Join the Nefesh Team!

We are currently receiving applications for Makom Teachers (PT) and an Executive Assistant & Lifecycle Coordinator (FT) – click the links to jump to the job descriptions below.

Makom Teacher

Location: Los Angeles
Status: Part-time

Overview

Makom is a dynamic Jewish education program for elementary age students in TK up through B’nai Mitzvah. The Hebrew word makom means “place” – inside and all around us, every place is alive with Jewish learning and growing as human beings. We open the door wide open for creative exploration of Torah, spirituality and prayer, and middot, our deepest values. We learn together in class, outside, on Shabbat and with our families. As much as possible, we learn Judaism through doing Judaism, and we also do our best to have fun along the way. 

Makom is designed to instill a love of Judaism through hands-on learning of Torah stories, prayers, and Jewish values. The teacher will be able to instill a sense of joy, curiosity and wonder while imparting to the children their first experience of Jewish concepts and culture.

Makom meets most Sundays from 10am-12:30pm and on select Saturdays from 9:30-12:00pm (depending on grade level), with certain dates excluded due to holidays. The start date for this position is August 30th, 2026. Makom’s first session will be on October 4, 2026, and end on May 23, 2027.

The Role

Nefesh is seeking creative, compassionate educators for Makom, our part-time religious school. We provide a space where children (ages 4–14) explore Jewish identity and traditions through play, ritual, and community. You will facilitate a classroom of 10–20 students, guiding them through a curated curriculum that blends ancient and contemporary Jewish wisdom, knowledge and practices with modern, hands-on expression.

Key Qualifications

  • Youth Experience: Proven success working with children (ages 4–14) in formal (i.g. classroom) or informal (i.g. camp) settings.
  • Jewish Literacy: A strong foundation in Jewish traditions, Torah stories, and holidays.
  • Hebrew Proficiency: Ability to teach the Aleph-Bet and support students in decoding T’filla (prayer).
  • Soft Skills: High levels of adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and collaborative spirit.
  • Communication: Comfortable engaging with parents and responding to professional feedback.

Primary Responsibilities

INSTRUCTION & FACILITATION

  • Deliver Curriculum: Implement provided lesson plans focusing on Torah, ritual, and Jewish values through the framework of Middot (Jewish values and character traits).
  • Creative Engagement: Use art, movement, song, and text study to make Jewish themes relevant to students’ lives.
  • Hebrew & T’filla: Lead basic Hebrew instruction and participate actively in communal prayer services.
  • Program Design: Develop activities for school-wide programs, including Shabbat, holidays, and milestone celebrations.

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT & SAFETY

  • Environment: Maintain a safe, inclusive, and “play-forward” classroom culture.
  • Inclusion: Review and accommodate specific medical, dietary, or learning needs for all students.
  • Safety Standards: Complete mandatory abuse prevention training and manage secure check-in/check-out procedures.
  • Logistics: Maintain organized classroom spaces, materials, and resources. Supervise snack/recess time (allergy-aware). Support students during entry, transitions and dismissal.

FAMILY & ADMINISTRATIVE ENGAGEMENT

  • Communication: Send weekly parent updates including lesson summaries and “at-home” conversation prompts.
  • Collaboration: Partner with Makom’s director, coordinator, madrichim and parents for family engagement programs. Attend monthly teacher meetings/PD sessions.
  • Admin: Track attendance and submit bi-weekly hours via provided software.

Compensation & Hours

Rate: Starting at $35/hour (negotiable based on experience).

Benefits: Includes Nefesh Kinship.

Per-Class Pay: 5.0 total hours per class meeting.

  • 4.0 hours: On-site (Setup, teaching, wrap-up).
  • 1.0 hour: Off-site (Prep and parent communication).
  • Note: Additional hours paid for orientation, monthly meetings, and required training.

To Apply

Please send a cover letter and resume to Rabbi Yechiel Hoffman, Nefesh’s Director of Youth Education, makom@nefeshla.org.

Frequently cited statistics show that women, trans, and nonbinary people, and other structurally marginalized groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Nefesh encourages you to break that statistic and to apply. No one ever meets 100% of the qualifications. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until we find the right candidate for the position.

Executive Assistant & Lifecycle Coordinator

Location: Los Angeles
Status: Full Time

Opportunity

Nefesh became an independent community in 2019 and has experienced incredible growth in its first four years. Nefesh is seeking a dedicated, detail-oriented administrative professional to join our team as an Executive Assistant and Lifecycle Coordinator to both 1) provide administrative support to Nefesh clergy and 2) support Nefesh Kin through key moments in their Jewish lives, including baby namings, b’nai mitzvah, weddings, and funerals. This is a critical role to the success of our team, supporting Rabbi Susan and Rabbi Aaron with essential administrative tasks such as scheduling, managing correspondence, and coordinating special projects. In addition, this position ensures that all lifecycle events are handled with care, accuracy, and compassion, in accordance with Jewish tradition and the synagogue’s customs. In all aspects of their role, the Executive Assistant and Lifecycle Coordinator collaborates closely with clergy, administrative and program staff, and families to provide a warm and organized experience.

