1119/Ty 1.:) 9W6Ver
or heritage. And "Expression" is the key and departing shortly after bar/bat
in that our synagogue life has meaning mitzvah. There is simply nothing else
to us because it allows us to connect
for them in our synagogues worth the
with something that is personally rel-
cost.
evant.
The plain old worship experience,
The role of our clergy needs to move while the focus of square footage and
from surrogates back to their role as
the organizational structure, is not rel-
teachers. This also requires movement evant because there is little connection
away from reading empty prayers to
between that event and their personal
making personal spiritual connections, needs. Perhaps "worship" is an out-
from reading Torah to living Torah,
dated approach.
from being an observing audience to
There's certainly no reason why
an involved congregation. This model
services could not be more meaning-
requires the synagogue to serve as that ful and thus attempt to re-invigorate
conduit, that enabler that facilitates
the sanctuary experience. The syner-
personal connections.
gistic spiritual "excitement" at B'nai
Those of you who have experienced
Jeshurun and Shira Hadasha is proof
B'nai Jeshurun in Manhattan will rec-
of that. Even with this, there's nothing
ognize how satisfying their services
in the demographics that indicates
are to the congregants and how the
an emerging convergence of offerings
worship experience is but a small part
and needs in the vast majority of our
of the congregation's mission. An even
congregations; indeed, the gap is get-
better example may
be Shira Hadasha
Ibiless organizational structures receive
in Jerusalem, which
offers a similar
critical examination, the gap between
enriching and
enthralling experi-
-what synagogues supply and 1,vhat future
ence without a rabbi
generations need will -make synagogues
or cantor in sight.
Both of these
obsolete as houses of worship.
synagogues are
unique in their envi-
ronments but they both are immensely ting wider.
popular because they enable the
So then the task is to integrate the
congregants to express (and thus
current platform with the next gen-
embrace) their personal Jewish values.
eration of potential members' needs
The challenge is not to look at
and for the synagogue and clergy to
these two as exceptions catering to a
become these enabling conduits rather
unique clientele, but as trendsetters
than destinations.
that reflect what congregants want and
As our synagogues have trans-
need their synagogue to become.
formed themselves more in the direc-
tion of being a House of Assembly,
Future Needs
there's no reason why they could not
Perhaps we are more or less satisfied
become a more meaningful House of
with programs and religious services.
Prayer, for that is the only way to take
The challenge, though, is to recognize
the reasons for joining beyond the
that what may work today worked bet- consumer perspective.
ter for our parents and even better for
The more we concentrate on adding
our grandparents.
bullet points as ways to attract and
However, it is not what our children
retain, the less we focus on chang-
and grandchildren will need. We'll still ing our structure to enable personal
probably get them, but for the wrong
spiritual connections, which are the
reasons — the consumer issues such
only way synagogues can ultimately
as school, lifecycle offerings and tick-
survive.
ets.
Our brochures always mention the
Iry Wengrow is a founding member and
worship experience, but the selling
past president of Congregation Shir
bullet points are always the consumer
Tikvah in Troy and has served on the
offerings. We essentially have given up
Union for Reform Judaism's Department
on improving the relevance of the wor- of Synagogue Management, Small
ship service since it's much easier just
Congregation Department and Task Force
to add bullet points.
on the Unaffiliated. The Troy resident
No wonder the length of member-
authored the URJ's "Guide to Synagogue
ship is shortening with parents joining Recruitment, Retention and Integration."
when the children are ready for school
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The fine stores & shops
of Lincoln Center wish
everyone a Happy,
Healthy Passover
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CENTER
Greenfield at 10 1 /2 Mile
Have it...
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Fortunately, _ Gaudier disease is treatable, and
Shay) is the most common Jewish genetic
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Should know
it is much more common than Tay-Sachs disease.
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The symptoms of Gaucher disease are progressive
experiencing any of the following symptoms, ask
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1227030
March 29 s 2007
33