Associate Director, Kesher Fellowship

About the role

About Aleph

Aleph: The Jewish Renewal Movement carries forward the vision of Jewish Renewal through three core commitments: Forging Visionary Leadership, Cultivating Sacred Gatherings, and Weaving Global Community. The Kesher Fellowship is a signature leadership initiative that cultivates the next generation of Jewish Renewal leaders, equipping them to organize local Jewish Renewal experiences and to lead their communities through the challenges of contemporary Jewish life.

About the Role

The Associate Director of the Kesher Fellowship owns the full three-year arc of the program: a planning year to design and launch the fellowship, a delivery year for the incoming cohort, and a sustainability year that establishes Kesher as an ongoing leadership pipeline. This is a hands-on role for someone who can build a program from the ground up, hold relationships with fellows, mentors, and teachers, manage logistics with care, and keep the program running at a high standard while working independently within the existing staff structure.

The three phases are:

• Planning phase (Hire Date to July 2027): design the fellowship, recruit teachers and spiritual directors, and select the incoming cohort.

• Fellowship phase (August 2027 to July 2028), Cohort 6: deliver the full program, support fellows, and begin preparing the next cohort.

• Sustainability phase (August 2028 to July 2029), Cohort 7: refine and repeat the program, incorporating lessons from the first cohort, and support long-term funding.

Key Responsibilities

Program design and curriculum

• Finalize the fellowship curriculum and the structure of monthly sessions.

• Refine curriculum and program design over time to establish Kesher as an ongoing pipeline.

Recruitment and admissions

• Develop marketing and outreach materials and manage recruitment, giving priority to first-time applicants.

• Build the application, review, and acceptance process, and select ten to fifteen fellows for each cohort.

• Recruit teachers and session facilitators and identify spiritual directors for hashpa'ah mentorship.

Gatherings, retreats, and sessions

• Plan and coordinate the opening residential retreat and the virtual introductory session.

• Organize and support the monthly ninety-minute sessions, including chavruta pairings and take-home resources.

• Support fellows in planning and hosting local Havdalah gatherings, including stipends and logistics.

• Coordinate the cohort's participation in the global gathering, Kallah, in July 2028.

Fellow support and spiritual direction

• Match fellows with spiritual directors and coordinate ongoing one-on-one spiritual direction.

• Establish and manage the cohort communications channel.

• Gather and channel feedback from fellows and local communities back to Aleph.

Administration and sustainability

• Manage program supplies and materials.

• Coordinate program budget line items and work with Aleph's development staff on funding needs.

• Support Aleph's efforts to secure multi-year funding for the program's continuation.

• Track hours and maintain accurate program records.

Requirements

• Familiarity with Jewish Renewal, its theology and practice, and a resonance with Aleph's mission and core commitments.
• Demonstrated program or project management experience, ideally in a Jewish or nonprofit setting.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage logistics, timelines, and multiple relationships at once.
• Experience with curriculum design, adult learning, or leadership development is a plus.
• Warmth and skill in building community and supporting participants across a multi-year experience.
• Self-directed and able to work independently in a remote, part-time role.
• Willingness to travel for retreats and gatherings.
• Terms of Employment
• This is a part-time, W-2 position averaging approximately 15 hours per week, compensated at a flat monthly rate. The schedule is largely self-directed, with the expectation of availability for scheduled retreats, monthly sessions, and Aleph check-ins. Reasonable vacation and sick leave are available. The appointment runs for an initial period of three years, with the possibility of renewal if the program is successful and the employee remains interested.
• Reports to: Executive Director
• Status: Part-time, approximately 15 hours per week; W-2 employee
• Location: Remote, with travel to program retreats and gatherings
• Term: Three-year appointment with the possibility of renewal
• Compensation: $3,500 per month
• To Apply
• To apply, email your resume and cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line: Kesher Associate Director Application - [Your Name] .
• In the body of your email, take a few sentences to tell us what draws you to this work. You are welcome to reflect on any one of the following, whichever speaks to you most:
• What about Jewish Renewal resonates with you most deeply?
• A story about a meaningful spiritual experience in your life.
• A time you mentored or supported someone in their growth.
• We recognize that no single candidate will bring every qualification listed above. If this work speaks to you and you believe you can grow into the role, we warmly encourage you to apply even if your experience does not line up with every item. Some of the best people for a role like this arrive by an unexpected path.
• Aleph: The Jewish Renewal Movement is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that reflects the richness of the communities we serve, and we welcome applicants of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.