Senior Jewish Educator at the Center for Jewish Life - Princeton Hillel

Role Overview

As the Senior Jewish Educator - Director of Learning and Inspiration at the Center for Jewish Life – Princeton Hillel, you will bear primary responsibility for enriching the Jewish journeys of Princeton students and helping them co-create a Jewish community that is intellectually vibrant, spiritually alive, and deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and values. This role centers on both a powerful outcome—a Princeton Jewish community that nurtures belonging, purpose, and joy—and a bold methodology: empowering students to shape their own Jewish lives and to become the architects of a pluralistic and inspiring Jewish future.

This role invites you to paint on a wide canvas: guiding the what, how, and who of Jewish student life—from transformative Jewish learning and inclusive ritual to soulful community building and immersive travel experiences. At the heart of this work is relationship-building: forging authentic, caring connections with students across backgrounds and ideologies, and becoming a trusted presence in their lives. You will serve as a mentor, cheerleader, guide, and pastoral companion—offering warmth, wisdom, and steady support as students navigate questions of identity, purpose, and belonging. 

You will bring CJL’s vision of nimble pluralism to life—welcoming students exactly as they are, while guiding them to grow in compassion, curiosity, and commitment. Just as importantly, you will help students become leaders. Through mentorship and modeling, you will foster a culture in which students take responsibility for one another and for the community, experiencing first-hand the joy and integrity of Jewish leadership. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Senior Jewish Educator will serve as a senior member of CJL’s program team and play a central role in shaping strategy, partnerships, and programming related to Jewish education, spiritual life, and student leadership development. 

This position offers a rare opportunity to lead in one of the most intellectually demanding and spiritually dynamic environments in the world. Success in this role will position you as a rising voice in the Jewish communal world, and as a model for the next generation of Jewish leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Student Engagement & Community Building

• Build deep, lasting relationships with a diverse array of Princeton students through 1:1 meetings, small group conversations, and immersive Jewish experiences.
• Supervise the student life team, including two JLIC staff and one Israel Fellow. 
• Provide personal guidance, pastoral care, and mentorship that meets students where they are while inspiring them to grow Jewishly and ethically.
• Serve as primary advisor to Kesher, CJL’s Reform minyan, and help support student-led Shabbat, holiday, and prayer experiences across denominations.
• Attend and help lead Shabbat services and dinners 2–3 times per month, contributing to CJL’s warm and welcoming communal atmosphere.
• Help students feel at home in Jewish life, with particular attention to those from historically marginalized communities or less intensive Jewish backgrounds.
• Support Jewish student affinity groups—such as those focused on race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, or disability—and help cultivate a Jewish community where all students can explore their identities fully and joyfully.
• Support the growth and programming of Israel-related student groups representing diverse political and cultural perspectives.
• Collaborate with students to design and implement high-impact Jewish programs that integrate Torah, spirituality, music, food, justice, and more.

Jewish Learning & Teaching

• Oversee and teach in the Jewish Learning Fellowship (JLF) program, and develop other innovative and exciting new learning cohorts and electives that reflect CJL’s pluralistic approach to Jewish learning.
• Work with the program team to create a robust and dynamic educational calendar that elevates Jewish texts, values, and contemporary relevance.
• Partner with student leaders and the rabbinic team to shape holiday and lifecycle programming that is meaningful, inclusive, and rooted in tradition.
• Serve as a resource for students and staff on questions of Jewish identity, thought, and practice, modeling intellectual and spiritual depth.

Immersive Experiences & Travel

• Plan and coordinate all CJL student trips—including trips to Israel and domestic social justice/service-learning trips—ensuring strong educational framing, recruitment, logistics, and student leadership.
• Staff key travel experiences and support pre- and post-trip engagement,