Career Center

Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, an independent Jewish day school in suburban Philadelphia, seeks an experienced, dynamic and caring educator to serve as a full-time Middle School Jewish studies and Tanakh teacher, advisor, and Shaharit facilitator for the 2022-2023/5782-5783 school year.

Interested candidates must have the ability to collaborate with colleagues, develop student-centered curricula, and nurture a growth mindset for each student. Developing an inclusive environment where students feel safe to take risks in their learning is a central value of the Barrack academic program. The school takes its pluralistic mission seriously and supports efforts to promote diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) both among students and in the adult school culture. Barrack teachers typically enjoy professional growth and learning through team meetings, professional development opportunities and collaboration with colleagues. The ideal candidate enjoys middle school students and teaches with energy and enthusiasm. The successful candidate will receive ongoing mentoring.

To fill this position, the school is especially interested in candidates with a background in the academic study of the Tanakh and with an understanding of how to teach students with different learning styles. 

Teaching responsibilities:

This position includes teaching 7th and 8th grade Jewish studies. Jewish studies teachers at the Robert Saligman Middle School at Barrack often teach Tanakh and Jewish studies classes in a variety of grades.

• Curriculum overview
• 6th Grade: The formation of the Jewish people in biblical and ancient Israel, introduction to rabbinic thinking
• 7th Grade Jewish Studies:  Mitzvot bein adam le-havero and the medieval Jewish context
• 7th Grade Tanakh:  Understanding the use of literary techniques in the Tanakh through leadership narratives in Judges, the Books of Samuel and the Books of Kings
• 8th Grade:  Introduction to Talmud, The rise of Jewish nationalism and the founding of the State of Israel, Comparative Religion (Christianity, Islam)
• 8th Grade Tanakh:  Understanding the Tanakh through rabbinic lenses, literary analysis, parallel texts from the ancient Near East, and the diachronic study of the Tanakh

Additional responsibilities may include:

• Leading a Middle School Shaharit group Monday-Thursday mornings
• Serving as a point person for a club or other extracurricular activity
• Serving as an advisor to 6th, 7th or 8th grade students 
• Teaching electives that may include a study of contemporary Israel

Application process:

Interested candidates should contact Rabbi Judd Kruger Levingston, Ph.D., Director of Jewish Studies (telephone 610.922.2338 or email: jlevingston@jbha.org or jewishstudies@jbha.org) with preliminary questions or with the following materials:

• Current resumé
• Copies of academic transcripts (can come separately from resumé and letter of interest)
• One writing sample that can include any of the following: curricular materials, an academic or personal essay, two sample student comments for different kinds of students
• A personal letter of application that explains the following:
• What you enjoy - and love - about working with middle school students
• What appeals to you about the possibility of working at Barrack
• What kinds of approaches you like to take in your teaching

The application process includes a preliminary interview with the department head and a day that includes teaching a model lesson and interviews with students, colleagues in the department, and members of the administrative team. Salaries are based on a combination of academic attainment and professional experience. This position features a salary range of $45-$60K/year with additional benefits.

The Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy community does not discriminate on the basis of race or gender identity and it is guided by its four Derech Eretz values:

Honor/Kavod   Moral Courage/Ometz Lev   Kindness/Hesed   Community/Kehilah

Qualifications include: 

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Jewish studies with strong teaching or working experience with middle school students
• Minimum, intermediate Hebrew skills (reading, speaking, listening) 
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills with experience in effective communication with parents, students, teachers and staff
• A collaborative spirit and an ability to function as a member of a team with administrators, teachers, students, and parents
• A positive and strong work ethic
• Ability to differentiate instruction for students within a heterogeneous classroom setting
• Ability to meet due dates throughout the school year
• Interest in developing Jewish studies and Tanakh curricula in the context of real world learning and project-based learning
• Proficiency in the use of classroom technology, including but not limited to: Google Suite, learning management systems, email management and classroom hardware
• An affinity for Jewish prayer and an interest in cultivating a meaningful prayer space where students can express feelings of spiritual connection through liturgy and other forms of reflection.