Celebrating Alicia Jo Rabins

Pardes alumni are making an incredible impact on our world.

They are leading and creating organizations and businesses of all kinds, responding to humanitarian crises, writing novels, educating at all levels, creating works of art, and so much more! In celebration of Pardes’s 50th, we are highlighting 50 standout alumni whose accomplishments exemplify the rich texture of the Pardes community worldwide. 

MEET ALICIA

Alicia Jo Rabins is a writer, musician, performer and Torah teacher whose work examines the intersection of ancient Jewish texts and contemporary life through a lens of beauty, feminism and experimentation.

Most recently, Alicia is the creator and star of the independent feature film A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff; a book of short essays about early parenthood and Jewish spirituality, “Even God Had Bad Parenting Days,” published by Behrman House; and Girls in Trouble, an indie-folk song cycle about the complicated lives of Biblical women. Alicia also teaches Torah to kids, teens and adults, specializing in feminist Jewish education as well as b’nai mitzvah preparation and officiation for unaffiliated families.

You can follow Alicia’s music on Facebook and Instagram

WHAT DID YOU DO FOR THE FIRST TIME AT PARDES?

About a million things! Pardes was my first time in an observant space, so it was my first time observing Shabbat, learning to read Hebrew (then Aramaic), studying Talmud, learning to daven, eventually learning to lead tefilla as well, learning sofrut…just so many things!

CAN YOU SHARE A SPECIAL PARDES MEMORY?

I remember receiving my Hebrew name during women’s tefilla one morning and dancing around with fellow students, as well as teachers, to celebrate! I felt so touched that people would celebrate this moment with me.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR WORK?

I’m proud of bringing Jewish texts into art, with a lens of vulnerability and sensitivity, which is challenging in daily life, and combining these to (I hope) create pleasure, beauty, and catharsis for those who are looking for this experience. I’m also proud of my teaching, especially my b’nai mitzvah work with unaffiliated families, who often have complicated or negligible relationships with Judaism – it is a deep privilege to help them find an authentic way into the b’nai mitzvah ceremony, to hold space for that ceremony and hopefully through that process to create a personal connection between them and their tradition. And I’m proud to be part of the great midrashic process, combining Jewish text, ritual, and art, and weaving all three together – especially through a feminist lens.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS AT PARDES?

Oh gosh, I can’t choose!! Truly. But I’ll always be grateful to Meir for his patience with me as an absolute beginner in Mishna class; to Judy for taking a chance on me and letting me join her class – even though I was fairly early in my journey; and to Levi Cooper for listening to me when I said “I wish we had a Night Seder” and starting to stay late so that we could! 

I also loved Avivah Zornberg’s shiurim; I’d come straight to Pardes from Barnard, where I studied English and creative writing, so it was wonderful to get to experience a direct analysis of Jewish texts through a literary lens.

HOW DOES PARDES CONTINUE TO AFFECT YOU TODAY?

I draw on what I learned at Pardes every single day, and every day I am grateful for the generosity, wisdom and kindness of my teachers there (and my fellow students as well.) I entered Pardes with very little Jewish knowledge – the alphabet, some basic holiday observance, and what I learned for my bat mitzvah – and left after two years with an absolute wealth of knowledge, and the tools to continue that for the rest of my life. I draw on what I learned there (and what Pardes empowered me to learn as I’ve continued my education) in my poetry and prose; my music, theater and film work; and of course, in my role as an independent Jewish educator and lecturer. I arrived as a feminist and a deep believer in progressive values and individual choice, and I am so grateful that at Pardes, I never felt I had to choose between these values and learning how to learn Torah.

Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Activation

Start date: ASAP

We are seeking a charismatic, creative, and action-oriented Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Activation to lead this initiative. This individual will play a key role in bridging the gap between the immersive Jerusalem-based Pardes experience and the ongoing life-long learning opportunities we offer in North America.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Implement and Iterate Alumni Engagement Strategies:
    • Enhance the current “menu” of opportunities for Pardes alumni to both “give” to
      and “receive” from, Pardes.
      • Give: Empower alumni to take action, create initiatives, and leverage
        Pardes as a platform for leadership and innovation.
      • Receive: Encourage alumni to engage in continued learning through
        classes, retreats, Shabbatonim, cohorts, and other programs.
    •  Ongoing internal evaluation of efficacy of strategies and implementing iterative
      updates to enhance outcomes.
  • Program Development and Management:
    • In collaboration with the wider team, develop and implement ideas for online and in person classes, including holiday programs, one-off shiurim, and limited series.
    • Oversee the execution of programs including but not limited to: email
      correspondence and registration, coordinating with marketing, Zoom production,
      and post-program evaluation.
    • Ensuring cross-departmental collaboration specifically with the engagement and
      development teams
    •  Serve as the project manager for select alumni cohort learning programs,
      ensuring smooth operations and successful outcomes.
  • Community Building and Leadership:
    • Foster strong, relational connections with alumni, encouraging their active
      involvement in the Pardes community.
    • Identify and cultivate connections with key alumni leaders. Lead efforts to inspire alumni to take on leadership roles within their communities, promoting Pardes’ values and educational mission.
    • Cultivate and steward and existing external partnerships with organizations and
      initiatives as it relates to our Pardesnik engagement and activation work
  • Alumni Coaching and Mentorship:
    • Provide coaching and mentorship to alumni interested in developing initiatives, such as micro-grants or local events, and support them in realizing their ideas. This may include group coaching within cohorts.
  • Targeted Recruitment and Outreach:
    • Engage in focused recruitment and outreach efforts to involve specific alumni in relevant Pardes offerings.
    • Collaborate with the wider team to manage recruitment for various programs,
      including necessary follow-up and evaluation.

Qualifications:

  •  Proven experience in alumni relations, community engagement, or a related field.
  • Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a talent for building and maintaining relationships.
  • Creativity and initiative in developing new programs and strategies to engage alumni.
  • Passion for Jewish learning and a deep connection to the mission of Pardes.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
  • Willingness to travel as needed to engage with alumni across North America.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Pardes alumna
  • Experience working in Jewish education or community leadership.
  • Familiarity with the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and its programs.
  • Based in New York City

Benefits:

  • Competitive salary commensurate with experience: $70,000-$85,000
    100% health insurance coverage for the employee (dependent coverage available)
  • 403b retirement plan with Nationwide with up to 5% contribution by employer
  • Paid time off & Paid holidays (Jewish and secular)
  • FSA
  • Group Life and Personal Accident Insurance
  • Parental leave
  • Remote and hybrid working option and flexible hours
  • Opportunities to travel domestically and to Israel to collaborate across the team
  • Opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and growing organization with a meaningful mission.

How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing their qualifications and passion for this role. All applications should be sent to Assistant Director of Programs at Monica at monica@pardes.org.

Cover letters should answer the following questions

  • What makes you passionate about this role and work?
  • What concrete professional or personal experiences have prepared you best for this role?
  • What is one project, strategy or initiative that this job description stimulates in you?
  • How do you ensure great teamwork and successful collaboration?
    PLEASE NOTE:

Applications are due by October 8th and interviews will be the week of October 28th. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Pardes North America provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants in all organizational facilities without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, (or related medical conditions, including, but not limited to lactation), physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including, but not limited to, cancer-related or HIV/AIDS-related), genetic information, or sexual orientation in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

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