Ohr Kodesh Congregation
Chevy Chase, Maryland
25-30 hours per week (inclusive of tutoring hours)
Position Overview
Ohr Kodesh Congregation seeks a dedicated and organized Bnei Mitzvah Coordinator to guide families and students through one of the most meaningful milestones in Jewish life. This role combines educational leadership, expertise on liturgy and ritual service, pastoral care, and program coordination to ensure every student receives personalized support as they prepare to become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
Primary Responsibilities
Family Partnership & Guidance
Build meaningful relationships with families from the outset of the bnei mitzvah journey (as early as third grade), serving as their primary point of contact throughout the process. Provide clear communication about expectations, timelines, and available resources while offering encouragement and support tailored to each family's needs and learning styles. Conduct family intake meetings no less than 12 months before the bnei mitzvah ceremony.
Student-Tutor Matching & Oversight
Assess each student's learning style, skill level, and scheduling needs to thoughtfully assign them to tutors whose strengths and availability best match their requirements. Assure the assigning of tutors no less than 8 months before the bnei mitzvah ceremony. Supervise and support the tutoring team, including regular check-ins, ensuring consistent quality of instruction and addressing any challenges that arise during the preparation process.
Tutoring and Final Rehearsals
Conduct multiple (3-4), comprehensive final rehearsals with students to build confidence and ensure readiness for their bnei mitzvah ceremonies. Provide constructive feedback and polish students' Torah reading, Haftarah chanting, and service participation skills. Provide tutoring for students as needed.
Collaboration with ABRS / Trope Instruction
Partner with the Alvin Browdy Religious School (ABRS) to strengthen and integrate bnei mitzvah preparation into the broader educational experience. Lead engaging trope classes during ABRS sessions (available to both ABRS students and community children), teaching students fundamental trope skills.
Mitzvah Scholars and Hesed Corp Program Coordination
Oversee, coordinate, and help teach the pre-bnei mitzvah family learning program for fifth, sixth, and seventh graders in partnership with the Senior Rabbi, Director of Lifelong Learning, and Director of the Alvin Browdy Religious School. This includes, but is not limited to one monthly meeting per grade from September to May, and a 5th/6th grade day of learning (Yom Iyun).
Adult Education & Skill-Building
Offer instruction and support to parents of bnei mitzvah students who wish to develop their own Jewish ritual skills related to the bnei mitzvah experience, including how to receive an aliyah, lead blessings, or participate more fully in services. Support family members of bnei mitzvah seeking to learn and perform ritual skills during the bnei mitzvah service.
Qualifications
- Strong knowledge of Torah trope, Haftarah cantillation, and Shabbat/weekday liturgy
- Experience teaching children and adults in Jewish educational settings
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build rapport with diverse families
- Organizational and teamwork skills and attention to detail in managing multiple students' timelines simultaneously, and ensuring collaboration and cross-communication with the Ohr Kodesh ritual and administrative staff involved in supporting bnei mitzvah
- Patience, warmth, and the ability to inspire confidence in students and families
- Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends to accommodate rehearsals and ceremonies
- Working knowledge of Google Suite and Microsoft Office.
- Salary commensurate with experience.
Interim Coordinator will report to the Senior Rabbi.
To learn more about Ohr Kodesh, visit www.ohrkodesh.org.
To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to [email protected].