Rabbinic Opportunity

Ruach HaMaqom - Burlington, VT

Position Overview

Ruach HaMaqom, a Jewish Renewal congregation in Burlington, Vermont, seeks a quarter-time rabbi to lead our community with warmth, wisdom, and spiritual guidance. The ideal candidate will honor our Renewal traditions, providing meaningful religious leadership and pastoral care while working collaboratively with our dedicated lay leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Religious Leadership

  • Lead Renewal-style Kabbalat Shabbat services on a monthly basis that embody the joyful, musical, and contemplative traditions of Jewish Renewal

  • Facilitate meaningful holiday celebrations and rituals throughout the Jewish calendar

  • Bring creative energy to our spiritual practices while honoring traditional Jewish values

  • Encourage active participation and leadership by community members.

  • Write weekly or bi-monthyl reflections on the Torah portions to be included in newsletters

Pastoral Care

  • Provide compassionate pastoral support to community members during lifecycle events, illness, loss, and other significant moments

  • Be available for spiritual guidance and counsel

  • Create a nurturing presence that fosters community connection

Jewish Learning

  • Facilitate engaging study group(s) that deepen our community's understanding of Jewish texts, traditions, mystical approaches and spirituality

  • Develop adult educational programming that is accessible to members with diverse backgrounds and knowledge levels

  • Encourage questions, conversation, and personal meaning-making

Community Building

  • Conduct one-on-one engagement conversations with prospective members

  • Help newcomers feel welcome and find their place within our community

  • Support the growth and sustainability of our community

  • Facilitate connections between congregants and local Jewish resources

  • Continue to foster connections with other Vermont Jewish organizations and congregations

Qualifications

  • Rabbinic ordination or equivalent spiritual leadership training

  • Experience with, or appreciation for, Jewish Renewal approaches to Judaism

  • Strong knowledge of Jewish texts, traditions, and liturgy

  • Excellent interpersonal skills and compassionate presence

  • Ability to connect with people of diverse backgrounds, ages, Jewish and other-than-Jewish experiences

  • Commitment to inclusivity and creating a welcoming environment

  • Community organizing/building skills, embodied movement and musicianship are a plus

We recognize that no one person has all the tools in their skill set. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t tick every box!

Time Commitment

This is a quarter-time position (approximately 10 hours per week), with schedule flexibility.

Compensation

The community can currently afford $24,000/year for this quarter-time position. There are other Vermont-area communities currently seeking rabbis with whom we can connect you to possibly bring together a more sustainable income.

About Ruach HaMaqom

Ruach HaMaqom ("Spirit of the Place") is a warm, inclusive Jewish community in Burlington, Vermont, embracing the creative, musical, and spiritual teachings of Jewish Renewal while honoring traditional roots. Established in 2017 by our Emerita Rabbi Jan Salzman, our diverse community welcomes individuals and families of all backgrounds, political views, and orientations, including interfaith families and those exploring Judaism. We believe that diversity strengthens us.

In 2024, we engaged Rabbis Lee Moore and David Curiel to provide rabbinic services and facilitate our community’s transition and evolution. We're committed to sustaining our unique spiritual home through collaborative leadership, meaningful connections, transparency, equity and a shared vision. Through vibrant services, community gatherings, and study groups, we create a dynamic Jewish space that feels like home. Sharing what touches and speaks to each of us with heartfelt presence transforms us individually and collectively as we participate in Tikkun Olam (healing our fragmented world).

About Burlington

Burlington is a small city on the shores of Lake Champlain, vibrant, artsy, progressive, outdoors-oriented, with lots of great food, music and locally owned shops. Ruach haMaqom is one of four congregations that operate here, in addition to two lay-led chavurot. Jewish preschools, Hebrew schools, summer camps and youth groups are available through the wider Jewish ecosystem of Burlington (including Conservative, Reform and Chabad communities). Burlington is minutes away from rural Vermont with many opportunities for outdoor experiences including, but not limited to skiing, biking, paddling, hiking and more. An LGBTQIA+ and trans-friendly city, Burlington is only two hours away from the vibrant, multicultural city of Montreal, CA and its international airport.

Some more info about Burlington:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/09/07/travel/things-to-do-burlington-vermont.html

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/usa/new-england/burlington

https://www.helloburlingtonvt.com/move-to-burlington/living-in-burlington/


How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to rebecca@ruachhamaqom.org. Please include your experience with Jewish Renewal and your vision for rabbinic leadership in a small, participatory community.