Base Candidate FAQs

What’s this work all about?

Base’s mission is to infuse a renewed sense of belonging, purpose, and joy to the next generation of young Jews (22-35). We do this sacred work by growing and strengthening an emerging group of rabbinic couples called to open their homes and lives to host, teach, serve, and guide their community. Our vision is a world fueled by the joy of radical hospitality where young Jews feel closer to themselves, each other, Torah, and community – Jewish and beyond.

While Base Rabbis are ordained by a wide variety of institutions, Base does not ascribe to any particular denomination. As such, Base Rabbis are pluralistic Rabbis serving a wide variety of Jews and their friends and partners.

What does this actually look like: What’s the work?

Being a Base Rabbi is a dynamic role that takes many forms.

As a community builder and spiritual guide, the Base Rabbi will:

Build one-on-one relationships with at least 180 previously unengaged Jewish young adults over the course of a year.
Reach at least 500 unique individuals by offering them a variety of immersive Jewish experiences along the four Base pillars, including but not limited to: one-on-one conversations, teaching in small groups, Shabbat and holidays meals, community service opportunities, pastoral counseling.
Build connections with community members based on repeated, substantive, personal experiences, so that at least 40% of individuals return on a regular basis.
Plan retreats and immersive experiences for cohorts or other groups within the local Base community.
Identify the Jewish educational and pastoral needs of the young Jewish adults in your community. This will include working collaboratively with community members and communal organizations to develop stand-alone and ongoing learning groups and service initiatives to address existing and evolving needs.
Along with Base Experiential Educator, shops for groceries and other supplies for programming, while also cooking and preparing Shabbat and holiday meals.

As a Jewish educational resource, the Base Rabbi will:

Develop creative and meaningful Jewish learning opportunities.
Serve as a key educational resource for both Moishe House staff colleagues and Moishe House residents, helping to enrich their Jewish journeys and coaching them in becoming Jewish leaders in their own right.
Teach 3-6 cohort experiences over the course of the year.

As a community organizer, the Base Rabbi will:

Act as a community organizer in the local community, meeting other organizational leaders and finding ways to collaborate and connect young Jewish adults to each other and to other organizations.
Engage in monthly service initiatives in partnership with other local nonprofit organizations.
Lead and organize an annual grassroots fundraising campaign to raise 10-20% of the annual budget directly from the Base community.

But really, what’s this job actually look like?

Monday

Weekly planning, curriculum development, and confirming meetings
Coffee date with Basers
Follow up with new Shabbat visitors
2 pastoral meetings
Planning, preparation, and promotion for Tuesday night Class
Tracking past week’s work in CRM

Tuesday

Curriculum development and meetings with partners to discuss upcoming plans and events
Coffee date with new Basers
1 pastoral meeting with a Baser
Prepare for small group learning class
Teaching a weekly class in the evening

Wednesday

Personal time for learning
2 coffee dates with Basers or new visitors
1 pastoral meeting with Baser
Follow up emails with attendees of weekly classes and new visitors
Prep for small group learning
Shabbat invitations
Teach small group learning/meditation

Thursday

Shabbat invitations, purchase supplies for Shabbat
2-3 coffee dates with Base members
Plan out needs for next week’s classes and service projects

Friday/Shabbat

Base Movement Chevreh call
Prepare for Shabbat meals, cooking, set up
Follow up emails, thank yous to week’s Base attendees
Hosting Shabbat Dinner or lunch

Who are ideal candidates for a Base Team?

The Base model relies on a dynamic, committed couple that works together in partnership and is energized to open up their home in service of creating meaningful connections and community. We seek to hire a diverse set of teams that reflect a diversity of Jewish thought and practice.

Ideal Base Rabbis will be within 0-5 years of receiving ordination (smicha). One of the most powerful elements of the Base model is giving young Jews an opportunity to form a relationship with a relatable Rabbi who can empathize with their life stage. We also view the Base Rabbis as one of our constituencies as they themselves are in the population we seek to serve. We seek candidates that are eager to learn, grow, and envision a new way to “Rabbi.” As such, we invest a lot of time and resources in coaching, skill-building, and entrepreneurial training for our Rabbis in the hopes that they will go out into the world as more adaptive and resourceful leaders.

