Careers
Eisendrath Legislative Assistant
- Job Title
- Eisendrath Legislative Assistant
- Work Hybrid
- Yes
- Description
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The Religious Action Center (RAC) of Reform Judaism Seeks Applicants
for the 2026-2027 Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Program.
**THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS FRIDAy, March 27 AT 11:59PM ET **
Eisendrath Legislative Assistant
Location: This position is based in Washington, DC and requires some weekend and evening hours.
Organization: Union for Reform Judaism
Employment Type: Full Time, Benefits Eligible
Department: Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Reporting to: Assistant Legislative Director
Employment Dates: August 18, 2026 – August 6, 2027 (the fellowship may be renewable for a second year based on budget and organizational needs)
Salary Range: $50,000 plus competitive benefits package
Level/Salary Grade: Subject Matter Expert (Foundational) / A
The Role
The Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Program is a year-long fellowship with the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism designed for recent college graduates or early-career professionals who are interested in Judaism, social justice, and public policy. Eisendrath Legislative Assistants (LAs) play a pivotal role in carrying out the Reform Movement’s social justice work: legislative advocacy and public policy, campaigns and organizing, communications, and leadership development programming. As the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism responds to an ever-changing policy landscape, the 2026-2027 Eisendrath Legislative Assistant term will be characterized by experimentation. This section outlines major components of the position, but the specifics may evolve over the year. All elements of the Eisendrath Legislative Assistants’ work serve the common purpose of recruiting, organizing, and mobilizing individuals and communities to protect democracy through voter engagement, strategic issue advocacy, and overcoming hate in all forms in the United States, Canada, and Israel.
We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment within the Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Fellowship and the RAC, reflecting the varied communities we represent. As part of this commitment, we encourage applications from underrepresented and marginalized backgrounds, including but not limited to People of Color, individuals with disabilities, those from marginalized socioeconomic backgrounds, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those at the intersection of these and other marginalized identities.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
FEDERAL ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATION
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Amplify the voice of the Reform Movement’s 825 congregations, 2,000 rabbis, and 1.8 million Reform Jews in Congress, the White House, and among key partners in Washington, D.C.
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Lead on designated policy issues, taking charge of strategy development, drafting materials, mobilizing rapid responses, and advancing our work. One Legislative Assistant, the Linda Rae Sher Legislative Assistant, will focus specifically on abortion, reproductive rights, and women’s rights.
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Mobilize Reform Jewish leaders (including clergy, adult lay leaders, and teens), partners, and others adjacent to the Reform Movement at the grassroots level to leverage their power in service of our policy priorities.
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Play a key role in creating and distributing action alerts, social media content, blog posts, press releases, and other communications to decision-makers, the media, congregational leaders, and stakeholders.
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Support the work of the Commission on Social Action, which serves as the social justice policy-making body for the Reform Movement.
L’TAKEN SEMINARS AND OTHER PROGRAMMING
- Develop and implement programming for the RAC’s L’Taken Social Justice Seminars for high school students in Washington, D.C., held over four weekends in the winter.
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Support RAC and URJ programs that identify, train, and mobilize youth justice leaders, including the RAC Teen Justice Fellowship, Teen Jews of Color Fellowship, Teen Israel Organizing Fellowship, NFTY justice programming, and more.
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Attend, staff, and support other RAC and URJ in-person gatherings and events throughout the year.
CAMPAIGNS AND ORGANIZING
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Support the RAC’s nine state organizing affiliates and national campaign(s), which focus on strengthening democracy and overcoming hate in the United States and Israel.
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Mobilize Reform Jewish leaders and support outreach and engagement with individuals new to the Reform Movement’s justice work to achieve victories on the local, state, provincial, and federal level.
WHO YOU ARE
You are passionate about the intersection of Judaism, social justice, and public policy. You are energized by the idea that faith communities can shape a more just and democratic society, and you want to be at the center of that work.
You are intellectually curious and motivated to understand complex policy issues, political dynamics, and communal priorities. You follow current events, ask thoughtful questions, and are eager to translate big ideas into concrete action.
