Congregation Shaarei Shamayim is a Jewish community affiliated with the Jewish Reconstructionist movement and Aleph: Alliance for Jewish Renewal.

Shaarei Shamayim’s youth programs serve children and teens from preschool through high school. Our children’s education program includes students from preschool through seventh grade and is led by our rabbi. Our religious school, known as “Gesher” (Hebrew for “bridge”), meets every other Sunday morning for three hours from September through May, for a total of 16 sessions. Students in grades three to six learn Hebrew by meeting one-on-one with a tutor for 30 minutes a week, and seventh graders prepare for their bnei mitzvah by working with a specialized tutor and our rabbi. The congregation had a youth group before the pandemic, and we are looking to create two new youth groups: one for seventh and eighth graders, another for high schoolers.

Congregation Shaarei Shamayim is an equal opportunity employer. A vital part of this commitment includes welcoming, respecting, and encouraging diversity among our staff, including fostering an environment in which all staff have the greatest opportunities to thrive. We encourage all candidates to apply for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

This is an hourly position, with an anticipated average of 10 hours per week over the course of a calendar year. The youth coordinator would need to work all Sunday mornings that our Sunday morning education program meets (16 total); work in the office at least once a week for a few hours; be available for youth group events throughout the year; and staff some other congregational events. Summers would be focused on preparing for the following school year.

Congregation Shaarei Shamayim, a progressive Jewish community in Madison, Wisconsin, seeks a part-time (10 hours/week) Youth Coordinator to manage our children’s education and youth programs in coordination with our rabbi. This newly created position involves a combination of administrative work and engagement with children and families. The coordinator must be highly organized, have a good rapport with members, and be great with kids of all ages. Applicants need not be Jewish, but some knowledge of and experience with the Jewish community is important.

About our programs. Shaarei Shamayim’s youth programs serve children and teens from preschool through high school. Our children’s education program includes students from preschool through seventh grade and is led by our rabbi. Our religious school, known as “Gesher” (Hebrew for “bridge”), meets every other Sunday morning for three hours from September through May, for a total of 16 sessions. Students in grades three to six learn Hebrew by meeting one-on-one with a tutor for 30 minutes a week, and seventh graders prepare for their bnei mitzvah by working with a specialized tutor and our rabbi. The congregation had a youth group before the pandemic, and we are looking to create two new youth groups: one for seventh and eighth graders, another for high schoolers.

Job responsibilities. The youth coordinator will take over the program’s administrative duties from our rabbi and other staff, becoming the congregation’s point person for our youth programs. The position’s responsibilities include:

• For the Sunday Gesher program, managing enrollment; setting up and cleaning up spaces; printing and organizing materials for our teachers; preparing and sending biweekly emails to families; finding substitute teachers; and other tasks.
• For our Hebrew tutoring program, supervising and supporting tutors; setting up the tutoring schedule based on parent and tutor availability; giving feedback to tutors based on observations and review of their self-reported forms on each student’s progress; leading meetings with tutors to troubleshoot teaching methods and to share feedback and experiences; problem-solving with parents; and other tasks.
• For our bnei mitzvah program, coordinating with parents to schedule dates and meetings; helping families create social events for their cohort; meeting with parents and volunteer coordinators about logistics; creating binders for bnei mitzvah students; and other tasks.
• Working with parents to create two new youth groups for seventh and eighth graders and high schoolers; communicating with families and teens about the programs; staffing youth group events; and other tasks.
• Providing support to our other office staff for special projects such as our Hanukkah party, winter retreat, and community Purim carnival, as well as helping with holiday celebrations throughout the year.

Professional requirements and qualities:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Proficient with computers, including but not limited to word processing, spreadsheets, virtual meeting software, and email skills.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters with maturity, discretion, and professionalism.
• Experience with or interest in learning about Jewish customs, culture, and practices.
• Experience and interest in youth programming and education.

How to apply. Please email a cover letter and resume to shaareishamayimemployment@gmail.com, including the words “Youth Coordinator Position” in the subject line. We expect to interview candidates in late May and early June, with an expected start date of July 1.