Job Opportunities

Primary function: The Spiritual Leader/Rabbi (hereafter “Spiritual Leader”) will provide an environment conducive to the support of Agudath Achim’s Conservative Jewish values and lead the Synagogue in fulfilling its mission.

Vision: We need a Rabbi who can serve in the capacity of worship leader, teacher, community builder, pastor, mara d’atra, working scholar and spiritual guide. Beyond providing the usual b’nei mitzvah training, adult education and pastoral care, we would like to challenge our new Spiritual Leader to bring an engaging and dynamic personality that will encourage unaffiliated members of the community, particularly young families, to consider joining Agudath Achim. By performing all these activities, we know that our spiritual and physical growth will be enhanced. We are told “go forward.” We feel we are at Yam Suph and need our Spiritual Leader to help us navigate our spiritual journey in achieving our potential.

Roles of the Spiritual Leader:

Our Spiritual Leader will serve as the religious leader of Agudath Achim and will have overall responsibility for its religious, educational and spiritual needs, with financial needs being processed through appropriate lay channels.

Our Spiritual Leader will control their own schedule to include appropriate office hours on the synagogue premises and will agree to perform the usual and customary duties of a spiritual leader.

Our Spiritual Leader will have overall responsibility and authority for the preparation, conduct and performance of all religious services including those of the Sabbaths, Festivals, Holidays and, when necessary, a daily minyan, with the advice of the Board of Directors and the Ritual Committee of Agudath Achim. Included in the aforementioned, our Spiritual Leader is expected to perform the duties for the High Holy Day season.

Our Spiritual Leader will conduct all life-cycle and induction ceremonies such as namings, marriages, B’nai Mitzvot, conversions, funerals, etc., unless, with consent, another person is asked to officiate or co-officiate.

Our Spiritual Leader will have overall responsibility for conducting the Educational Program of Agudath Achim as needed. This may include support of all aspects of the Community Religious School, B’nai Mitzvah training, preparation for Confirmation, Adult Education and Summer Day Camp.

Our Spiritual Leader will provide pastoral care to meet the needs of our congregants – regardless of housing situation – particularly those hospitalized, in Assisted Living, in nursing homes and homebound individuals.

Our Spiritual Leader will be part of the leadership team of Agudath Achim, along with the President and any additional congregants selected by the President. They will be responsible for giving direction to the paid congregational staff to facilitate implementation of worship services, the educational program, and lifecycle and induction events.

Our Spiritual Leader will act as the halachic authority of Agudath Achim on all questions of Jewish Law, as guided by the Conservative Movement, with consideration for both the traditional and the progressive members of our congregation.

Our Spiritual Leader is expected to officiate at all marriages countenanced by the Conservative Movement.

Our Spiritual Leader may conduct appropriate religious ceremonies, with approval of the Executive Committee of Agudath Achim, in or out of the Synagogue for individuals or groups not affiliated with Agudath Achim.

Our Spiritual Leader may accept special engagements subject to the Executive Committee’s approval, provided that such engagements do not interfere with their rabbinical duties to Agudath Achim.

Our Congregation will afford the Spiritual Leader such opportunity (as they consider necessary, appropriate and desirable) to serve the interest of the larger community with the approval of the Executive Committee. Such activities will not interfere with their Congregational duties.

Our Spiritual Leader is to be afforded one compensated week day to be used at their discretion.

Our Congregation will, at all times, keep the Spiritual Leader apprised of all information and developments which it deems necessary to enable them to carry out their duties.

Our Spiritual Leader is a member, ex-officio, of the Board of Directors with voice but without vote.

Our Spiritual Leader is allowed 4 vacation weeks per year in addition to an allowance for all national holidays (except when they conflict with Jewish Holidays).

Our Spiritual Leader may attend Professional Conferences, mutually agreed upon by the Executive Committee, without those days being considered vacation days.

Additionally, since we are a United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism-affiliated Congregation, our Spiritual Leader must abide by the Eligibility Placement Rules of the Rabbinic Assembly. I.e., they must not have ethical, halakhic, or placement violations, and also may not have pending inquiries by the Va’ad HaKavod.

Mission Statement: Congregation Agudath Achim is an independent, inclusive, egalitarian Conservative congregation in Shreveport, Louisiana whose members are committed to each other, to active participation in worship services, to meaningful Jewish learning and to spiritual growth.