Rabbinic Search FAQ

This page is meant to address questions that you might have about Shir Tikvah and the role of the Rabbi.

You may also want to visit our main Rabbi Search Homepage for more details about the process and updates about our progress, and the How to Apply page for more about the application process. 

Overview of Shir Tikvah and our Rabbinic Search
Rabbi Responsibilities
Desired Qualities of a Rabbi
Congregation Demographics
Congregation Staff
Policies and Guidelines
Synagogue Facilities
Religious Services
Religious School
Community Profile
Our Congregation is Proud of …
Congregational Strengths, Weaknesses and Goals
Finances, Budget and Dues
Compensation and Benefits
Application Process
Further Questions
 

Overview of Shir Tikvah and our Rabbinic Search

Congregation Shir Tikvah was founded in 2002 and is seeking a spiritual leader to replace our founding Rabbi, who is retiring. We are conducting a search for a Rabbi who will play a pivotal role in our next stage of growth and development, while promoting Jewish traditions, values, and teachings within the congregation and the broader community. This individual will be responsible for coordinating our davening, supervising as well as teaching in our religious education program, supporting our network of congregant care, and guiding our community's development as a kehillah kedoshah.

We currently have about 200 member families and are a very diverse community. Our Rabbi must be comfortable within this diversity. Members come from across the Jewish spectrum: Jew-by-birth, Jew-by-choice, queer, straight, trans, interfaith, atheist, devout believer. We welcome all who want to grapple with the beauty and contradictions of our sacred texts to better understand our faith, our world, and our place in it. The Rabbi must be able to lead, counsel, build, and communicate from this perspective. Incorporating music and singing is something many congregants desire and find helps build community and our connections to Judaism. Being a community builder is critically important.

Shir Tikvah was founded as a learning community, and that is still a major component of our DNA. Our founding Rabbi, Rabbi Ariel Stone, has brought a very deep and continually expanding understanding of Judaism that draws on diverse perspectives on Torah; we are seeking those qualities in our next Rabbi as well. Our Shabbat Torah study attracts 25–40 weekly participants in person, with another 20–35 on Zoom. We are looking for not only a scholar, but also a teacher who will engage with congregants active in their own learning, who wish to be challenged and to challenge the Rabbi. The Rabbi also leads a weekly Talmud class. Congregants will take over these classes when the Rabbi is unavailable. Congregants also lead a weekly queer Torah Study that averages about 10 participants and is supported by the Rabbi.

Social activism is important to the many congregants who take Tikkun Olam seriously. Healing the world, challenging the status quo when necessary, and working against injustice is part of the fabric of our shul. Healing within our shul through counseling and chaplaincy work is also a very important aspect of this role.

While our siddur draws on long-standing Jewish practices and our services are traditional, we are looking for a leader who is not afraid of innovation. As an example: our shul is housed in a non-traditional facility that we share with the Eastside Jewish Commons, with whom we work collaboratively in outreach to the Jewish community. The ability to approach change without fear, to be open to new ideas, and to be willing to try new approaches are key characteristics of our spiritual leader. 

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Rabbi Responsibilities

Congregational Care 

• Plan and supervise (with the Gabbai) Shabbat and holiday observances, including (as necessary) leading prayers, delivering divrei Torah, and guiding religious rituals
• Offer guidance and support to congregants in matters of spirituality and religious observance
• Provide compassionate support, encouragement, and counseling to congregants during times of joy, grief, illness, and other life transitions
• Meet with congregants to listen and offer direction and guidance based upon Jewish sources of inspiration and learning
• Guide lifecycle events (not limited to congregants)

Education and Outreach 

• Work alongside staff to develop and implement educational programs for children, youth and adults
• Offer classes, workshops, and discussion groups on topics of Jewish interest
• Engage in outreach efforts to welcome and integrate new members into the congregation and the broader Jewish community
• Ongoing development of congregants to leyn Torah and Haftarah, deliver a d’var Torah, and to serve as shlichei tzibur
• Provide meaningful interpretations of Jewish texts and teachings, including Torah and Talmud

Community Building 

• Foster a sense of belonging and connection among congregants through social events, communal meals, and volunteer opportunities
• Serve as a visible and accessible presence within the congregation and the wider local community, including engagement with the Oregon Board of Rabbis and other Jewish communal organizations

Administration and strategic planning

• Collaborate with Administrative Director and staff to ensure smooth day-to-day operations, including scheduling, fiscal management, and fundraising
• Oversee religious staff (Gabbai, Brit Mitzvah Coordinator, Youth Program Director)
• Collaborate with the Board of Directors, lay leaders, and committees to develop and implement strategic plans and ongoing initiatives
• Offer Torah guidance and perspective to infuse Jewish teaching and values into our Board meetings and other community conversations

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Desired Qualities of a Rabbi

The qualities we are looking for in a Rabbi include: 

• Ordination as a Rabbi from a recognized rabbinical seminary
• Strong knowledge of Jewish theology, rituals, and traditions
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience in pastoral care, teaching, and public speaking
• Demonstrated leadership and organizational abilities
• Commitment to lifelong learning and personal growth in Jewish studies and leadership
• Adherence to ethical standards and principles of halacha and middot in personal and professional conduct
• Understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles and their connection to Jewish life across a spectrum of racial, cultural, and gender identities
• Deep knowledge about the State of Israel, a nuanced understanding and commitment to its flourishing, and a willingness to honor congregants who have diverse perspectives on the Middle East

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Congregation Demographics

We currently have 205 member households, of which 60% are singles and 40% families. This is up from five years ago, when we had 180 member households.

