Orthodox Rabbi at Harvard Hillel

Orthodox Rabbi – Harvard Hillel

Harvard Hillel is looking for a dynamic Orthodox Rabbi to foster a warm, inspiring Jewish community for students, faculty, and staff. The ideal candidate makes Jewish tradition exciting and meaningful through teaching, mentorship, and pastoral care, and is deeply aligned with the religious values, practices, and spiritual aspirations of our students.

In addition to high‑level guidance, the Orthodox Rabbi engages with students on a day‑to‑day basis, building relationships and supporting their Jewish journeys. Within Harvard’s pluralistic Jewish community, the Orthodox Rabbi is a committed and inspiring exemplar of Torah and mitzvot, drawing on the depth and wisdom of Judaism to enrich the entire Jewish community and broader campus life. He collaborates closely with Hillel staff and student leaders to plan, develop, and execute programs that bring the community together while supporting student leaders in taking on increasing responsibility for their community, their own experiences and spiritual growth, and that of their peers.

This role is 10 months/year with June and July off.

• Advise the Orthodox Student Minyan:
  Serve as the student minyan advisor, providing shiurim, drashot, chavrutot, and organizational support. Act as a halakhic and hashkafic guide to Orthodox students, and the local Orthodox minyan as needed.
• Teach Torah:
  Teach Torah in ways that are textually ambitious, intellectually sophisticated, inviting of questions, and responsive to students’ interests. In classes and informal settings, you’ll regularly facilitate complex conversations characterized by humility, curiosity, and respect for multiple perspectives. Beyond group settings, you will learn regularly in chavruta with multiple students.
• Welcome students in your home:
  Host students regularly for Shabbat and holiday meals, cultivating a sense of home and close‑knit community for students away from their families.
• Create a warm Shabbat and Chag environment:
  Support students and the rabbinic team in making Shabbatot and Chaggim times of connection and holiness, including at least one off‑site Shabbaton for the Orthodox community.
• Provide pastoral care and mentorship:
  Build substantial relationships with a wide swath (> 100) undergraduate and graduate students through pastoral care, chavruta learning, teaching, and mentorship. Maintain a consistent, visible, and accessible presence in students’ daily lives, and work to make sure every Jewish student feels invited into and curious about deeper Jewish learning and practice, by modeling a grounded openness to their thoughts and experiences.
• Contribute to a pluralistic community:
  Grounded in Orthodox practice and identity, you will bring together elements of Harvard’s diverse Jewish community. This includes engaging respectfully and curiously with students’ and colleagues’ religious and moral commitments even and especially when they differ from your own. Beyond the Jewish community, you will participate in campus conversations and gatherings, including joining the Harvard Chaplains’ community.
• Be an exemplar of good middot:
  Unfailingly relate to students and colleagues with a warm, caring, and approachable demeanor. When questions or conflicts arise, you’ll approach them with energy and a commitment to working out solutions together with others – and will consistently try to take up others’ perspectives.
• Collaborate with the Hillel team:
  Join the student‑facing programming team, collaborating closely with colleagues to plan and execute programs. All staff share responsibility for student engagement and bringing ideas to fruition, making their differences into points of connection and mutual appreciation. The Orthodox Rabbi reports to the Senior Director of Student Life and Executive Director and partners with the broader team to advance shared goals.
• Partner beyond Harvard:
  Serve as Harvard Hillel’s liaison to the Orthodox Minyan at Harvard Hillel, supporting scheduling, financial coordination, and student participation in the broader Cambridge Orthodox community. Maintain relationships with Jewish day schools and other pipelines to attract…