Music Director (part-time)

Job Description

Music Director (Part-time) Job Description for
Temple B’nai Torah, Bellevue, WA

At Temple B’nai Torah, we live by our four core values, growing a community together that is: welcoming, engaged, ethical, and adaptable.

We are a Reform Jewish congregation, located in Bellevue, WA (a large suburban city outside of Seattle). We are a place where people truly connect with each other and build their “Temple B’nai Torah family.”

Music is an integral part of our community that supports connection, worship, and joy in the community. We are very proud that our synagogue has inspired more than 15 rabbis, cantors, and Jewish professionals over the years, including our current Senior Rabbi. We have a rich history of diverse musical offerings and experiences from singer-song leaders to klezmer bands to standing bass to camp-style songs. We are looking for a Music Director to maintain and grow TBT’s long tradition of rich and varied offerings and bring their own musical twists and tunes to TBT.

Working with the Rabbi, temple staff and volunteers, the Music Director will create and implement a shared vision for music at Temple B’nai Torah, focus on the musical programs for Friday and Saturday Shabbat services, religious school, other events and celebrations, and High Holidays.

We are looking for a passionate, people-loving, musical individual who enjoys bringing music to Jewish spiritual and celebratory events. The individual must be willing to try new things as well as support the community with much-loved traditional favorites in the spirit of a modern reform temple.

This is a part-time job of 10-20 hours a week depending on agreed upon responsibilities. The hours will be flexible but will include services on all Jewish Holidays, including High Holidays, and Shabbat services. We have at least one community-led Friday and Saturday service each month, when no staff is on-site.

This is an exciting time to be part of Temple B’nai Torah! Our religious school is growing and we are building an early childhood center (for ages 6 weeks – 5 years) in summer of 2024. The Music Director would work with the Religious school to co-lead religious school services.

Responsibilities:
• Ensure diverse joyous musical offerings are part of TBT experience and community.
• Work with the Senior Rabbi to determine an overall musical vision for TBT.
• Create the music plan and potentially be the lead musical soloist at High Holiday services.
• Participate in Shabbat and holiday services as musical prayer leader (shaliach tzibbur) alongside our Rabbi.
• Provide music and a musical vision for religious school and special events and community holiday celebrations. This will involve some services and some musical celebrations for young families, Havdallah services, parties.
• Recruit, train and oversee the congregational music team for TBT.
• Co-lead Tot Shabbat and religious school services with our Senior Rabbi.
• Liaise with visiting artists throughout the year to help orient them to TBT and prepare them for services and/or performances.
• Provide technical audio assistance as needed and maintain our audio system for visiting artists.
• If have background in Hebrew tutoring and Torah chanting, possibly support B Mitzvah students tutoring.
• We also have a posting for a part-time Religious School Education Administrator. Candidates who are qualified for both are welcome to apply to both.

Qualifications:
• Experience leading groups of people in Jewish song.
• Knowledge and passion for Reform Jewish music, traditions, prayers and services.
• Able to lead music at Shabbat services.
• Strong singing voice and song-leading skills.
• Preferrable to play instrument but not required.
• Passionate about connecting with people.
• Collaborates and communicates effectively with others.
• Creative thinker who can work the Rabbi and staff.
• Comfortable with technology to ensure music can be broadcast in services online.
• Must be able to read Hebrew transliterations. Preference to be able to read Hebrew.

Duration: 10-20 hours per week dependent on agreed upon responsibilities
Salary Range: $20,000-40,000 dependent on agreed upon responsibilities
Preferred Experience: 3 years of relevant experience
Preferred Degree: Bachelors
Job categories: Music, Jewish/religious
Website: http://www.templebnaitorah.org
If interested, please apply with resume and cover letter sent to Jobs@TempleBnaiTorah.org with the subject line [Your Name] – Music Director PT