The Har Shalom Center for Jewish Living seeks a full-time congregational rabbi to embrace our diverse and growing Jewish community in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The position is vacant because our beloved rabbi of seven years moved to be near her family in June of 2025. This position will begin in July of 2026.
Har Shalom is an intentionally unaffiliated center of Jewish faith, culture, and worship that serves a wide array of spiritual paths. Our synagogue membership represents a spectrum of Jews from varied affiliations and backgrounds and serves members who are culturally Jewish, those who practice Judaism in traditional ways, and everyone in between. Our community includes a substantial constituency of interfaith families and Jews-by-choice. Har Shalom is strongly egalitarian and openly affirms gender and LGBTQ+ rights. Please refer to our mission, vision, inclusion and core value statements for more details.
Our congregation started in 1975 with a handful of families that wanted to provide Jewish education to their children. From inception, we were accepting of multiple ways of celebrating Judaism. The congregation grew, and we built our synagogue to house it in1982. Our campus expanded in 2008 with the addition of modular buildings to accommodate our growing youth education programs. We are currently bursting at the seams with 250 families. While we see our children as the future of our congregation, we also have a growing population of energetic retirees who move to Fort Collins for the active lifestyle and because of our full-service, welcoming synagogue.
Our dedicated professional staff work in partnership with our Rabbi. The board and Executive Director provide strategic planning. The Religious School Director presides over our thriving youth education program. Our Community Engagement and Development Manager ensures the vitality of our congregation and stability of our finances. Our Librarian curates our substantial collection of Jewish literature. Our Facilities Coordinator monitors and maintains our spaces. Lay leaders support activity at all levels: strategic, social, spiritual, educational, and ritual.
What is special about Har Shalom:
- A popular weekly Torah study
- A Chevrah Kadisha that is a model for congregations across the United States
- A library that is accredited by the Association of Jewish Libraries
- A top-rated, on-site, Montessori-inspired preschool
- Engaging youth programming for 130+ children including Religious School, Shabbat Junior, and BBYO
- A commitment to tikkun olam as a core value at home and in the broader Northern Colorado community
- A robust Lifelong Learning program
- Multiple Committees and Interest Groups
Har Shalom is in the heart of the vibrant city of Fort Collins, located along the Cache le Poudre River in Northern Colorado. Fort Collins is home to the world-class Colorado State University and is the county seat of Larimer County. It is a platinum-rated Bicycle Friendly Community and is close to hiking and ski trails. Fort Collins has an excellent school system, wonderful parks and libraries, a diverse array of cultural offerings, and restaurants of all kinds. Denver and Boulder are within driving distance.
Minimum Qualifications
- Ordination or smicha from a recognized institution
- Experience as a congregational rabbi
- Proven ability to function as part of a Jewish leadership team
Non-Negotiable Expectations
- Maintain a calendar of appointments and respond promptly to congregants and staff
- Lead all High Holiday services
- Lead/Coordinate Shabbat services
- Perform lifecycle events, including same-sex and interfaith marriages
- Provide/Coordinate pastoral care
- Live in Northern Colorado, preferably in the city of Fort Collins
Other Congregational Needs and Wants
No one rabbi can fulfill all the needs below. Many can be addressed by lay leaders and staff. Please contemplate this list and identify tasks that will bring you the most job satisfaction.
Ritual
- Coordinate Ritual Practice
- Leining Torah
- Leading Singing - Music
- Weekly D’rash - Inspirational Message
- Coordinate offerings for holidays (Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Chanukkah, Tu B’shevat, Yom HaShoah, Pesach, Purim, Shavuot, Yom Ha’atzmaut)
Education
- Provide guidance on Jewish education to Preschool teachers
- Foster youth education and support the Religious School
- Guide those who wish to convert
- Offer adult education courses
- Lead Torah study
Outreach
- Maintain relationships with other faith leaders in Fort Collins
- Maintain relationships with other Jewish congregations and organizations in Colorado
- Provide Jewish advocacy in the Northern Colorado community
Community Building
- Facilitate difficult conversations
- Facilitate community-building events
- Support congregational Tikkun Olam initiatives
- Support Fundraising Initiatives
How to apply
Email all application materials to [email protected] and [email protected].
Required materials
- CV
- Cover Letter (no more than two pages) that describes your interest in leading our community and which of our needs and wants correspond to your skills and interests.
- D’rash or Sermon (preferably a link to a video recording, though a written document of up to 5 pages is acceptable)
Optional addition
Salary Range and Benefits:
Total Compensation: $100,000 - $120,000
Allocation negotiable among
- Salary
- Pension contribution
- Major Medical Insurance (Kaiser Permanente)
- Housing
Other Benefits:
- Moving Expenses
- Start-Up Fund
- Paid Time Off