You are a strong communicator who can write clearly and persuasively for different audiences, from teens and congregational leaders to Members of Congress and coalition partners. You are comfortable speaking in front of groups and engaging people across lines of difference.
You are organized and detail oriented. You can manage multiple projects at once, meet deadlines in a fast paced environment, and respond thoughtfully in moments that require urgency.
You are collaborative and relationship driven. You value teamwork, seek feedback, and are ready to both lead and support. You are comfortable mobilizing others and understand that meaningful change requires collective action.
You are grounded in Jewish values and committed to democracy, equity, and overcoming hate in all forms. Whether or not you bring extensive policy experience, you bring humility, integrity, and a desire to learn.
KEYS TO SUCCESS (THE MUST-HAVES)
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Lead with initiative. Take ownership of assigned issue areas and projects. Anticipate needs, propose ideas, and move work forward with appropriate guidance.
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Communicate with clarity and purpose. Draft compelling action alerts, talking points, and policy materials. Tailor your message to diverse audiences and represent the Reform Movement with professionalism.
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Build and sustain relationships. Cultivate trust with clergy, lay leaders, teens, partners, and policymakers. Follow up consistently and understand that organizing is rooted in relationships.
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Stay nimble in a changing landscape. The policy environment shifts quickly. Be adaptable, open to experimentation, and ready to adjust strategy as circumstances evolve.
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Balance big picture thinking with execution. Understand how your daily tasks connect to long term movement goals, while ensuring details are handled with care.
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Center inclusion and equity. Contribute to a fellowship cohort and workplace culture where diverse identities and perspectives are valued, and where all participants feel a sense of belonging.
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Bring stamina and heart. This role includes evening and weekend work and can be fast paced and intense. Success requires resilience, self awareness, and a deep commitment to the work and to one another.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The Eisendrath Legislative Assistant application consists of two components, outlined below. These may be completed in any order (e.g., recommenders may submit their letters before the applicant submits their application), but all materials must be received by the application deadline for the application to be considered.
If you have any questions about the program or the application process, please reach out to Jacob Greenblatt, Assistant Legislative Director, at jgreenblatt@rac.org. We look forward to reviewing your application!
The application deadline is Friday, March 27 at 11:59 pm ET. Letters of recommendation may be submitted up to one week after the deadline, but all other materials should be submitted by the deadline for the application to be considered.
PART 1: APPLICANT DOCUMENTS
The following documents should be submitted with the application. The first five documents are required, but the last two documents are optional. Please upload all documents as a single combined PDF document. You may need to log back into the candidate profile to upload the documents outlined below.
Five Required Documents
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A resumé highlighting your relevant academic, extracurricular, and/or professional experience.
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A brief statement of interest (250 words or fewer) explaining why you are interested in serving as an Eisendrath Legislative Assistant.
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A brief essay (500 words or fewer) that responds to one of the following quotations and explains why Jewish social justice work matters to you and what inspires or motivates you to do this work. Please make this essay reflective of your personal experiences rather than a theoretical explanation and indicate to which quotation you are responding in your essay.
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“I believe that love is the most powerful force for change in the world. I often compare great campaigns to great love affairs because they’re an incredible container for transformation. You can change policy, but you also change relationships and people in the process.” – Ai-jen Poo, President of the National Domestic Workers Alliance
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“When you see the donkey of your enemy lying under its burden and would refrain from raising it, you must nevertheless raise it with your enemy.” (Exodus 23:5)
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“The values at the heart of a multiracial, inclusive democracy are freedom of expression and assembly and authentic representation of the communities our democracy serves…Democracy can only thrive when we fuel it with our voices, votes and healthy discussion and debate about how we move the country forward.” – Margaret Huang, Former President and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center
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An official or unofficial academic transcript (if applicable – required only for applicants who have attended college)
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A completed writing exercise. A significant portion of an LA’s work involves research and writing (e.g., letters to legislators, talking points, educational programs, and policy memos). To assess your ability to evaluate and produce written material, all applicants are required to complete a brief writing exercise to be submitted with the application. While the writing exercise does not have a strict time limit, you should spend no more than 1.5-2 hours on it. Visit www.RAC.org/LAWritingExercise for instructions.
