the synagogue and the wider community. The Rabbi will coach and encourage the membership of the Synagogue to have a positive philosophy of Reform Judaism. This will be through leading services, teaching Jewish knowledge and motivating the curiosity of the members in Judaism. The Rabbi will provide a service to those members of our community who are in need of spiritual and pastoral care. The Rabbi will provide a comprehensive Jewish education and guidance to GRS. The Rabbi will be an effective communicator who can engage with all members of the community and will motivate them to take a pride in being members of GRS. The Rabbi will be aware of the importance of being a team player, someone who can work collaboratively with the Executive to prioritise the workload and delegate and organise tasks effectively. He/she will work flexibly and will be open to discussion and change. 2. Background The Glasgow Reform Community is the only Reform Synagogue in Scotland and was formed over 80 years ago with a small committed group of Jews who worked tirelessly to build the congregation into a thriving community which is now located in our modern purpose-built synagogue in Newton Mearns in the heart of Glasgow’s Jewish Community. We have 200 members. A number of B’nei Mitzvah are planned for this year and the next. We embarked on a major building plan ten years ago, upgrading our prayer hall and creating three purpose built classrooms, a library plus a function hall with working kitchen attached. Our Cheder is the only one in Glasgow. We teach Jewish Education based on a Reform ethos as well as conversational and biblical Hebrew. We also hold adult education and proselyte classes on a regular basis. There is an active catering group who organise a plentiful Kiddush every Shabbat. Our Kiddushim are popular with members and visitors and provide a forum for people to chat and network with each other following the service. Every second week, there is a popular Torah Study session which is currently organised by our Religious Affairs Committee. The Executive meets on a monthly basis and we occasionally host a members’ forum meeting during the year. We employ a part time administrator and a part time caretaker and have dedicated Executive and team of volunteers who assist with the day to day running of the synagogue, Shabbat services and study sessions, festivals and a varied programme of social events which includes ceilidhs, a Burns supper, quiz nights and a popular lunch club. Our new website and Facebook page showcase GRS activities. 3. Main duties in order of priority and time commitment 3.1 Services Our Shabbat morning services currently take place weekly and we host an evening service on the last Friday of each month. As this is a part-time position we envisage that the Rabbi will lead regular Shabbat services every second week. He/she will have the opportunity to work creatively and to share his/her expert knowledge with our competent team of lay leaders, to build their confidence and to ensure that services are led according to Reform traditions and in a very professional manner in his/her absence. 3.2 Pastoral Care To provide a service to members of the community who are experiencing difficulties and are in need of spiritual and pastoral care. 3.3 Education The Rabbi is the Head Teacher of the Religious School. S/he will agree the curriculum with the teachers to ensure the fostering of a love of Judaism and to integrate the educational activities within the overall religious life of the synagogue. S/he will ensure that all bnei mitzvah candidates are suitably prepared and conform to the high standard the Synagogue expects of such candidates. S/he will meet initially with parents and pupils to discuss the meaning of the ceremony and their responsibilities. S/he will work with the Cheder teachers to conduct ongoing bnei mitzvah classes to achieve these aims. To be an inspirational leader to our young people and to encourage them to participate in the life of the Synagogue and RSY activities pre-and post-Bar Mitzvah age. To give guidance and advice on Adult Education, to develop a suitable programme of learning and to encourage our lay leaders to take a greater role in providing this learning. 3.4 The GRS Community To exercise an enlightened and inspirational role in the community, shaping members lives in a positive Jewish way and involving them in the community as well as initiating communal ideas and programmes To encourage and promote the recruitment of new members to the synagogue. To reach out to and inspire the young ‘missing generation’ to participate in the community. 3.5 Life cycle events To oversee necessary formalities relating to weddings. To maintain regular links with MRJ and Assembly of Rabbis with regard to any changes in MRJ’s policy and recommendations and act in an advisory capacity to the shul. To liaise with the Burial Convenor helping with arrangements for funerals as appropriate. To officiate at funerals, cremations and tombstone consecrations. To officiate at Shiva services To officiate at B’nei Mitzvah services 3.6 Proselytes To interview prospective proselytes and confirm their suitability for conversion. To work with the Religious Affairs committee in leading a series of classes to ensure that proselytes are knowledgeable in Jewish customs and practices and to conform to the standards laid down for conversion by the MRJ. To sponsor proselytes at the Bet Din 3.7 The wider community To actively promote and represent the synagogue when dealing with external organisations and bodies, both Jewish and non-Jewish. To maintain links with the Assembly of Rabbis, Northern Network of Reform Synagogues, Leo Baeck College and Movement for Reform Judaism. To foster links with the Council for Christians and Jews and other Faith Networks and arrange with lay leaders to represent GRS when required at these fora. 3.8 Synagogue Administration To attend occasional meetings of the Honorary Officers, Executive Council and Religious Affairs Committee as requested. To work closely with the Synagogue Administrator. To ensure that the Chair is kept informed on all matters relating to the synagogue through regular consultation. To be at the synagogue at reasonably defined periods during the week and be available for consultation by members of the synagogue. The Rabbi will be a member of the Religious Affairs committee. S/he will discuss at the committee any substantive changes s/he may wish to propose to services, and through this committee present such changes to the Executive Council of the synagogue for agreement. Person Specification Qualifications You should be educated to degree level and will have graduated from/be expected to graduate from Leo Baeck College within the next 18 months. In addition, you will have received/be expected to have received S’micha from the College within the same timescale and will be/expected to qualify to be a member of the Assembly of Rabbis. Specialist knowledge We are looking for someone who can demonstrate: • A depth of Jewish understanding • An ability to read and preferably chant from the Torah fluently • The ability to lead thought provoking and inspiring sermons Skills and abilities The successful candidate should be able to provide evidence of: • Excellent communication skills • Strong inter-personal skills with the ability to reach out to and converse with a wide variety of people • A willingness to work collaboratively with the Executive and Synagogue volunteers • Good planning and organisational skills Experience We are looking for someone who can demonstrate: • An ability to deal with difficult situations tactfully and diplomatically • Experience of meeting deliverables within pre-agreed timescales Personal qualities We would like someone who: • Can demonstrate an understanding of and embraces Reform Judaism • Is open, warm and welcoming with an enthusiastic approach to their work • Who is sociable, tolerant and able to proactively approach others, making them feel at ease • Is a dynamic person with a positive outlook 4 Equipment The post holder will be required to utilise standard keyboard, email and database skills for record keeping purposes, the production of information etc. 5 Benefits Summary This is a part time position and we envisage the successful candidate working in the region of 21 hours per week. As the nature of the job can be unpredictable we are looking for someone who can work flexibly when faced with multiple priorities, however we are happy to consider a range of possible working patterns. In addition we offer: • Salary £21,000 to £24,000 per annum , pro-rata point 5-7 current rabbinic pay scale • Employer pension contribution equivalent to 8% of gross salary • MRJ Assembly of Rabbis membership fees • Family membership of synagogue • Mobile phone • Financial support towards continuous professional development fees • Generous relocation package .