Who do I work for? What support do I receive?

As a Base Rabbi or Base Partner, you become part of the Moishe House family. Base Rabbis are full-time employees working most closely with the national Base team and reporting to the Base Program Director. Base Partners work on average 15 hours and also report to the Base Program Director. Though they’re not official employees, they, too, will become a part of the Base community of practice and will receive a Moishe House email address for Base communication. As a part of the wider Moishe House team, Base teams receive operational and marketing support, and as a part of the national Base team, they receive a wide variety of support including but not limited to: ongoing programmatic support, annual all-team in-person convening, bi-monthly virtual gatherings, and cohort development, CRM database licenses and ongoing training, annual evaluation and research, micro-grants, and spiritual growth support.

How does compensation work?

As mentioned above, Rabbis are full-time employees at Moishe House working most closely with the national Base team. Base Partners are not employees but do receive compensation in the form of an honorarium ($20,000 per year). Base Rabbis are paid a competitive salary and benefits (including healthcare and retirement benefits) and are provided with a housing stipend to support their level of hosting, as well as a budget for moving expenses.

How long is a Base team’s tenure? Is there a set contract?

While Moishe House is an at-will employer and does not offer employment contracts, Base teams are expected to complete at least a three-year term, with the option to renew for a second three-year term, contingent upon performance and available funding. We view the Base “job” as a premiere post-ordination (smicha) opportunity for real-world experience in entrepreneurial Rabbi-ing.

How does housing work?

Base Rabbis and their partners are expected to find their own housing and sign their own lease. Each Base team is provided with a housing stipend, allowing them to rent a home or apartment with enough space that can accommodate frequent hosting. These payments are taxed, but Rabbis are also able to declare parsonage on the entirety of their housing expenses.

Moishe House will provide information regarding employment and supplemental housing support. The national Base team will advise on the ideal area and neighborhoods, as well as requirements for hosting spaces (e.g. can seat 20-30 people, outdoor space, etc.)

Please note: If housing is provided fully at your location, and there are limited or no expenses to the Base team, this will impact the offered salary for the position.

I’m a Base Partner, but I don’t consider myself an educator; How do I fit in?

Do not worry. If you are excited to open up your home and build meaningful connections with young adults seeking mentorship and a home away from home – dayenu! Base Partners come from a wide variety of backgrounds and professional fields, and most have another full-time job. Base Partners are expected to be an enthusiastic co-host, helping with the planning and preparation of events and gatherings, and, to the extent they want to offer formal programming, we welcome their Jewish (and other) expertise!

Additional FAQs

Can a Base Rabbi have another part-time job?

No, Base is a full-time job (and some!).

What happens when I get paid for gigs like baby namings or weddings?

We love when Basers feel close enough to their Rabbi to ask them to serve in personal life transitions. In fact, we have a guide on the spectrum of services and recommend associated fees that Base Rabbis can use to assist in these conversations. Any life-cycle fee-for-service work administered for a Baser, is paid directly to Base.

What is the funding model of Base and do I have to fundraise?

All new Bases have a national: local 50:50 funding model. Meaning, we at Moishe House, work to raise 50% of the funds from national funders, and 50% from local funders. Additionally, we believe that as entrepreneurial and communal Rabbis, Base Rabbis should be given the opportunity to learn the basics of fundraising. With support, coaching, and operations assistance from the national Base team, Base Rabbis will learn how to execute an annual fundraising campaign for their community. Between life-cycle fee-for-service work, and this annual fundraising campaign, Base Rabbis will help secure at least $10,000 annually towards their program budget.

Why can only partnered Rabbis apply?

While we deeply believe single Rabbis can and should do this type of work, Base at its core, is a partnership model, giving Basers the opportunity to reflect on what it takes to build a shared home and practice. Our Partners bring valuable alternative and complementary perspectives to every conversation, program, and experience, enriching the overall Base environment and modeling constructive disagreement and the natural and inevitable differences in spiritual or religious practice.