Jewish Student Advisor

Smith College; United States; On-site; USD 64,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Inclusive work environment

Job summary

Smith College in Northampton, MA, seeks a Director of Jewish Life to oversee Jewish life on campus, provide spiritual counsel, and lead weekly Shabbat prayers and major holidays. You will collaborate with the CRSL team to promote interfaith initiatives and support a diverse student body.

Responsibilities include pastoral care, education on antisemitism, Kosher kitchen oversight, and partnerships with local synagogues and regional Jewish networks. Strong communication and leadership required.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required or in process with equivalent experience.
• Broad understanding of Judaism, Jewish history, and Jewish liturgical texts; able to lead services and guide others in singing and prayer.
• Familiarity with kashrut to supervise kosher dining.
• 3-5 years of direct work experience in the Jewish world or affiliated responsibilities, preferably in higher education or with emerging adults.
• Crisis intervention and dialogic skills.
• Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Jewish Life: organize weekly Shabbat prayers and major holidays; provide spiritual counsel.
• Lead services and pulpit leadership on holidays; plan and execute meaningful services for the community.
• Provide pastoral care to Jewish and non-Jewish students; engage across differences.
• Collaborate with CRSL staff and local communities on programming.
• Supervise Kosher Kitchen and supervise cooks; liaise with dining on kosher needs.
• Organize High Holiday services and campus sukkah; plan holidays.
• Attend weekly leadership meetings and advise student organizations.

Skills

Sensitive topics

Clear communication

Electronic outreach

Active listening

Feedback & growth

Task management

Education

Master's degree

Rabbinic/Cantorial Ordination or PhD in Jewish Studies

Job description

Job Summary

Oversee Jewish Life on Campus, provide advising and guidance in an extraordinarily diverse campus environment that is multifaith, pluralistic, and secular, in which community members access Jewishness through both religious and secular means. Be a resource for all Jewish students of varied backgrounds, affiliations, political, and cultural identities. Preside over Jewish religious services. Collaborate with director and CRSL team to promote initiatives in the areas of interfaith collaboration, spiritual flourishing, religious literacy, contemplative practice, ethical reflection. Implement a wide range of activities and educational opportunities for student religious practice, spiritual development, cultural identity formation, and other areas which promote well-being. Help students build essential capacities in alignment with Smith’s strategic plan, such as self-awareness and the ability to engage across difference. Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Essential Functions

Oversee Jewish Life (65%): Provide spiritual counsel and religious guidance for all Jewish students of varying levels and types of observations of Judaism. Organize and lead weekly Shabbat prayers and major Jewish holidays (such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Pesach, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah), and give dvar torah reflections throughout the year as needed. Provide religious leadership and pulpit leadership on major holidays (provide or seek out and oversee pulpit support as needed). Plan and execute meaningful religious services for community. Help students navigate the challenges and opportunities of being a religious and cultural minority. Facilitate dialogue between groups when there may be tension. Provide education to the wider community on legacies and contemporary realities of antisemitism, making and suggesting best intervention strategies. Consult with CRSL staff about issues of importance to the Jewish community. Provide pastoral care to non-Jewish as well as Jewish students and help facilitate other CRSL Programs related to CRSL mission such as center-wide efforts in support of human rights in higher education and beyond. Collaborate with local community on programs related to Jewish life. Model savviness in engaging across differences of perspective and identity with a wide range of constituents, including not only students but also administration, campus leadership, alums, prospective students and their communities/families. Collaborate with CRSL staff on broader CRSL efforts and programs. Provide outreach and spiritual care to Jewish students. Provide education and engagement opportunities to a wide range of religious orientations. Liase with faculty from the Religious and Jewish Studies Department as well as other departments when there are intersecting goals. Oversee Kosher Kitchen and help supervise cooks, consult with dining about kosher needs. Oversee other aspects of adherence to Jewish law and ritual. Liaise with students who elect not to participate in Jewish life at Smith to ensure that their religious needs are met within the broader community. Eagerness to partner with local synagogues. Eagerness to partner with Jewish student professionals at MHC, Amherst, and at UMass-Hillel and to engage Smith students with regional, national, and international Jewish student networks, organizations, and opportunities. Supervise Smith Jewish Organization Advise “SCJC” the student Jewish organization, and other Smith organizations as appropriate; including helping with planning logistics, providing guidance in leadership formation, and helping oversee group process. Liase between CRSL leadership and organization about programming, collaborations and interfaith engagement. Attend weekly leadership meetings to provide guidance as needed, consult with group leadership. Organize all weekly Shabbat services, leading at least two services per month. Organize and support festivals. Provide infrastructure for and participate in the organization of High Holiday services, the building of a campus sukkah and required ritual items, nightly Hanukkah candlelighting and party, Smith Passover seder. Plan and preside over Jewish holidays as well as weekly Shabbat services Plan and execute meaningful religious services for community. Provide spoken and sung offerings, offer inspiring Dvar Torah reflections. Collaborate with students and other stakeholders to determine service content. Provide spiritual care to Jewish and non-Jewish students Provide a welcoming and compassionate presence to students in individual and group settings. Offer spiritual guidance through a lens of equity and justice. Maintain regular appointments with students who request them and hold office hours for periodic consultations. Liase with other campus care providers as needed/ is appropriate. Help students explore Jewish identity, help potential converts through discernment process.

Other Functions

Other Functions (35%): Collaborate with team members on all aspects of the CRSL mission and participate in the planning and implementation of college-wide programming related to Diversity, Equity and inclusion. Other duties as assigned. All employees are expected to participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Minimum Qualifications Required

Master's degree required (or in process with equivalent experience). Broad understanding of Judaism, Jewish history, and Jewish liturgical texts required, including ability to lead services and guide others in singing and prayer. Familiarity with the particulars of kashrut necessary to be able to supervise kosher dining. 3-5 years of direct work experience in the Jewish world or affiliated responsibilities, preferably in a higher education setting and/or with emerging adults. Crisis intervention and dialogic skills. Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

Rabbinic and/or Cantorial Ordination or PhD in Jewish Studies or a related discipline preferred but not required.

Skills

Ability to deal with sensitive personal and interpersonal subjects and material. Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; exercise effective independent professional judgment; ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with students, student organizations, faculty, staff, and external vendors; and relate successfully in one‑on‑one and group situations with persons of diverse backgrounds and interests. Skill with electronic outreach and marketing, ability to plan and promote programs. Excellent listening skills. Able to identify growing edges and set goals, open to feedback. Ability to initiate and follow tasks through completion.

Compensation

In addition to a competitive benefits package, annualized pay for this role is typically between $64,386.77 - $87,111.51 covering the middle half of market compensation. Actual compensation will vary based on individual qualifications and work schedule if less than full-time. Position Type Regular

About Smith College

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women’s colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student‑faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross‑enroll and faculty cross‑teach across the Five Colleges. Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General Law, Chapter151B, it is the policy of Smith College to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our recruiting team at [e-mail]. As set forth in our mission and values, Smith College is committed to promoting a culture of equity and inclusion among students, staff and faculty. The College will not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by law. Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination. Smith College seeks to attract individuals who are committed to our mission of providing the highest quality education to women. Smith College enjoys the reputation as one of the finest colleges in the country. This reputation, tempered by time and challenged by change, holds strong because of the dedicated work of our staff, faculty and administration. We are a diverse group bringing to our community different talents, perspectives and experiences. Our strength arises from this diversity and is sustained by a community value of providing an outstanding educational environment for our nearly 2,700 students. Smith at a Glance https://www.smith.edu/about-smith/smith-glance