Rabbi of the Orthodox Community

University of Michigan Hillel

Role Overview

We are excited to offer a full-time rabbinic position as part of University of Michigan Hillel's program staff team, focused on providing leadership and guidance to our diverse Orthodox community. This rabbi will bring energy and creativity as a community-builder, passion for Jewish learning, and an ability to inspire and lead a diverse community. While the primary focus of this role will be on college students, this rabbi will also lead a Modern Orthodox congregation based in the Hillel building, that is composed of both students and community members. This candidate will have an excitement for and understanding of working with a diverse Orthodox community in a college context.

What You'll Do

Hillel Responsibilities:

• Pursue the mission, goals, and educational vision of the University of Michigan Hillel as an active member of Hillel's program team.
• Work collaboratively to ensure that the Orthodox community's needs are met within the pluralistic and vibrant space of the University of Michigan Hillel
• Build relationships with approximately 180 students (the majority of whom will be Orthodox observant students) and report on your interactions in Hillel's database for tracking and evaluation purposes
• Support the O-Minyan (orthodox student group) student leaders in program planning and peer-to-peer engagement efforts, including Shabbat- and Holidays-in-the-Home run by students.
• Develop and support vibrant educational experiences, one-on-one or small group learning, and educational programs, including targeted weekly classes.
• Oversee the kashrut of the Hillel kitchen
• Work collaboratively with other staff to support Hillel programming, including overseeing other student groups, supporting Hillel Shabbat and holiday programming, and contributing to overall engagement efforts
• Develop and nurture relationships with university student life professionals and religious life staff, and local Jewish clergy and professional colleagues

Minyan Responsibilities:

• As the religious leader of a combined student and community minyan, you will:
• Work with students and community to lead Shabbat and Holiday services, including training others to lead, and ensuring all services are organized with a leader when not directly leading
• Work with students and community members to organize the daily Orthodox minyan and prayers
• Offer relevant and inspiring Shabbat and holiday sermons, delivered by you as the rabbi or others
• Organize educational experiences over Shabbat and Holidays
• Provide pastoral counseling and support to students and community members, including supporting lifecycle events and those pursuing Orthodox conversion
• Provide halakhic decision-making for the Orthodox community, including both personal and communal guidance

What You've Accomplished

• Orthodox or modern orthodox semichah. Students in their final year of rabbinical school will be considered.
• Relevant work experience in grassroots community organizing, Hillel, youth movements, camping, or experiential Jewish education with Orthodox communities
• Proven success in leading active minyanim, including leining (daily, Shabbat and holiday services) and delivering inspiring sermons
• Proven success in community building and engagement, and previous experience in program visioning and implementation.
• Training and experience in counseling, administration, development/fundraising is desirable.
• Training and experience in overseeing kashrut is desirable.

What You'll Bring to the Job

• A strong knowledge base of Jewish content, ranging from traditional Jewish texts to contemporary Jewish wisdom, culture, and unconventional Jewish sources. An ability to transfer knowledge of these texts through inspiring sermons and engaging teaching.
• Expertise in leading complex conversations about Judaism in a way that is approachable and meets students and community members at various points in their personal Jewish journeys.
• A warm, engaging, approachable personality with a commitment to creating an inclusive, warm, and welcoming Orthodox community that falls within a vibrant, pluralistic Hillel community.
• A compassionate approach to students navigating social pressures, mental health challenges, and embracing their identities as young adults
• A passion for building community around the dining room table, by inviting students to celebrate Shabbat and holidays in creative ways in your home.
• A spirit of creativity and innovation, with a willingness to try new things and learn from mistakes.
• Confidence initiating and running programs, and comfort asking questions and seeking guidance. Creative problem-solving, proactive communication, and collaboration. An ability to collaborate and communicate across teams between, inside, and outside of Hillel.

What You'll Receive

• Competitive salary range of $82-87,000.
• A comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, Group Supplemental Retirement Annuity (GSRA), pension plan, life insurance, Long Term Disability (LTD), Flexible Spending Plan, generous personal/sick time, and parental leave.
• Great professional development, mentoring, and skill building opportunities.
• Travel regionally and abroad, particularly to Israel.

Who We Are:

University of Michigan Hillel - With approximately 5,000 Jewish undergraduate students on campus (comprising 15% of the undergraduate student body), the University of Michigan Hillel offers diverse, pluralistic and innovative ways to engage in Jewish life on campus. O-Minyan is one of 40 student groups in the Hillel, with approximately 70-80 Modern Orthodox and traditionally observant students. University of Michigan Hillel is a national leader in nurturing empowered leadership among students who have a profound impact not only on campus life but on the broader Jewish community as well. Most importantly, our student leaders feel a strong sense of ownership, empowerment, and accomplishment.

About Ann Arbor:

Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan - The Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan, which is more than 50 years old, is an intimate and vibrant orthodox congregation. Its membership, which totals approximately 75 members, is multigenerational, including families with babies and school-aged children, young couples just starting out, empty-nesters, and retirees. This diverse community provides frequent opportunities for its members to learn Torah, celebrate, socialize, and connect with Judaism in ways they find meaningful.

Jewish Life in Ann Arbor - Ann Arbor is a vibrant and culturally rich small city (110,000 people) that regularly leads rankings due to its quality of life, renowned academics and highly ranked University of Michigan Hospital. The city prides itself on hosting top performers and lecturers, natural and recreational spaces, and a football stadium that holds more fans on a game day than the entire population of Ann Arbor. The Jewish community has one of everything (Eruv, Mikvah, Jewish Federation, Jewish Day School, Jewish Community Center, and Secular Humanistic, Renewal, Reconstructionist, Reform, Conservative, Partnership, Orthodox, Chabad and local home-based services). Kosher products are available in town (meat, cheese, challah etc.) and prepared kosher food is available at the University of Michigan and Hillel. Ann Arbor is the kind of town where people greet each other in the street and where you can have an impact on building community, while the university's size and diversity make you feel like you are always meeting new people and learning something new.

Ann Arbor is 45 minutes from the greater Metro Detroit Jewish community, which has many Kosher restaurants and additional Jewish schools.

University of Michigan Hillel is affiliated with Hillel International. Hillel International enriches the lives of Jewish students so they may enrich the Jewish people and the world, and envisions a world where every student is inspired to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning and Israel.