BACKGROUND: Congregation B’nai Jeshurun (BJ), located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, is one of the country’s leading progressive synagogues. BJ was originally founded in 1825, and was revitalized by the charismatic noted rabbi and human rights activist, Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer, an American who was the spiritual leader of a congregation in Argentina. Rabbi Meyer was joined at BJ by two of his former students from Argentina, Rabbi J. Rolando Matalon, and Cantor Ari Priven. After Rabbi Meyer’s death in 1993, fellow Argentinean Rabbi Marcelo Bronstein came to partner with Rabbi Matalon, and in 2001, Rabbi Felicia Sol, previously a rabbinic fellow at BJ, joined the rabbinic team.
BJ is considered a phenomenon in the Jewish world both because of its rapid and explosive growth and the level of regular involvement and intense commitment of so many of its members. It has been the subject of numerous articles, book chapters, and several documentaries in the Jewish and secular media. Today, the Congregation has approximately 3,800 members (1,875 households) who live on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, other neighborhoods of Manhattan, the outer boroughs, and even New Jersey and Connecticut.
In addition to Shabbat and holiday services, prayer and the study of the Torah, BJ offers educational programs for all ages, Hebrew school, programs and activities in social action/social justice, a homeless shelter, meeting/event space, and much more. BJ is governed by a 28-member Board of Trustees and has an operating budget of $6 million.
THE OPPORTUNITY/CHALLENGE: The Executive Director will join BJ at a transformational moment of transition and growth, and will have the unique opportunity to work with an engaged and dynamic spiritual community to guide one of the nation’s leading progressive synagogues to new levels of success and service.
He/she will partner strategically with the Rabbis, the President, and the Trustees who together will articulate, update and support a vision for the congregation. The Executive Director will provide leadership and direction to a team whose mission it will be to translate that vision into supportive programs, activities and institutional strategies through the congregation’s daily operations (administration, finance, technology, communications/marketing, programming, fundraising, volunteer relations, and facilities).
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS: The Executive Director reports to the President of the Board of Trustees and works in close partnership with the BJ rabbinic team. Reporting to the Executive Director is a staff of 35. The Executive Director will also engage on a regular basis with an active volunteer cadre of more than 1,000.
IDEAL Qualifications: Commitment to Jewish life and the Jewish community, and an understanding of the connection to the principles of BJ; bachelor’s degree, advanced degree preferred; proven leadership, managerial , strategic planning, problem-solving, and fiscal responsibility as an executive in a not-for-profit, public sector or congregational setting; experience leading organizational change and growth; experience with fundraising—generating support from individual donors and family foundations; demonstrated success working effectively with a board of trustees; capital project management experience; an articulate, persuasive communicator; technologically savvy; willingness to embrace and encourage institutional evaluation; superior organizational, time-management and follow-up skills; highly evolved human relations skills; a consummate team player and collaborator; intellectually curious; a warm, engaging and approachable style; energy, charisma, entrepreneurship and creativity; impeccable judgment and discretion; willing to work evenings and weekends, as necessary.
Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience and accomplishments. Kindly direct all inquiries to Howe-Lewis; do not contact BJ.
Filed under: Full Time, NYC, Non-Profit.
