Journal of Jewish Education Editor Search
Call for Applications
Deadline September 22, 2014
The Network for Research in Jewish Education (NRJE) and the Journal of Jewish
Education Editor Search Committee invite applications and nominations for the position of
editor of the Journal of Jewish Education (JJE). The editor serves a 3-year (renewable) term
starting in 2015. He or she must be an NRJE member in good standing throughout his or her
term. The deadline for applications is September 22, 2014.
About the Journal of Jewish Education
The Journal of Jewish Education, the journal of the NRJE, is published four times per year by
Taylor & Francis. This peer-reviewed journal provides a unique interdisciplinary forum for
considering the diverse research and scholarly issues in Jewish education including curriculum
and instruction, teacher preparation, Jewish identity development, history and philosophy of
Jewish education, and the linkage between Jewish and general education. The journal’s scope
ranges from early childhood through adult education, in any setting in which Jewish education
occurs.
Contributions to the journal address issues unique to Jewish education, as well as the
application of research and thought from/to general education. Further, a variety of
methodological approaches and formats are represented. These include qualitative and
quantitative empirical research studies, reflections on Jewish education past and present, and
discussion of theoretical aspects of Jewish education.
The Journal of Jewish Education has been the premier journal in the field of Jewish education
for over 80 years.
Position Description
The JJE editor will implement journal policy within the mission and financial parameters
established by the NRJE Executive. The editor is responsible for acquiring and publishing
research material that meets the needs and interests of the NRJE membership, as well as the
broader fields of Jewish education and general education, and well beyond.
The NRJE will provide the editor with a managing editor, who will manage production. In
addition, the editor may appoint associate editors to assist with the solicitation of
manuscripts, review of submissions, assignment of reviewers, and so forth. Finally, the editor
will appoint a consulting editorial board.
For this position, the editor’s institution will be required to sign a Statement of Institutional
Support providing, at a minimum, release time, office expenses (for communication, mailing,
office supplies), and graduate student or administrative assistance.
Qualifications
NRJE seeks senior scholars with a broad perspective on the Jewish education enterprise,
proven research, organizational, and editorial abilities, and a deep commitment to
developing research and practice in the field. Applicants should be sure that they have
adequate time to handle the work of the journal without compromising their responsibilities
in their salaried positions. The Search Committee is particularly interested in receiving
applications from NRJE members in good standing (new members welcome!) who:
 have a recognized publication record and scholarly reputation;
 have experience with editorial work (e.g., journal or book editorships, editorial board
memberships, conference program chairing, peer reviewing, etc.);
 have excellent communication, organization, and management skills;
 are independent in thought and judgment, while also adhering to the missions of NRJE
and the JJE;
 can reconceptualize aspects of the publication in response to feedback from the NRJE
Executive and membership.
Search Process
The search process has three phases:
 Phase 1: Applicants submit: 1) a letter of application, 2) curriculum vitae, and 3) the
names, titles, and contact information (including e-mail) of three referees who are able
to evaluate the applicant’s editorial abilities. The application deadline is September 22,
2014, though earlier applications are strongly encouraged. All applications must be
submitted via e-mail to Benjamin M. Jacobs, Search Committee Chair, bjacobs@nyu.edu
 Phase 2: Short-listed applicants will be notified by October 6 to respond to a
questionnaire concerning their editorial experience and vision for the journal.
 Phase 3: The Search Committee will interview finalists in November.
For more information, please contact Ben Jacobs at bjacobs@nyu.edu.
