Orthodox Rabbi, University of Illinois Hillel

Role Overview

Make your mark on Orthodox and observant Jewish students at the University of Illinois by joining Illini Hillels staff as the Orthodox Campus Rabbi!

The Orthodox Rabbi serves as a leader of Orthodox life at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). You will be a community builder, teacher, and Halachic authority for Orthodox and observant Jewish students and community members in Champaign-Urbana. You will provide high-level Torah education and Rabbinic leadership for students from Orthodox backgrounds, while simultaneously offering an accessible, warm entry point for any observant or Jewishly-curious students at UIUC. As an integral member of the Illini Hillel team, you will ensure that the infrastructure of Orthodox life-including our Kosher dining, daily prayer services, the Eruv, and the Mikvah - is maintained and utilized to enhance the student experience.

To Apply: Applications are being collected exclusively through the Hillel International website.

Responsibilities

• Build substantial relationships with at least 120 undergraduate and graduate students (both Orthodox and non-Orthodox) through Rabbinical care, chevruta learning, teaching, and mentorship.
• Recruit for trips and Shabbatons available to Orthodox and non-Orthodox students.
• Lead and promote daily and weekend prayer services at Hillel for the Orthodox minyan.
• Lead and facilitate Jewish holiday services, including but limited to the High Holidays, Purim, Passover, Shavuot, and Tisha B'av.
• Host and facilitate holiday meals at the Hillel building, JET house (Jewish Education Team), or at a home location.
• Proactively reach out to incoming freshmen and transfer students from Orthodox communities and youth movements (NCSY, Bnei Akiva, etc.) to recruit and integrate them into the Illini Hillel community.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Serve as the cRc representative for Hillel's Kosher kitchens, train students to be Mashgichim for Hillel's kitchens and other Kosher opportunities in town.
• Provide sophisticated, high-level learning opportunities tailored specifically for graduates of Orthodox day schools and those returning from a gap year in Israel, ensuring their religious growth continues during their university years.
• Serve as the on-campus authority for Halachic questions, ranging from daily ritual practice to complex modern dilemmas faced by college students.
• Host students for Shabbat and Holiday meals in a warm, welcoming home environment.
• Offer pastoral counseling and religious guidance to students navigating the intersection of secular campus life and Orthodox commitment.
• Monitor, maintain, and communicate the status of the Champaign-Urbana Eruv, with help from students and community members, facilitate an annual visit from Rabbi Jachter from the OU to inspect the Eruv.
• Be involved with the Champaign Urbana Mikvah Association in a leadership role, whether as a board member or part of the Rabbinical team of the Mikvah.
• Empower students to take leadership roles in Jewish life on campus, including internships and board positions at Hillel and beyond.
• Work with staff on Shabbat dinners, holidays, and other large programs.
• Participate as a full member of The Hillels of Illinois Staff in local, regional, and national Hillel programs and programs of the Jewish Federation as may be appropriate.

Requirements

• A rabbinical ordination (smicha) from an Orthodox institution
• Proven ability to connect with Gen-Z students and understand the unique pressures of a high-achieving academic environment like UIUC
• 1-2 years of post-college experience preferred

What You'll Bring to the Job

• Passion for Jews, Judaism, and Israel and proud to be a Jewish role model
• Strong public speaking, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment
• Must be willing to work nights, Shabbats, and weekends

What You'll Receive

• Salary Range of $75,000-90,000
• Time off: 22 days of paid time off, 11 sick days, 8 paid federal holidays, up to 13 paid Jewish holidays, and 6 weeks paid parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with match and a 403(b) plan
• Additional health and wellness benefits, financial benefits, professional training, tuition reimbursement, and much more
• Great professional development, mentoring, and skill-building opportunities as part of the global Hillel movement

About Jewish Life at UIUC

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is home to one of the largest and most active Jewish student populations in the country. Illini Hillel and JET (Jewish Education Team) are the heart of this community, providing a state-of-the-art facility for prayer, study, and socializing. With a dedicated Kosher kitchen, a reliable Eruv, a Mikvah, and a close-knit Orthodox community, UIUC is a premier destination for observant students in the Midwest.

Outside of campus life, our Jewish professionals enjoy the vibrant social life of the cities of Champaign and Urbana and the surrounding towns. University staff and Champaigns High Tech hub create a young, vibrant community that meets and celebrates life in many ways. The Champaign Urbana Jewish Federation and Sinai Temple are our close partners in building a strong and welcoming Jewish community that serves over 2,000 Jewish community members beyond campus life. Additionally, Champaign-Urbana mark the perfect halfway point between some of the major cities in the Midwest - Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis.

About Hillel at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Illini Hillel)

Illini Hillel is the first Hillel in the world. Established in 1923 by Rabbi Benjamin Frankel, Illini Hillel strengthens the Jewish identity of 3,500 Jewish students at the University of Illinois. With one of the largest fraternity and sorority populations and over 1,000 student organizations on campus, the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is one of the most social campuses in the country. That alongside the tier 1 research work on our campus makes our University attractive to Jewish students of all backgrounds. At Illini Hillel, we embrace the work-hard-play-hard culture of our campus by creating the perfect mix of fun, social, and deep, meaningful Jewish programming and engagement.

Hillel at the University of Illinois is affiliated with Hillel International. Hillel International enriches the lives of Jewish students so they may enrich the Jewish people and the world, and envisions a world where every student is inspired to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel.

About Hillel International

In 1923, Rabbi Benjamin Frankel started Hillel with humble means, a noble mission, and a breathtaking vision: to convey Jewish civilization to a new generation. Today, Hillel International continues to enrich the lives of Jewish students and is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world at nearly 1,000 colleges and universities across North America and around the world. As Hillel evolves as an organization, the mission remains steadfast: to create lasting connections with every Jewish student that foster an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel and train them to become the next Jewish leaders.

If you are interested in this position, you must apply on the Hillel International website.