Two Optional Supplements
As the Eisendrath Legislative Assistant position evolves to include a larger focus on community organizing and digital communication, we invite candidates to submit supplemental materials that showcase their interest and experience in these fields. Because the Eisendrath Legislative Assistant position is a fellowship program, candidates are not expected to enter with experience in all areas of work; candidates without prior experience in community organizing and digital communications are still strongly encouraged to apply.
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A brief description of your community organizing experience (500 words or fewer). As the RAC expands its work on local, state, and national organizing, we are especially interested in candidates with prior background and/or strong interest in community organizing and mobilization. Candidates are invited (but not required) to share a summary of any community organizing experience.
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A digital media portfolio. As the Eisendrath Legislative Assistant position evolves to include more responsibilities related to digital organizing and social media, candidates are invited (but not required) to share a portfolio with up to six samples (social media posts, graphics, short videos or reels, etc.) that demonstrate their skills in graphic design, social media, video production, or content creation. Samples must be of an academic, professional, volunteer, or extra-curricular nature and should not come from an applicant’s personal social media account. You may screenshot or link to individual samples within the document, or you may paste a link to a single external folder with all the materials. Please include screenshots or links as part of the combined PDF alongside all other application documents and ensure all links are viewable by an external audience.
Part 2: LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Applicants are required to provide two letters of recommendation. One letter must be an academic or professional reference. The second letter should be from someone who can speak to your ability to work in the Jewish social justice field/broad-based social justice field. The letters should outline the qualities that specifically make you an outstanding candidate for a Jewish social justice fellowship.
In the application, you will be prompted to provide the name and contact information of two recommenders. Please ask recommenders to submit their letters separately at www.RAC.org/LARecommendation. It is your responsibility to share the submission link with recommenders; it will not be sent directly to them.
ABOUT THE RELIGIOUS ACTION CENTER
For more than six decades, the RAC has worked to educate, inspire, and mobilize the Reform Jewish community to advocate for social justice. We mobilize around federal, state, provincial, and local legislation on more than 70 pressing socioeconomic issues, including reproductive health and rights, environment/climate change, racial justice, immigration, gun violence prevention, and LGBTQ+ equality. The RAC's work is mandated by the Union for Reform Judaism, whose nearly 825 congregations across North America include approximately 1.8 million Reform Jews, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, whose membership includes more than 2,000 Reform rabbis. As part of a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the RAC’s work is nonpartisan.
ABOUT THE URJ
Every team member at the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) plays an essential role in our mission to create a whole, just, and compassionate world. Our team is creative, thoughtful, and innovative. Each member of the team is empowered to make meaningful contributions to achieving our shared goals. Our diverse team is made up of individuals with different skills and backgrounds and every team member is willing to take risks as well as take action to develop and create big ideas for the future of the Reform Movement. While this position focuses on a particular area of work, every team member is a vital part of our overall success.
The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) provides vision and voice to build strong communities that, together, transform the way people connect to Judaism and change the world. We acknowledge that due to racism, ableism, homophobia, and other forms of oppression, that our communities are not whole until everyone experiences a sense of belonging within the Jewish community. As the largest Jewish movement in North America, we stand for a Judaism that is inclusive and reflective of a wide range of identities and accept the responsibility of dismantling oppression both inside and outside of our communities. Through camping, youth experiences, programs, information sharing, and networking opportunities, our over 850 congregations and 15 residential camps create opportunities for our communities to enhance their capacity to build and expand community, engage in meaningful and authentic Jewish life, deepen Jewish learning, energize worship, pursue social justice, and develop inspired leadership. Together, our employees and stakeholders, are creating Reform Judaism of today.
The URJ strives to be a welcoming and inclusive environment that is committed to creating a diverse environment. We promote strenuous policies and practices of equal opportunity and diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is our objective to recruit, hire, and retain the most qualified individuals including those of any race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Our equal employment philosophy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, compensation, benefits, training, promotions, transfers, job benefits, and terminations. The URJ encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities and individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+.
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