Cantor

Who we are:

Temple Beth Rishon (TBR) is the leading egalitarian synagogue in northern NJ, which has been the shining light and community meeting place for the area’s Jewish community for nearly 50 years. We are a warm, inclusive, and musical congregation made up of individuals and families from diverse Jewish backgrounds. We are anchored to our Jewish heritage while we seek to ensure that our community remains relevant and meaningful to future generations. Our egalitarian approach and diverse congregation embrace the values of open-minded acceptance. As an unaffiliated synagogue, TBR appeals to a broad community of people who identify with the whole spectrum of Jewish movements from Reform to Conservative and everything in-between. Music is an integral part of our worship, blending traditional and contemporary approaches to prayer.

Our passion for Jewish learning and connection is evident in our active educational programs. We welcome students into our preschool at the earliest ages and enjoy watching them graduate into our religious school and high school program as they continue their Jewish educational journey toward becoming B’nei Mitzvah and beyond. We offer robust adult education programming with meaningful opportunities for lifelong learning, thoughtful discussion, and leadership.

We worship together in a beautiful sanctuary flanked by two inspiring stained-glass installations, the newest of which was created in 2022. Our building also houses the Henry & Elaine Kaufman Center for Jewish Living, founded to elevate existing Synagogue programming and to provide new, complementary yet distinct programs in a wide variety of disciplines including literature, Jewish studies, contemporary topics, music, and the arts. The Center pledges to be accessible to all and to enrich the lives of our membership as well as the greater Bergen County community.

Who You Are:

You are a dynamic leader in Jewish music and a passion for enriching modern Jewish life. You are seeking an opportunity to proactively implement creative ideas, enhance worship in innovative ways and respond and adapt to the needs of our thriving community. You are interested in a collaborative environment, building community by partnering with staff, lay leaders and members.

Role Overview:

The Cantor at TBR will coordinate with our Rabbi in developing engaging services with strong musical components. Partner with our Preschool and Religious School Directors and B’nei Mitzvah tutor to bring Shabbat into the classroom, teach prayer and connect our students to Judaism. Interact with lay leaders to implement programs that align our values and goals of engaging members, creating cultural connectedness, and elevating worship through music to help maintain our musical traditions and create new ones.

Responsibilities Include:

• Coordinate with the Rabbi in developing service outlines, selecting melodies, and leading musical portions of Shabbat, Festival, and High Holiday services, actively engaging the community in participatory musical tefillah.
• Chant Torah / Haftarah weekly
• Manage and oversee the B’nei Mitzvah Program; reestablish Adult BM program in partnership with Rabbi
• Lead bi-weekly tot shabbat in preschool
• Create Special Events: Purim Spiel, musical themed Shabbaton, cabaret nights, talent show, etc
• Recruit, lead, and rehearse the adult choir
• Attend and Lead Lifecycle events and pastoral duties
• Teach Prayer in religious school; teach in High School program and lead weekly Shabbat program for Preschool.

What You’ll Need:

• Cantorial or Rabbinic Ordination from an accredited seminary
• Vocal and instrumental musical proficiency and experience
• Demonstrated ability to build effective relationships
• Experience leading worship, including chanting liturgy, Torah and Haftarah.
• Computer skills in software such as Gmail, and Microsoft Word as well as a willingness to learn ShulCloud

Please send resumes to [email protected].  Thanks!