Opportunity Statement: Director of Jewish Studies
Rochelle Zell Jewish High School
Rochelle Zell Jewish High School is seeking to hire a Director of Jewish Studies to lead our Jewish Studies department and serve as a dugma ishit (personal exemplar) of the mission and values of our school.
Now in its twenty-second year, Rochelle Zell Jewish High School is a private, co-educational Conservative Jewish high school of 156 students (grades 9-12) from over 20 communities in the greater Chicago area. RZJHS employs 62 full and part time faculty and staff. In the fall of 2007, the school moved to a permanent, state-of-the art campus, located on 7.3 acres in Deerfield, Illinois. The school prides itself on providing students with language and tools to navigate the complexity of what it means to live in the 21st century, and fosters a communal ethos of deep and lasting relationships among all four grades and between teachers and students.
In the words of our mission statement: “Rochelle Zell Jewish High School creates a culture of academic excellence that inspires and prepares our students to think critically, achieve their full potential, and live Judaism as responsible and involved citizens in the modern world.”
Summary of Job Responsibilities
The Director of Jewish Studies is responsible for the hiring and supervision of teachers of Tanach, Talmud and Jewish Thought, and for the development of the curriculum in those subjects, and typically teaches one to three classes in the department. The Director also participates in the development of curricula for the Jewish history and History of Israel courses which are part of our humanities department.
A member of the school’s administrative team, the Director of Jewish Studies also works closely with the Director of Jewish Life and the Director of Student Activities in overseeing our tefillah program as well as Jewish holiday programming, Shabbatonim and the Senior Israel Experience.
Other Responsibilities
- Coordinating faculty development in the area of Jewish learning and serving as a resource for faculty and staff members
- Serving as a positive Jewish role model for students, families, and faculty with regard to both Jewish values and observance
- Representing the school externally with partner organizations, including local synagogues, day schools, summer camps and rabbis
- Attending, speaking, and teaching at ceremonial and/or milestone events
- Assisting as needed in the areas of recruitment and development
Qualifications
The ideal candidate is a friendly, dynamic and engaging Jewish professional, with a passion for working with teenagers, and skilled at teaching students in a Jewish high school. The ideal candidate also has broad experience working with parents and staff at the high-school level, as well as connections and experience working in the context of a broader Jewish community and the Jewish world at large.
Other desired qualifications:
- A lived understanding of the values and practices of the Conservative movement
- Jewish day school experience
- Administrative experience
To apply, please send cover letter and resume to Tony Frank, Head of School at [email protected].