Modern Orthodox Educator in Residence

UMass Amherst Hillel

Role Overview

UMass Amherst Hillel is seeking a Modern Orthodox educator, or a co-educator team to serve in a joint role, who will help support and inspire Jewish learning, practice, and engagement at UMass Hillel. The Orthodox Educator will join UMass Hillel for select Shabbatot and chagim as a mentor, educator, and advisor. The ideal candidate will be available for ongoing student support and relationship building between visits.  

UMass Hillel is a pluralistic community that includes Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and secular students. Hillel sustains core resources for Jewish religious life including hosting kosher Shabbat and holiday meals, multiple services, an eruv, and has a warm, tight-knit Shabbat community. The Orthodox Educator will work with Hillel’s full-time Hadar Campus rabbi and staff team to foster the continued growth of our Modern Orthodox community and the broader vibrancy of our pluralistic Jewish community. This is a wonderful opportunity to serve as a dedicated role model who is excited to study, pray, and advise students and support each student’s Jewish journey.

Who You Are

• You may be an Orthodox rabbi, rabbinical student, maharat, or maharat student, rabbanit, or yoetzet halacha
• You may be a passionate, Jewishly knowledgeable person who spends their week in another field, who wants to have a positive impact on Jewish college students. 
• We welcome applications from individual educators, as well as co-educator teams interested in a joint role
• If you are drawn to this job and aren’t sure, please be in touch.

What You’ll Do

• Nurture the growth of the UMass observant community.
• Visit campus for 2-3 Shabbats per semester and for several fall chaggim (if available), supporting Hillel’s Shabbat community, including facilitating services and learning. 
• Teach and facilitate learning; create opportunities for meaningful engagement and growth through Jewish text and wisdom.
• Build meaningful relationships with students through pastoral care, chevruta learning, halachic support, and mentorship. 
• Support student interests, empowering them to explore their passions, ideas and grow as leaders.
• Partner with Hillel staff to ensure observant students have the resources to thrive at Hillel and on campus.
• The ideal candidate will have availability for ongoing student support remotely between visits on campus.   
• Potentially visit weekly or biweekly to lead Women’s Learning, depending on qualifications and availability.

Time commitment

• Approximately 2-3 Shabbatot each semester
• Mutually selected chaggim
• Availability to connect remotely with students between visits
• Periodic weekday learning, events, or student group support, dependent on the candidate and availability

What You’ll Bring

• A warm, engaging, approachable personality 
• Ability to serve as a role model and mentor to Orthodox students as well as a commitment to contributing to an inclusive, friendly, welcoming and pluralist Jewish community.
• A strong knowledge of Jewish content, ranging from traditional texts to contemporary Jewish wisdom. 
• An ability to make Jewish text and tradition accessible to students with a range of backgrounds and knowledge levels.
• Excitement to support college students and their journeys.
• Relevant previous experience in Jewish leadership or educational positions, experience in Hillel, youth movements, camping, experiential Jewish education, or grassroots community organizing within Modern Orthodox communities.

What You’ll Receive

• Compensation between $7,000-$10,000, dependent upon the agreed-upon scope of work  
• Housing and travel stipend for campus visits
• A dynamic network of colleagues, students, parents, and university partners 
• Opportunities for professional development.

About UMass Hillel

About UMass Hillel:

UMass Hillel serves as the vibrant center of Jewish communal life on the UMass Amherst campus. Our mission is to empower students through the vitality of Jewish life to cultivate healthy, purposeful lives and relationships that better our community and world. UMass Hillel engages over 1300 students annually through a diverse array of social, educational, cultural, religious, and leadership opportunities, including via Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform student groups and minyanim. 

UMass Hillel is located in the fun college town of Amherst in the Pioneer Valley, also known as the “Happy Valley.” The area has a rich cultural life, beautiful nature, thriving local Jewish communities, and is a great place to live. Learn more at umasshillel.org.