One who is occupied with the needs
of the community is considered to be
as one who is occupied with the study of Torah.

— Talmud:  Yerushalmi, Berakhot


The Mission of the Jewish Clergy Corps

The Jewish Appleseed Foundation’s Jewish Clergy Corps is a group of rabbis, cantors, Jewish educators, and experienced Jewish lay leaders trained to work with small Jewish communities around the world — communities whose needs cannot be met by other Jewish organizations.  Specifically, members of the Corps focus on assisting communities in the following ways:

  1. Needs analysis: What does the community need in order to accomplish its objectives?
  2. Identify available resources within the community.
  3. Support the creation of an appropriate community plan.
  4. Support the implementation a community’s plan.
  5. Provide religious, educational, and community development support to small Jewish communities.
  6. Act as a facilitator and advisor for the selection of an appropriate long-term professional leader for the community.
  7. Serve as a permanent professional leader for a small or marginal Jewish community.


Staffing, Training, and Remuneration

Full-time and part-time employees staff the Jewish Clergy Corps. All members of the Corps are paid a fee for their services commensurate with that of a rabbi or cantor in service to a mainstream congregation. Remuneration at this level is extremely important in order to encourage more rabbis, cantors, and educators to seriously consider this type of service to the Jewish community as a viable career option.


To Apply for a Position

Persons interested in joining the Jewish Appleseed Foundation's Jewish Clergy Corps should contact Rabbi Jo David at the address below.


To Discuss the Development of a Program

Small congregations and individuals interested in discussing the development of a project in coordination with the Jewish Clergy Corps should contact Rabbi Jo David.

The Jewish Appleseed Foundation, Inc. 1998
Rabbi Jo David, Executive Director, P.O. Box 308, New York, NY 10021
Tel: (212) 249-0799   Fax: (212) 249-5142
E-mail: [email protected]

The Jewish Clergy Corps in Action — Jüdische Gemeinde Hameln, a Liberal congregation in Hameln, Germany.

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