B'Mitzvah Program Director

B’Mitzvah Program Director

Who We Are

At Kehilla, we’re co-creating a community that reaches for joy, shared liberation, and justice, rooted in Jewish spiritual teachings and practice, and sustained by interdependence and mutual care, in the Lisjan Ohlone territory of Huchiun.

Kehilla is affiliated with Aleph / Jewish Renewal practicing joy, embodied spirituality, and cultivating awe, humility, and attentiveness to the mysterious Source of Life. We have a supportive staff culture and are attentive to staff wellness.

Kehilla brings mindful intention to growing the experience of welcome, inclusion and belonging for people of color, people with disabilities, trans, queer and nonbinary people, and both Jewish and non-Jewish members. Kehilla’s 2016 Values Statement on Israel-Palestine guides our broad orientation to justice and humanity for all people living in that place, and our membership includes people who are progressive zionists, antizionist, non-zionist, and diasporist.

Job Title: B’Mitzvah Program Director

Start Date: August 1, 2025

Reports to: Senior Rabbi (Program) and Executive Director (Administration)

Type: Part-time, 20-25 hours/week (50%-62.5% FTE) with pro-rated benefits

About the B’Mitzvah Program

Kehilla’s B’Mitzvah Program is a cherished flagship Kehilla program that has served hundreds of young people over 40+ years. Both young people and their families experience the program as transformative. This program was created as an engaging alternative to more traditional bar/bat mitzvah study and draws young people into a meaningful and demanding exploration of their lives at a transitional time. Over the course of their 7th and 8th grade years, students build and deepen relationships with their hevruta/study partner, their teacher, their havurah (several families within the cohort), their service leadership team, and their Jewish ancestors, religious practices and Torah. The program’s structure offers our young people a loving container for their growth, questions and celebration of their Jewish coming of age.

Job Summary

The B’Mitzvah Program Director oversees and administers a well-developed B’Mitzvah program that serves about 15-25 students and their families per cohort, hiring and supervising teachers in the program, supporting and sometimes teaching cohort-based workshops, and serves as Kehilla’s primary connection with parents and families and with the Kehilla spiritual leadership team for the B’Mitzvah program.

Duties and Essential Job Functions

1. Content of B’Mitzvah Program

• serves as the primary point of contact between B’Mitzvah students and families and Kehilla
• supports students and families throughout the experience
• works with Senior Rabbi, Hazzan, and B’Mitzvah Program Assistant to evaluate, review and update program content as needed
• supports lay Spiritual Leaders and Musical Prayer Leaders to implement ritual practices for services
• provides professional development and support for teachers
• if a rabbi or experienced lay leader, may lead some number of B’Mitzvah services

1. Administration of B’Mitzvah Program, in conjunction with B’Mitzvah Program Assistant

• conducts hiring and supervision of teaching and support staff (there is a current cadre of experienced teachers and staff)
• supervises and collaborates with B’Mitzvah Program Assistant to administer and oversee applications and registration for program; maintain calendar of program, curate hevruta, student-teacher, and havurah assignments;
• oversees communication with families and teachers
• may teach or co-teach Kehilla School 6th grade class, as a relational bridge to the program
• collaborates with Kehilla School Director to facilitate students’ transition to the B’Mitzvah program
• interfaces with Kehilla staff for building and program needs
• manages program budget, with support of Executive Director
• coordinates between B’Mitzvah service leaders and families when needed
• meets regularly with Senior Rabbi
• attends Kehilla staff meetings, as agreed upon with Senior Rabbi

What We’re Looking for in Candidates

Required Qualifications

• Experience in Jewish education and/or steeped in Jewish learning and practice, including language, text and spirituality
• Experience with youth ages 11 - 14 and understanding of their social, emotional and intellectual development, as well as the many registers of their diversity
• Robust practice in anti-racism, including understanding and experience with dismantling systemic and institutional racism, and skills for creating experiences that are all-inclusive, while decentering whiteness and centering the needs of students of color in educational contexts; willingness to continue on-going professional growth in this domain
• Strong relationship, organizational, communication and administrative skills
• Experience with parent, student and collegial relationship-building
• Desire to uphold Kehilla’s communal values and commitment to tikkun olam (please spend some time on our website, and especially check out our work on Israel/Palestine, immigration, economic justice and our Belonging & Allyship Racial Justice Initiative)

Other, Desirable Qualifications

• Master degree, or equivalent experience
• Demonstrated engagement in equity and inclusion in Jewish and/or educational settings
• Budgeting experience
• Compensation:
• Hourly at $33.65 ($70,000 FTE)

Benefits include: health and dental insurance, vacation, holidays and retirement/403(b) and are prorated to the percentage of FTE

• Hiring Non-Discrimination Policy
• Kehilla Synagogue does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, ability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status. People of Color, Mizrahi and Sephardi Jews, & Trans, Gender Non-Conforming and queer people are encouraged to apply.
• To Apply
• Please use the subject line “B’Mitzvah Program Director ” and send a PDF version of a cover letter and résumé to jobs@kehillasynagogue.org.