PROGRAM ASSOCIATE
COMMISSION ON INTERRELIGIOUS AFFAIRS OF REFORM JUDAISM

About the Commission
The Commission on Interreligious Affairs of Reform Judaism is dedicated to working with other religious communities on interfaith issues. The Commission, which represents the Reform Movement in a wide array of interreligious settings, is composed of representatives from the Union for Reform Judaism, Central Conference of American Rabbis, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Men of Reform Judaism/Jewish Chautauqua Society, and Women of Reform Judaism. The Commission is based at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in Washington, D.C. For more information, go to:http://interreligious.rj.org

General Responsibilities

• Assist Commission Director and Co-chairs in preparing press statements, resources, programming, etc.
• Initiate research projects and program initiatives in consultation with Reform Movement leadership
• Monitor news from other religious dominations, and from interreligious organizations.
• Represent Reform Jewish Movement at interfaith dialogues and meetings
• Maintain communication with Commission members
• Respond to inquiries and info requests from rabbis, congregants, and others via interreligious@urj.org
• Serve as faculty for the L'Taken social action seminars for high school students

Children of Abraham: Muslims and Jews in Conversation

• Oversee and provide guidance to synagogues and mosques that are using commission-authored dialogue program
• Coordinate local partnerships between synagogues and mosques
• Develop training workshops for Muslim-Jewish dialogue facilitation in consultation with leadership
• Manage website
• Respond to inquiries and collect feedback on Muslim-Jewish programming

Open Doors, Open Minds initiative (ODOM)

• Respond to inquiries and collect feedback on Commission-authored dialogue program for us by synagogues and neighboring churches
• Administer ODOM grant applications, and coordinate with grant review committee
• Manage ODOM website
• Coordinate and facilitate ongoing ODOM training sessions and follow-up

Administrative Responsibilities

• Coordinate and manage Commission membership records
• Manage and update Interreligious Affairs website
• Manage interreligious listserv
• Staff and coordinate logistics for Commission meetings and conferences, both internal and with interfaith dialogue partners
• Coordinate with RAC and URJ Communications departments and web resources personnel

Qualifications

Candidates should have a college degree, preferably with a major in religion or a related subject. Experience working in interreligious settings is a major plus; curiosity about other faiths is essential. Requires strong writing skills in a variety of contexts (background memoranda, press statements, speeches, educational materials). Must be able to manage workflow, and to work both on one's own and as part of a staff team.

To Apply

Send a resume, brief (one page) writing sample, and a cover letter addressing the above qualifications to:
Mark J. Pelavin
Director,
Commission on Interreligious Affairs of Reform Judaism
2027 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. 20036
mpelavin@rac.org

Electronic submissions preferred; no phone calls please.

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC) pursues social justice and religious liberty by mobilizing the American Jewish community and serving as its advocate in the nation’s capital.  The RAC is the Washington, D. C., office of Reform Jewish Movement, the largest segment of the American Jewish community. The RAC educates and organizes social action leaders, creates multi-media materials, works on 60+ complex domestic and foreign policy issues, and carries out the mandates of the Reform Jewish Movement.  Approximately $1 million of the RAC’s $3 million budget must be raised each year.  (To learn more about the RAC, visit our award-winning website at www.rac.org. )

Primary responsibilities include:

▪ Driving all facets of a fast-growing development operation (foundations, major gifts, annual campaign, direct mail, online philanthropy, planned giving)

• Preparing grant proposals and reports to foundations;
• Preparing materials for direct mail campaigns (annual fundraising);
• Coordinating major gift and prospect calls and meetings;
• Researching, relating to and soliciting donors/prospective donors;
• Ensuring appropriate and timely acknowledgment of all gifts;

▪  Coordinating use of donor database (Raiser’s Edge);

• Overseeing preparation of statistical reports;
• Monitoring and projecting RAC income;

▪  Ensuring ongoing coordination with national Union for Reform Judaism Development Office;

▪  Planning special events.

Qualifications include:

• 5-10 years of fundraising experience that includes some or all of above responsibilities;
• Excellent writing skills;
• Knowledge of Reform Jewish community and/or politically progressive community;
• Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge;
• Flexibility and enthusiasm a plus!

To Apply: Send cover letter, resume, and brief writing sample to: Development Director Search, 2027 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. 20036; or e-mail to jobs@rac.org .  (Electronic applications preferred.)