The Clergy Assistant’s primary duty is to provide administrative support to the Rabbi, and administrative support on an as-needed basis to the Cantor and Executive Director.
This position requires multi-tasking, good communication and people skills, and the ability to prioritize and take initiative with limited direction. Strong computer and organizational skills are a must, including the Microsoft Office suite, Constant Contact, Canva and data management software. Knowledge of Judaism, the Hebrew calendar and exposure to the Hebrew language are important.
Requirements
- Effective support/communication by phone, via e-mail and in person
- Adept in organizing and prioritizing tasks from multiple staff members
- Excellent writing/proofreading skills
- Highly proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Publisher
- Ability to quickly learn and additional software programs
- Handle temple matters with care and confidentiality at all times
Responsibilities of the Clergy Assistant
- Support clergy Correspondence and Communication
- Primary responsibility for reception on telephones and in-person visitors. Take messages and convey information to the appropriate party in a timely manner.
- Screen and prioritize calls for senior leadership.
- Prepare Rabbi’s letters to congregants; thank you, birthday, anniversary, condolence, etc
- Write/edit letters, lifecycle acknowledgments, inner-office memos and anything else needed.
- Send out Yizkor reminders on the three festivals plus Yom Kippur
- Send out staff meeting notices.
- Maintain lifecycle information
- Maintain clergy Calendars
- Schedule clergy appointments as needed with accompanying notes
- Maintain Rabbi and Cantor’s individual calendars
- Keeper of the Primary Temple calendar
- Cross reference all calendars to be sure there are no discrepancies or double bookings
- Serve as Liaison for Lifecycle events
- CRM: Update Chaver-ware & Shulcloud records to reflect member status (births, weddings, death, divorce, relocation, etc)
- Maintain and disseminate appropriate paperwork, forms, certificates, for each family/lifecycle
- Coordinate with Kehillat Chesed lifecycle notifications and other needs: meals, friendly visits, shiva minyan needs, etc
- Maintain Mi Shebeirach list
- Along with the chair of Kehillat Chesed regularly check in on those on the list
- Schedule Mikveh, beit din, mohel per rabbi’s needs
- In coordination with clergy, schedule B’nai Mitzvah rehearsals and reserve sanctuary bookings
- Design, prepare, edit and copy any special service handouts
- Coordinate with ED all inhouse lifecycle event arrangements
- Provide ritual Support
- Coordinate in advance ritual items/needs for each holiday (eg. Ordering lulavim, Hanukkah candles, Seder coordination, etc)
- Prepare Yizkor, shloshim, yahrzeit lists
- Prepare rabbi’s Shabbat folder with yahrzeit and shloshim list, plus Shabbat flyer, weekly announcements and any other additional notes as needed
- Update Yizkor lists and send out congregant Yizkor letters before YK, Simchat Torah, Pesach and Shavuot
- Coordinate the lighting of all bulbs for weekly yahrzeits with the custodial staff
- Go through sanctuary on Monday to collect misplaced books and the rabbi’s papers and turn off the memorial board lights
- Create Book of Remembrance for High Holy Days
- Be sure they are distributed for each of the Yizkor services
- Assist the ED with the preparation of all documentation for High Holy Day mailings
- Coordinate the invitation, and tracking of High Holy Days honors, providing the rabbi with updates and final lists
- Coordinate with President of the Board of Trustees to ensure board members are assigned as greeters and presenters for every B’Nai Mitzvah
- General Congregational Communications
- Design and Send out weekly Eblast to congregation
- Send funeral/shiva notifications based on clergy input
- Send out other congregational emails + texts as needed
- Mail/Email congregants notification of upcoming Yahrzeit
- Prepare and send quarterly newsletter
- Support event planners as needed and publicize events in temple calendar, on website and via social media
- Design event--specific graphics
- Work with VP of Engagement and Communications chair to develop and maintain Temple Beth Tikvah’s brand in all communications
- Additional Duties Include:
- Keep track of donation to prayer book fund and print labels for books
- Keep track of the brochures displayed in front of temple to make sure all are timely
- Run errands upon request
- Other duties as assigned