Responsibilities of the Journal of Jewish Education Editor
Journal content
 keep the “aims and scope” and mission of the Journal current (in consultation with the
editorial board and the Network Executive)
 maintain guidelines for contributors that invite quality manuscripts
 target solicitation of manuscripts through various means, e.g. calls for papers, following
up with conference presenters, inviting papers (as appropriate)
 spearhead the identification of themes for “themed issues” topics of interest for
“conversations,” and other features that might stimulate submissions
Managing manuscripts
 oversee, with the support of the managing editor, the receipt, review and revision and
acceptance/rejection of submitted papers with an eye towards keeping the flow of
accepted manuscripts in line with publisher deadlines and our quarterly schedule
 read all submissions as they are received and either write letters of rejection (for papers
that are not appropriate) or assign them to Associate Editors
 correspond with authors throughout the review and revision process or delegate such
responsibility as necessary
 serve as the final arbiter for selecting and rejecting manuscripts
 write letters of acceptance/rejection based on reviews received from peer reviewers
Managing journal operations
 appoint Associate Editors, in consultation with the Network Executive
 appoint the Editorial Board, in consultation with the Associate Editors
 appoint Guest Editor(s) for special theme issues, as warranted
 supervise the Managing Editor
 consult with the Editorial Board on issues requiring board input and keep them engaged
 lead annual editorial board meetings (held in conjunction with the annual NRJE
conference)
 write Editor’s Notes (or appoint Associate Editors or Guest Editors to write them)
 manage the journal budget
Liaison
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represent the Journal on the NRJE Executive, collaborating with the Executive and
reporting on the status of the Journal to the Executive as requested
serve as the public face of the Journal in the broader field of Jewish education, Jewish
studies, and general education research and practice
maintain good communication and relationship with the Journal’s publisher and the
Journal’s current funder
identify and solicit potential funding sources
Desirable Qualities in a Journal of Jewish Education Editor*
Editing JJE is demanding in intellectual, emotional, and practical ways. The person who
assumes the post should possess the following qualities (not listed in rank order):
Scholarly and Technical
 Excellent writing skills: The editor must be able to write clearly and gracefully. An editor
who does not write well will have difficulty assessing other writers’ contributions, and his or
her editorial judgments will not be respected.
 A track record of strong academic publications, including articles in journals of similar
stature to JJE: An editor who has published widely demonstrates the requisite knowledge of
the field and knows how contributors are likely to respond to having their work reviewed,
critiqued, and revised.
 A sense of how to work well with the NRJE Executive, Associate Editors and Editorial
Board, Managing Editor and Publisher: The editor has to be willing to cooperate with the
NRJE Executive (in terms of vision and budget), and the Journal’s editorial staff and
publisher (for scheduling and production).
 A commitment to deadlines and well-developed time management skills: The editor
should be efficient in reading manuscripts, assigning them for review, and following-up with
reviewers and authors. Moreover, NRJE members receive the JJE as a member benefit and
expect it to appear quarterly, on time. JJE’s publisher Taylor & Francis is responsible for
producing and mailing the journal to its subscribers on time. Chronically late publication
damages JJE’s reputation with libraries and others in the field. The editor is responsible for
ensuring that JJE appears on schedule, which means enforcing deadlines.
 A reasonable knowledge of editing principles and manuscript style conventions: Although
a professional copy editor and publisher provide support, the editor should know how to
communicate with a contributor, how long a given editorial process may take, and how a
scholarly journal is produced. The editor should be familiar with the journal’s manuscript
style (APA), understand why a style guide is necessary, and know how best to apply it.
Personal
 Tact: The editor must be able to work cordially with contributors, fellow editors, production
staff, and funding sources. The editor must exercise tact and even charm when dealing with
the many people necessary to the journal’s success.
 The ability to multitask: The editorship is time-consuming and tightly scheduled. The editor
needs to be able to multitask effectively, keeping the needs of the journal in clear view.
 Thick skin: Contributors may not take kindly to rejection and may resort to ad hominem
attacks, and every reader has an opinion about what JJE should include. Therefore, the
editor must be able to withstand criticism with grace and good humor.
 A good sense of humor: The editor must focus simultaneously on large intellectual issues
and minute administrative details. A good sense of humor helps to alleviate stress.
*Adapted with appreciation from the qualities of journal editors established for the TESOL Journal.