Jewish Chaplain

Duties and Responsibilities:

55% Jewish Life:

• Foster Jewish learning, community building and leadership development for Jewish students at Villanova.

• Collaborate with staff of the Greater Philly Hillel Network and specifically with the Hillel Springboard Fellow in planning programming and supporting Hillel members and Executive Board.

• Develop one-on-one relationships with students and support them in their Jewish identity and practice.

• Support ritual and religious programming for regular Shabbat gatherings and holiday observances.

• Initiate and support community-building opportunities for Jewish faculty and staff.

• Foster community among all Jewish members of the Villanova community through periodic events bringing together students, faculty and staff.

• Develop and offer programming specific to Jewish learning for undergraduate and graduate students, including exploring outreach to Law School students.

• Provide Jewish staff presence and collaboration in campus-wide community events (vigils, community conversations, etc.).

25% Multifaith Advising and Engagement:

• Assist the Office for Mission and Ministry in helping to address campus culture (through policies, education, advocacy) related to issues of antisemitism and other forms of religious bias.

• Collaborate with the Director of Multifaith Ministry in guiding and supporting the work of the Interfaith Advisory Council. Coordinate with other campus departments for division-wide and campus-wide initiatives as determined by the Director.

• Develop and lead, with partners, programming for the student Interfaith Justice Cohort and other interfaith programming as appropriate.

• Collaborate with OMM staff and campus partners (TRS, UNITAS, etc.) in the development of new interfaith learning, prayer/worship, and community-building events.

15% University Ministry Collaboration:

• Maintain a ministry of presence at university events and work to establish university relationships as a representative of University Ministry.

• Attend and participate in key University Ministry and Office for Mission and Ministry events.

• Regularly evaluate the various offerings with input from supervisor, University Ministry team, and students.

• Attend and actively participate in University Ministry team meetings, and Mission and Ministry staff meetings.

• Meet regularly with the Director of Multifaith Ministry.

• Participate as appropriate in University Ministry committees and/or University committees.

• Be available for pastoral care.

• Maintain regular office hours.

• Manage budgets for programs.

5% Other Duties

• Perform other duties and assist with projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Formal Education:

• Graduate degree with emphasis in Jewish studies and/or Jewish communal leadership.

• Training in pastoral care and/or spiritual support.

Work Experience:

• 1-2 years of experience in supporting Jewish young adults in a university or other relevant context.

Work Skills (e.g., written and verbal communication skills):

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Excellent relational skills.

Specific Job Knowledge (e.g., knowledge of principles and procedures related to field and area):
• Capacity to communicate/teach Jewish texts, values, and traditions in a variety of formal and informal settings.

• Capacity to navigate Jewish pluralism and engage relationally across the spectrum of Jewish identity and expression.

Preferred Qualifications:

Formal Education:

• Rabbinic or Cantorial ordination (or in late stages of preparation for ordination).

Work Experience:

• 2+ years supporting Jewish life/community in an academic context.