• 129 members are individuals (a.k.a. do not have a partner/spouse listed in their account). 76 members have partners. 
• 74 member families have children listed in their account. 42 of those families are confirmed to have children aged 21 or under– and of those 42 families, 12 are single parents. 
• Known ages of adult members range from 25 to 91, not including children. 

We are expecting growth over the next 5 years of 5%–10% per year. 

At 20 years old, we're the "start-up" in Portland's Jewish community. We have implemented the vision of our founders: a participatory, learning community grounded in the study of Torah, which has grown into a mid-sized, independent congregation. We gather strength from each other and from our tradition. Our members come from across the Jewish spectrum: Jew-by-birth, Jew-by-choice, queer, straight, trans, interfaith, atheist, devout believer. We have not been affiliated with any movement since our founding.

Congregation Shir Tikvah strives to be a kehillah kedosha where all are respected, valued, and included. Clergy, staff, and dedicated volunteers work together to provide a space for spiritual growth and study. As partners in Jewish life, we educate our children and offer programming around holidays, cultural interests and acts of social justice.

We welcome all who want to grapple with the beauty and contradictions of our Jewish sacred texts to better understand our faith, our world and our place in it. We take social justice and religious ritual seriously. As a 21st century congregation, our congregational approaches to meet the needs of our community run the gamut from time-honored to innovative.

Our synagogue is co-located with the Eastside Jewish Commons of Portland (the EJC), a cultural non-profit with over 20 partners that provides event and office space for the greater Jewish community. Together we form the only dedicated Jewish space on the east side of Portland.

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Congregation Staff

Our Rabbi is supported by a team of educational and administrative staff, as well as active volunteers. This broad foundation allows the Rabbi to function as our spiritual leader while the support team ensures smooth functioning of the organization.

The paid staff includes: 

• Administrative Director (0.8 FTE)
• Operations Manager (0.75 FTE)
• Education and Youth Program Director (1.0 FTE)
• B’rit Mitzvah Coordinator (0.3 FTE)
• Gabbai (0.1 FTE)
• Technology Support (0.1 FTE)

Volunteers include an active Board of Directors, as well as multiple congregants who take active roles in leading services, planning events and programs, and helping with every aspect of congregational life.

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Policies and Guidelines

To understand more about our policies, please see:

Shabbat and festivals        Shir Tikvah: Services
Bar and Bat Mitzvah        Shir Tikvah: Brit Mitzvah
Religious School        Shir Tikvah: Nashira

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Synagogue Facilities

The congregation rents a building and shares costs with the Eastside Jewish Commons. We share a large multi-use open foyer with a high vaulted ceiling that seats 250 and is used for High Holidays and other large gatherings. There is a separate prayer space that seats 75 as well as a kitchen (milchig), kids' room, art room, library/conference room, and multiple small office spaces. Shir Tikvah has a suite of offices, including a private office for the Rabbi.

We have appropriate technology to support a flourishing congregation – computers, internet access, zoom capabilities, and a staff member dedicated to providing technology support.

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Religious Services

Daily, Shabbat, and Festival services use our own Siddur Shir Tikvah. This siddur was created by our Tefilah Committee, working with Rabbi Ariel Stone and Miles Hochstein. It is a 282-page hardcover book, with extensive Hebrew, along with translations, poems and commentaries. It reflects the depth of knowledge and study that is central to our congregation. On High Holidays, we use Mahzor Lev Shalem (2014) by The Rabbinical Assembly. On weekdays, we use a weekday siddur, By the Shore of a Western Sea, published in 2016 by Miles Hochstein. 

Each Shabbat morning before services, we have a very robust Torah Study (75 min) that attracts 25–40 participants in person and 20–35 on Zoom. Services typically attract 20–40 in-person attendees and 15–30 on Zoom. We use the Triennial Torah Reading Cycle, and Torah and Haftarah are chanted by congregants, Gabbais, and the Rabbi.

Currently we do not have Friday night services, though some congregants are looking to add this again. Mincha services are held online on Monday and Wednesday with 3–8 participants. Community members have indicated interest in adding opportunities to daven on weekdays.

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Religious School

We have an Education Administrator, and our school (Nashira) meets for two hours on Sunday mornings, 18–20 sessions a year. Office support for Nashira is provided through the shul’s central office.

The total number of students is currently 60. (Note that five years ago, pre-COVID, the number of students was 80.)

