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The Perth Hebrew Congregation (PHC) had hoped to advertise in the SA Jewish Report as they plan to appoint a new Chief Rabbi – but with applications closing on January 30, 2017, and with the next print edition of the newspaper to be published on January 20,  JR Online thought we would give prospective applicants a heads-up on the position.

The PHC is Western Australia’s largest established Jewish congregation, they say, “providing and managing a myriad services to the Perth Jewish community”. The PHC self-identifies as a Modern Orthodox congregation “that is the face of our community to the Western Australian public”.

After 28 years of dedicated service to the congregation, their “esteemed chief rabbi, Rabbi David Freilich OAM”, has announced that he wishes to retire from his position when a suitable successor has been chosen and appointed to replace him.

RIGHT: PHC chief rabbi,
Rabbi David Freilich

And so it is that they are seeking to appoint an experienced Modern Orthodox Chief Rabbi to take over the spiritual leadership of their established kehillah.

The Perth Hebrew Congregation has a membership of over 600 families, which embraces Jewish people of all levels of Jewish knowledge and observance. It is therefore important, they say, that “whoever takes on the position as its Chief Rabbi will be able to be totally inclusive of all,” as well as having the skill to be able to communicate with the vast range of Jewish commitment and observance within the congregation.

The PHC says: “This critical role is dynamic and varied and for that reason, the successful applicant will be a self-motivated individual with a professional approach and dynamic leadership skills.” They say that they are looking for an applicant who will work closely with the President of the Board of Management, the Youth Director & Engagement Leader and the Operations Manager to ensure that the PHC continues to meet the religious, spiritual, educational and communal needs of their congregation.

Their preferred candidate would:

Be fluent in English;

Be dynamic in outlook;

Have the ability to teach the tenets of Judaism in a contemporary manner;

Have the skill to conduct all shul services, including the reading of the Torah, when required;

Be compassionate and inclusive in applying halachic guidance and teaching;

Be able to carry out pastoral responsibilities such as hospital and prison chaplaincies, as well as attending to the bereaved and those who are facing crisis with professional know-how;

Be able to give interesting shiurim and lectures to the community;

Be able to represent the Orthodox Jewish community as its religious leader to the other
faith communities in Western Australia, as well as to government bodies;

Above all to see his position as Chief Rabbi of PHC as a dedication rather than a job; and

The preferred candidate’s rabbanit would also be expected to play an active role in shul life.

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Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the position, say the PHC, will include:

Providing spiritual and religious leadership to members and the broader Perth Jewish community;

Providing guidance, support, education and leadership on all halachic matters and questions raised by members of the congregation (including relationships, marriage, death, Torah study, parenting etc);

Overseeing the kashrut authority of Western Australia;

Overseeing and guiding the spiritual teachings in the Perth Hebrew School;

Pastoral services including visiting the sick; conducting funerals; consecrations and prayer minyanim; officiating at weddings;

Participating in and serving on the Beit Din Leadership Council;

Attending and leading daily tefillah services;

Attending and leading Shabbat services and all tefillah services on chaggim;

Overseeing conversion education programmes;

Overseeing youth education, including bar- and batmitzvah preparation;

Educating and engaging the congregation; and

Attracting and welcoming members and non-members to the synagogue and encouraging active participation and engagement of members and non-members in communal life and activities.

As the Perth Hebrew Congregation has been – and continues to be – at the heart of the Perth Jewish community, says the advert (which will appear in the January 20, 2017 print edition of the SA Jewish Report), the successful candidate will also be responsible for “building on and enhancing the strong interfaith relationships” and continue to represent the Perth Jewish community positively in the broader political, religious and social Perth communities.

The PHC is looking for an experienced and passionate self-starter, with an outgoing engaging personality who can build trust and earn the confidence and respect of people of all ages and levels of religious acceptance and engagement, they say.

They are looking for applicants who have: “s’micha recognised by the Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth and other tertiary qualifications as well are preferred. Applicants must be Modern Orthodox and subscribe to the principles, values and guidelines of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Commonwealth,” they say.

The PEC see this as “an exciting opportunity for a couple/family to experience one of the world’s most liveable cities.”

Relocation assistance is available as part of the remuneration package and they encourage interested applicants who “have the skills, qualifications and ability to fulfil this key role” to submit an application to opportunity@theperthshule.asn.au.

They request that applicants include (i) A covering letter; (iii) A detailed resumé; and (iii) Three contactable, written references.

They assure applicants that their correspondence will “be treated in the strictest confidence” and applications will close on 30 January 2017.

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