Job Description: Part-Time Cantor at Columbia Jewish Congregation

The Cantor is an integral part of sustaining and growing our community and the Congregation’s Jewish identity. The Cantor is a part of our clergy team, tending to the spiritual life of the Congregation through music and song. As a teacher of Torah, Hebrew and liturgy, the Cantor will imbue the love of language and text in both children and adults. The Cantor should be collaborative, innovative and creative, while showing a true understanding of and respect for our evolving Jewish civilization.
The Cantor reports to the congregation Co-Presidents.

General Responsibilities

• Collaborate with clergy in creating and leading innovative and meaningful worship
• Lead or co-lead Shabbat (Friday and Saturday) and other holiday and festival worship
• Torah reading and/or supervision
• Participate in life cycle events of congregants
• Lead or co-lead alternative services including B’yachad, L’Dor V’Dor, healing and meditative services
• Perform interfaith wedding ceremonies for members
• Perform pastoral and life cycle duties and visits to the sick

B’nai Mitzvah Program

• Tutor B’nai Mitzvah students to lead the service including reciting/singing prayers and chanting Torah and Haftorah
• Oversee B’nai Mitzvah tutors (as needed)
• Work with Rabbi to ensure students are fully prepared for their B’nai Mitzvah

Musical Direction
• Supervise and direct all congregational music programs, including choir activities
• Set musical vision for congregation
• Musical programming for youth, such as children’s/teen choirs, Shabbat Shalom Band, drama, songwriting or producing CDs
• Musical programming such as concerts, musical education
• Hire and coordinate accompanists and other musicians
• Play guitar or other musical instrument, desired

Education Responsibilities
• Willingness to teach a variety of ages and interest groups. This includes:
o Adult education classes
o Youth and adult Hebrew classes
o Classroom visits in the Hebrew school
 Tot Shabbat activities
Synagogue Leadership, Administration and Community Responsibilities
• Work within an established budget
• Participate in regular professional staff meetings
• Create and participate in community events and concerts (Jewish and interfaith)
• Staff synagogue committees as needed
• Work collaboratively with the Rabbi, other synagogue staff and congregational leadership
• Collaborate with the Jewish Federation of Howard County, other congregations that share space with us at Oakland Mills Interfaith Center, and other religious and non-religious organizations in the community.
• Will report to the Co-Presidents

QUALIFICATIONS
• Knowledge of nusach and prayers
• Knowledge of trope
• Knowledge of prayer books (Kol HaNeshamah Series, desired)
• Knowledge of liturgy of life cycle events
• Ability to read Hebrew
• Ability to sing and lead congregants in singing
• Ability to read music
• Ability to lead choirs
• Ability to teach children and adults
• Knowledge and competency in computer usage (including Microsoft Office, recording audio files, using Skype/Zoom or other communication tools)

Columbia Jewish Congregation (CJC) located in Columbia, Maryland, is a welcoming, egalitarian community affiliated with the Jewish Reconstructionist Movement. It was founded in the late 1960’s by early Columbia, Maryland residents who brought an experimental spirit and desire to create a more personal Jewish community than the synagogue life of their youth. They wanted to raise their children in a progressive environment open to all varieties of Jewish practice and learning. From this beginning, CJC and the Columbia Jewish Community School (CJCS) were born. Now an established congregation of 225 households, including traditional, interfaith, same-sex families, and singles, CJC strives to apply Torah values in our congregation and our community. Wherever you are in your journey, you are welcome here.