application for mASORTI CONGREGATION SEEKING A rabbi
ISRAEL
NAME OF CONGREGATION
CITY
DATE OF APPLICATION
1)contact information:
OFFICIAL Address OF congregation
STREET address
citY ZIP CODE
OFFICE telephone OFFICEfaX
WEBSITE of congregation
OFFICIAL Address of contact PERSON OR chair of the Rabbinic Search COMMITTEE
LAST NAME fIRST NAME
STREET address
CITY ZIP CODE
HOME telephone mOBILE PHONE
FAX EMAIL ADDRESS
OFFICIAL Address of the Head of the congregation(chair person, president, etc)
LAST NAME...... FIRST NAME
STREET address
CITY...... ZIP
MOBILE
HOME TELEPHONE FAX
EMAIL ADDRess
What Website(S)can be checked for more information about your community AND your city?
What is the best book to learn about your community?
What is your connection to Masorti MOVEMENT OF ISRAEL? ARE YOU A MEMBER? FOR HOW LONG?
2)Demographics
WHAT is your congregation’SFormal reLATIONSHIP with the LARGER COMMUNITY IN YOUR AREAother synagogues? (e.g ‘larger of two non-orthodox congregations in the community)describe your relationship to them?
What other major institutions exist in the community THAT A MASORTI RABBI WOULD waNT TO KNOW ABOUT? univerisities, colleges? Cultural insitutions? Educational endeavors? what is your relationship with them?
how many people are formally connected to your congregation (e.g. your mailing list)
how many people attend Friday night gatherings (Kabbalat Shabbat Services or Oneg shabbat)?
hOW many people attend Shabbat Morning services / activities?
Are there paid professional staff in the coNGREGATION BESIDES THE RABBI? If yes, What are the responsibilities and tasks of the paid professional staff?
3) EDUCATION
DESCRIBE educational principles OF THE CONGREGATION AND THE RABBIS’S ROLE IF ANY?
Desribe the bar bat mitzvah program of the congregation and the rabbi’s role if any?
what involvement is there by the congregation or the rabbi with the localschool?
Is there an active noam group in your community? other childrens activities. please describe. what is the rabbi’s role if any?
4)Physical Space
describe your synagoguebuilding. Describe where you meet for Shabbat Services
5) Religious Services/programs
Describe High Holiday Services – include which Mahzor you use?
Describe Shabbat Services-include which prayer book you use;
who reads the Torah. full layning or triennial? Describe your e expectation of the rabbi reading torah? how forgiving is the congregation about mistkes in the reading and using helping aids?
Describe Adult Jewish Learningopportunities in the congregation
describe a synagogue program in your congregation that you are proud of
6) RELIGIOUS VALUES
what is your congregation’s Policy aboutinstrumental musicon shabbat and holidays?
what is your congregation’s Policy about video taping and electronicson shabbat and holidays?
what is your congregation’s Policy about Participation of women? using the imahot?
iWhat are your congregation’s attitudes toward conversion and intermarriage?
what are your congregation’s attitude toward the inclusion of gays and lesbians in the congregation?
what is the congregtation’s attitude about kashrut? towards bringing food into the synagogue in general and on shabbat? heating food on shabbat?
have there been any cases of the rabbi proposing a religious policy that was controversial?
is your rabbi allowed to take a stand on political issues? who decides what is a political issue?
Describe the last religiOus POLICY CHANGE in your congregation. what was the impact?
7)Proposed compensation for the Rabbi is:
Salary
pENSION
OTHER BENEFITS
HOUSING
Grand total of value in skelim: in US dollars is:
How is this position to be funded?
What are the housing arrangements for Rabbi?
is the rabbi expected to entertain at home? is he or she compensated for expenses?
describe Medical coverage for the RABBI,DESCRIBE HEALTH care facility, private insurance needed, if any
8) primary mission
a)what are the congregation’s core values? list three – five (3-5) Values and principles which guide the actions of the congregation and which are not dependent on the rabbI
b)What is your congregation’s main strength? (include programs or ideas that you will want the rabbi to continue)
c)What new projects were begun this year?
d) What challenges do you face (list three) and what role do you want the rabbi to play in meeting them? These are action items that the rabbi will need to focus on
e) What do you think is unique about your congregation?
f) what are the three most important issues facing your congregation in the next five years?
g) Why should a MASORTI Rabbi come to you AT THIS TIME?
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