Assistant Educator for Youth and Teens, URJ CLASP Fellow

Synagogue:  Touro Synagogue
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Partner Camp: URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp
Reporting to: Rabbi Katie Bauman, Senior Rabbi of Touro Synagogue
Contract Period:  August 2023 – August 2025
Salary Range: $45,000-$50,000, based upon experience, full benefits
Employment Type:  Full Time

THE ROLE OF ASSISTANT EDUCATOR FOR YOUTH AND TEENS 
Touro Synagogue is a progressive, vibrant, growing congregation in New Orleans, Louisiana. We seek a member of our Education Team who will build warm connections with our youth and teens, bring meaningful and crucial support to our Clergy and Education Director in the implementation of dynamic youth initiatives, and be a strong Judaic resource at URJ Henry S Jacobs Camp where a large percentage of our youth spend their summers.  In these ways, our Assistant Educator will be a powerful bridge between the many educational outlets offered to families, and will have a tremendous impact on shaping the Jewish culture and future of our children and families.  Touro Synagogue’s Assistant Educator will also be a CLASP Fellow, (Camp Leader and Synagogue Professional), spending the summer at URJ Henry S Jacobs Camp and the academic year in the synagogue, with access to professional development experiences throughout that time. The ideal candidate is passionate about youth and Jewish learning, experienced in a variety of Jewish educational and programmatic settings, literate in Hebrew and Jewish prayer, and filled with energy to make a difference in the life of the Jewish youth of New Orleans and beyond.

WHAT YOU WILL DO  
The Assistant Educator is supervised by Rabbi Katie Bauman during the academic year and Jacobs Camp Director Anna Herman during the summer. The Assistant Educator is  responsible for the following:    

Synagogue Responsibilities: 

  • Serve as co-creator and co-implementer of all youth programming at Touro Synagogue, guided by the Director of Youth Education and Engagement.
  • Assist in the B’nei Mitzvah program as a Hebrew tutor for students, forming warm connections with students and families and supporting them throughout their time in the program,  guided by the Cantor;
  • Teach weekly Hebrew class in Uptown Hebrew Program which readies students for B’nei Mitzvah Training.
  • Support and grow teen engagement programs, focusing on fostering leadership and individual Jewish development of each teen, guided by the Associate Rabbi.
  • Attends and chaperones all teen events, including conclaves, synagogue trips, and youth group programs, guided by the Director of Youth Education and Engagement.
  • Supervises Shabbat evening babysitting and infuses it with Jewish content.

Camp Responsibilities: 

  • Support New Orleans camp engagement work initiated by HSJ Camp Assistant Directors. 
  • Serve as member of Summer 2024 and 2025 leadership team on site at camp in Utica, MS for the full summer;
  • Support synagogue programming that highlights the value and impact of Jewish camping;
  • Bring the spirit and beauty of camp-style community building and culture to all synagogue and community programs and events

URJ CLASP Fellowship Responsibilities:

  • Participate in monthly CLASP cohort meetings
  • Participate in CLASP professional development
  • Attend the in-person CLASP retreat in the fall semester (date TBD) 
  • Submit regular guided reports on your work for grant reporting

KEY SKILL SETS AND STRENGTHS

  • Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence with an ability to empathize and connect with a diverse group of youth and teens;
  • Deep love of Jewish life and learning and a passion for conveying this to youth and teens;
  • Facility with Hebrew reading and basic liturgy of Reform Judaism and an openness to deepening this knowledge with adequate mentoring;
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills and follow-through, with an ability to understand what is being asked, ask good questions to clear up ambiguity, and deliver on stated commitments;  
  • Flexibility and responsiveness, comfortable taking changes in stride, and the ability to recognize when pivots are necessary. Nimble, agile, and solutions focused;  
  • Enthusiasm for teen engagement and a recognition of how and why it is important to support teen leadership development;
  • REDI Experience (Racial Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion).  Demonstrated experience prioritizing and executing on Racial Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (i.e., ableism, LGBTQ+ Inclusion, antiracism, etc.) priorities.  

Requirements:

  • Must be a college graduate or age equivalent
  • Must have experience in at least two different Jewish communal settings (camp, synagogue, day school, Hebrew school, etc.)
  • Must be able read Hebrew and lead a Reform Jewish prayer service.
  • **Songleading skills are most welcome and, if present, will be enthusiastically integrated into the role, both within the synagogue and at camp.

 

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