• Grades K-5 in three classrooms with 3 teachers and 3 assistants (Madrichim) 
• Grades 6 – 8 starts with Junior Torah leads into Junior Minyan 
• Grades 9 – 12, we are in the second year of a free teenage program that is open to all teens. 
• No Preschool

The Rabbi’s role in the school includes: leading Havdalah for our families and a parent discussion group during Nashira; assisting with Hebrew and Torah curriculum and meeting with families to plan Britot Mitzvah paths; and supporting the Education Committee and Hebrew tutoring. In 2024, a complete revision of the curriculum was conducted with the Rabbi’s deep involvement.

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Community Profile

Portland has a population of about 650,000 people, the metro area is 2.5 million and the Jewish population is 56,600. The community supports museums, symphonies, theater, arts, music, sporting venues, etc. We have a variety of higher education opportunities including Portland State University, Reed College, Lewis and Clark College, University of Portland, and many smaller schools.

Nature, though not a cultural institution in the traditional sense, is a major component of life in the Northwest. Within a 90-minute drive are mountains, waterfalls, ocean beaches, rivers, forests, and associated activities. So rather than listening to Beethoven's Sixth (The Pastoral) in a symphony hall, many of our congregants would rather be out in nature. But we also have a symphony hall!

For a deeper understanding of our Jewish community, see the 2022-23 Greater Portland Jewish Community Study conducted by the Jewish Federation of Oregon and the Brandeis Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies, and the report Describing the Experiences of Jews of Color Living in the Pacific Northwest: Findings from the 2023 Cultural Shift Survey from a recent study conducted by Jews of Color Initiative, TischPDX, and Tiyuv.

There are many other congregations in the area, including Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist, Renewal, Sephardic, Humanistic, and Chabad. There are three Jewish Private Schools: Portland Jewish Academy, Mayaan Jewish Day School, and Maimonides Jewish Day School. We have kosher restaurants, kosher meat markets, and kosher bakeries.

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Our Congregation is Proud of…

We are proud that we have built a diverse shul that has survived and grown over twenty years. We welcome a wide range of people to our community, many who for the first time in their lives have found acceptance in a religious setting. Members range from being religious to those who just wish to be a member of this community. Being a learning community is at the heart of Shir Tikvah – learning for adults, for children, and recently for teens. 

We have survived and grown because over the years many members have given time to support congregational needs and help expand the congregation. We also are planning for the future through our endowment fund, and we have been able to raise funds as needed to support our conservative budgeting for operational needs each year.

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Congregational Strengths, Weaknesses and Goals

Congregants are a major part of our shul. This is not a shul where the Rabbi must do everything on their own! Members expect to participate and have led and supported a range of activities. Active members engaging in this work are from all age groups. Members have created a gender-neutral siddur, lead services and read Torah, lead Torah study, comfort and provide support to those in need, and help with all life cycle events. A strength, as well as a challenge, is that we have a wide range of strong opinions that requires the Rabbi to be a community-builder and a healer. The most recent example would be deep concerns and differences over the Israeli-Gaza conflict.

Financially, we are in a stable position. However, we are limited in staff and salaries, so our goal is to grow to allow us to more fully support the needs of our community.

Our major goal for the coming year is to prepare to bring a new Rabbi into our community. We know that replacing a founding Rabbi is not easy for the new Rabbi, nor for the congregation. Finding methods and approaches to make this a meaningful and joyful transition is important for all of us.

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Finances, Budget and Dues

Our dues are based upon a sliding scale, and we turn no one away. Our average dues are about $800 per year. To understand our Fair Share dues policy see Shir Tikvah FAQs.

Our financial situation is stable due to a fair dues structure, interest from investment funds, and fundraising conducted by the Board of Directors, Congregants, and our Rabbi. Our goal is to increase our membership to 250 families, which we project will provide us with a balanced budget and limited need for extensive fundraising.

The following is more detail on our finances.

• Annual Dues – $245,000 
• Endowments – $500,000 with additional $225,000 pledged 
• Fundraising – Yearly average $40,000 - $80,000 
• Additional income – Rent reimbursement from the Eastside Jewish Commons $120,000. Interest from the endowment fund is about $20,000 per year, and school tuition is about $25,000. 

Our expectation is that the Rabbi will be part of the team that raises funds, especially as the next Rabbi becomes an established member of the congregation. However, fundraising is not considered a prominent part of the Rabbi’s portfolio of projects.

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Compensation and Benefits

The compensation and benefits package is negotiable.

• Salary (including Housing Allowance/Parsonage) is $80,000 - $90,000 for this 0.75 FTE position. 
• 2 days off per week
• 20 days paid vacation
• Medical and disability benefits

The following will be part of the overall negotiations that are limited by our budget.

• Pension
• Social Security Reimbursement
• Reimbursement for reasonable moving expenses

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Application Process

Please visit the How to Apply page for more about the application process.

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Futher Questions

We will update this page with additional Q&A as necessary. Meanwhile, if you have questions that haven't been addressed, please contact Rachel Crawford at crawford.rose11@gmail.com.