Rabbinic Services Internship for Rabbinical and Cantorial Students

Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life
June 2 – August 8, 2009

The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL) was founded out of growing concern for underserved, isolated and struggling Jewish communities. The ISJL has created what can be a model for delivery of Jewish services and cultural programming to such enclaves throughout the country. Besides enriching everyday Jewish life, we will aid and assist small pockets of Jewish population in becoming catalysts for interfaith, intergenerational, and interracial bridge-building and dialogue. These small Jewish congregations will continue to play a significant role not only in the lives of their members but also in the surrounding communities, as they carry on the great tradition of tikkun olam, of repairing the world.

The ISJL offers a Summer Internship to rabbinical and cantorial students to assist its Director of Rabbinic Services in a broad range of areas, including congregational, educational, and organizational work. This position is ideal for creative, flexible, practical idealists with a good sense of humor. A good sense of direction also a plus.

Responsibilities of the Intern include:

  • Traveling to underserved congregations in a multi-state region to celebrate Shabbat, lead
    services, teach, and provide pastoral care;
  • Developing educational materials, including divrei Torah and Torah study outlines, for a
    variety of constituencies;
  • Addressing church, civic, and interfaith groups as a representative of the ISJL and the
    Jewish community when traveling;
  • Involvement with local interfaith organizations in Jackson and nearby areas;
  • Assisting the Director of Rabbinic Services in establishing a regional network of rabbinic services and programming.

Intern will work under the supervision and mentorship of the Director of Rabbinic Services.
Additional opportunities may include observing and/or participating in lifecycle event officiation
and other daily aspects of professional life. This position offers a uniquely challenging and rewarding opportunity to serve the needs of an often-overlooked segment of the American Jewish community, and will help to shape your rabbinate or cantorate for years to come. The salary is $3,500.

Send resume and references with a letter of interest to appel@isjl.org. For more information,
call 601.362.6357. Application deadline is January 31, 2009.