The Executive Assistant and Lifecycle Coordinator is a motivated individual who is detail oriented, proactive, and organized, able to support and manage many aspects of the priorities of our clergy. They will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a compassionate and respectful demeanor. The successful candidate will anticipate needs, problem solve and respond in a timely manner to both current and future needs. They will work as a liaison for key internal and external constituents. If you have excellent administrative and organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail and are passionate about what Nefesh does, we look forward to hearing from you. 

Position Responsibilities

Executive Assistant to Clergy

Founding Rabbi – 50%

    • Provide administrative support for Rabbi Susan in her scheduling, help her prepare in advance for future events, support her with materials and details for services and classes and support her in tending to congregant needs, and tending to her needs. 
    • Manage Rabbi’s calendar and scheduling requests, including weekly appointment confirmations, booking travel, and virtual meeting support
    • Screen and redirect, prioritize, and/or respond to mail, e-mail, voicemail and appointment and information requests
    • Data entry related to Rabbi’s engagement with community members, funders, and partners; key lifecycle information including yahrzeits (anniversaries of death), weddings, and baby namings
    • Interact with a wide variety of constituents in a flexible and compassionate way, including Nefesh Kin, board of directors and those seeking spiritual counseling or pastoral care. 
    • Support Rabbi Susan and collaborators with maintaining forward progress on special writing and recording projects
    • Attend relevant meetings, take notes, clarify next steps, and follow up on weekly tasks assigned to Rabbi Susan.
    • Provide support to the Executive Director as needed, particularly when scheduling meetings/managing tasks related to the board or funders

Associate Rabbi – 15% 

    • Provide administrative support for Rabbi Aaron in his scheduling of Lifecycle-related meetings.
    • Attend relevant meetings, take notes, clarify next steps, and follow up on weekly tasks assigned to Rabbi Aaron.
    • Support Rabbi Aaron in other scheduling requests, travel arrangements, and special projects, as requested.

Lifecycle Coordinator – 35%

    • Serve as the primary point of contact for families arranging lifecycle events (births, b’nai mitzvah, conversions, weddings, funerals, etc.).
    • Maintain lifecycle calendar and coordinate scheduling with clergy, facilities, and vendors.
    • Guide families through lifecycle processes, timelines, and requirements, providing appropriate forms, materials, and support.
    • Organize and manage logistics for b’nai mitzvah preparation, including tutoring, clergy mentorship, and scheduling service dates.
    • Collaborate with clergy to ensure they have necessary information and support for each ceremony.
    • Assist with preparation of printed materials such as programs, aliyah lists, and certificates.
    • Coordinate with cemetery or funeral homes when needed for end-of-life events.
    • Maintain accurate lifecycle data in Kindful.
    • Uphold sensitivity and confidentiality in all family interactions.
    • Support holiday and community events

Qualifications

    • 2-plus years experience in an administrative or personal assistant role (required), development/donor stewardship (a plus). Prior experience in the arts, nonprofits, Jewish organizations and/or fundraising environment is preferred.
    • Highly organized with great attention to detail and accuracy.
    • Strong and compassionate interpersonal skills, commitment to superior constituent experience, and excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.
    • A nuanced understanding of marginalized Jewish identities, experiences, and perspectives as well as how they intersect is preferred, as well as previous experience with a racial justice and gender equity lens to work products and staff culture. 
    • Ability to carefully listen to and understand the needs of groups and individuals. 
    • Strong writing, project management, and interpersonal skills.
    • The ability to draw connections between the many moving parts of the organization.
    • Have technology insight and enthusiasm for learning new functions and products.
    • Must be able to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
    • Passion for Nefesh’s mission and work.
    • Comfort working in a fast-paced and sometimes highly emotional environment  including multi-tasking, meeting required deadlines, and problem solving under time pressure.
    • The ability to think ahead, self manage, and the confidence to manage up when needed.
    • Flexibility to attend occasional evening and/or weekend meetings and/or events.
    • Proficiency with MS Office Suite, Canva, and/or Google Suite (including Slides) and Zoom is required.

START DATE: The week of May 18, 2026

Compensation

Nefesh is a dynamic working environment in which duties and responsibilities may change. Employees are expected to be flexible and responsive to changes in the scope of their duties, as assigned. This full time position offers an annual salary of  $70,000-$75,000, based on experience. Benefits include paid time off, health insurance reimbursement, retirement match, paid holidays, and Nefesh Kinship. 

To Apply

Please send a cover letter and resume to info@nefeshla.org.

Frequently cited statistics show that women, trans, and nonbinary people, and other structurally marginalized groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Nefesh encourages you to break that statistic and to apply. No one ever meets 100% of the qualifications. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until we find the right candidate for the position.