Director of Sacred Music

STATUS: Part-Time (~20hrs/week)
COMPENSATION: $40,000-50,000 annually, commensurate with experience
LOCATION: Berkeley, CA; must be available to work in-person (not virtual or hybrid)
APPLICATION OPENS: July 16
ANTICIPATED START DATE: Between October 2026 and January 2027 (start date negotiable)
APPLY: Email your resume, short cover letter, and work samples to jobs@chochmat.org
QUESTIONS: Email jobs@chochmat.org

 

About Chochmat HaLev

Chochmat HaLev is a thriving Jewish Renewal community in Berkeley, CA, known for our welcoming and inclusive approach, high-energy musical prayer services, deep mystical and contemplative offerings, and a rich year-round calendar of heart-opening gatherings and innovative programs that draw on ancient wisdom for modern meaning. Our community has experienced extraordinary growth over the last three years, drawing hundreds of new members of all generations and backgrounds seeking meaningful Jewish connection and spirituality.

Learn more about our “groundbreaking… close-knit spiritual community that’s also deeply embodied” in this Religion News Service profile, including our “dance-filled, ecstatic worship service drenched in Jewish mysticism.” As one of our members said, “I never would have imagined that I would want to spend my Friday nights at a Jewish event… It feels miraculous. I really look forward to coming here.” You can read more about our approach to Jewish spirituality in this profile. 

 

Position Overview

We are seeking a Musical Director to serve as a core spiritual leader in our community. This person will lead weekly Shabbat services, High Holy Days, and other holiday experiences, as well as other workshops and gatherings. Music is a vehicle for transformation in our community: a way to accompany people through vulnerability, longing, joy, and integration. The Musical Director does not only lead songs – they help create conditions in which people feel safe, seen, and connected – to themselves, to one another, and to something larger. The Musical Director will work closely with the Rabbi/Spiritual Leader and our team of talented musicians to sustain and deepen the spiritual life of our community.

 

Core Responsibilities

Service Leadership (Approx. 40%)

• Co-lead weekly Shabbat services (Friday nights and/or Saturday mornings, approximately once per week)
• Co-lead High Holy Days services and other Jewish holidays throughout the year
• Craft and offer deep kavanot (intentions) for prayers during the services

Musical Leadership and Coordination (Approx. 30%)

• Prepare liturgy, music, and outlines for services in collaboration with the Rabbi/Spiritual Leader, supporting a culture of mutual respect and creative partnership 
• Cultivate, coordinate, and collaborate with ensemble musicians for services and holidays, including providing needed materials and sheet music, leading rehearsals, and providing clear feedback. Maintain a cohesive and high-quality band sound (“tight band”), avoiding unstructured or “campfire” dynamics
• Bring both traditional and contemporary Jewish melodies into services, including original music and curating music from diverse sources
• Help steward the overall musical direction of the community, with room for thoughtful evolution over time. Set musical boundaries while balancing openness and participation.
• Coordinate and work with sound engineers

Teaching & Community Engagement (Approx. 30%)

• Lead workshops, retreats, classes, or song-learning spaces for adults
• Potentially teach within youth or family programs
• Support the community in deepening their connection to Jewish music, practice, and each other
  
  

Who You Are

You are both a skilled musical leader and a grounded spiritual presence. You can hold a sanctuary of hundreds – as well as intimate spaces of healing and connection – with authenticity, warmth, and depth. You can “read the room” moment by moment, and respond musically in a way that supports integration rather than overwhelm. 

Required Musical Qualifications

• Strong vocal and guitar skills, with the ability to lead communal singing that moves between ecstatic and contemplative energies (strong preference for guitar, but open to other instruments)
• Strong overall musicianship, including the ability to read music, understand harmony, rhythm, arrangement, and song structure. 
• Experience directing ensembles and familiarity with basic music production and arranging concepts, including shaping vocal harmonies, instrumental dynamics, transitions, and emotional pacing within a service. 
• Operate basic sound systems and support live audio needs (usually in collaboration with professional sound engineer)

Required Jewish Qualifications

• Experience leading Jewish prayer services, including High Holy Days
• Deep knowledge of Hebrew language, Jewish liturgy, and liturgical music across traditions and cultures, including fluency in High Holy Days nusach
• Alignment with Chochmat HaLev’s deep, inclusive theology 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience teaching Jewish content to adults and/or youth
• Familiarity with Jewish Renewal or spiritually oriented Jewish communities
• Strong knowledge of traditional Jewish texts, commentaries, and practices, as well as Jewish mysticism and contemplative practices
• Workshop facilitation or community-building experience
• A pulse on contemporary Jewish music, alongside grounding in traditional forms
• Experience writing original soulful music, ideally in a Jewish context

 

Job Structure & Logistics

• Approximately 20 hours/week (this is a true part-time role, not expected to exceed that outside of High Holy Days and other major holidays), with flexibility to shape your schedule outside of scheduled services and programming
• In-person presence required for services, workshops, and other programs in Berkeley; preparation work may be done remotely
• Reports to and collaborates closely with the Rabbi/Spiritual Leader
• Works with our current team of talented musicians, with some flexibility to shape ensembles over time
• Position may be structured as either an employee or contractor role (PTO available if employee)
  
  

Hiring Process

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and relevant work samples to jobs@chochmat.org. Samples should include video and audio recordings that give a strong sense of musical leadership style.

Initial candidates will be interviewed by Chochmat HaLev leadership and community representatives. Finalists will be invited to lead a service with the community as part of the mutual discernment process.

A Note on Fit

While prior experience in a Renewal setting is not required, alignment with Chochmat’s spiritual and musical ethos is essential. We are seeking someone who can both honor what exists and bring their own voice, presence, and creativity to help the community continue to grow. You can watch a recording of a Shabbat service here, and a video from Yom Kippur here.