16 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 

Jews in the D
cover story

The Michigan Board of Rabbis 
approved a policy on July 20 stat-
ing that High Holiday services 
will be online only. According to 
their statement, this decision is 
based on a commitment to the 
Jewish values of pikuah nefesh, 
“safeguarding life,
” and sakanat 
nefeshot, the prohibition of 
“endangering life,
” as well as a 
“preponderance of the best scien-
tific and medical advice that we 
have.
” 
At Young Israel of Southfield, a survey has 
been sent to members to assess their prefer-
ences for the High Holidays.
“There is no question that the High 
Holidays will feel different this year. But 
whether ‘
different’
 is good or bad 
will depend largely, like always, 
on the intentionality and soul-
fulness by which one approach-
es the experience rather than 
whether the experience is online 
or in-person,
” comments Rabbi 
Aaron Starr of Congregation 
Shaarey Zedek. The Conservative Rabbinical 
Assembly has developed detailed guidelines 
and legal forms with representatives of other 
Jewish streams; these are available at 
cjhighholidays.com/reopening.

WILL MEMBERSHIP DECLINE?
COVID-19 is also affecting synagogue 
finances. Revenue from scheduled synagogue 
events, now canceled, has been lost. In addi-
tion, fundraising events have been canceled, 
although some congregations, such as Young 
Israel of Oak Park (YIOP) and Young Israel of 
Southfield, will hold virtual versions of their 
annual dinners. YIOP’
s fundraiser will include 
a kosher meal, home-delivered, and a virtual 
comedy show.
Membership revenues also may be affect-
ed as some individuals question whether 
dues make sense when on-site services and 
programs have been curtailed or eliminated. 
At Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township, 
Rabbi Mark Miller said that only a few indi-
viduals have raised that issue so far. The 
temple is a service organization and personnel 
costs are the biggest part of its budget, he 
explained, and most people understand that.
However, Rabbi Yedwab said that “all 

congregations are expecting some drop-off 
because of the economic recession.
”

ALREADY CHALLENGED
While the pandemic has created major new 
challenges for synagogues, membership trends 
had been flat or declining for some years. (See 
sidebar about the Detroit Population Study.) 
 There has been a continuing decline in 
religious identification among American 
Protestants, Catholics and Jews, as reported 
by the Pew Research Center, which regularly 
conducts surveys about religious attitudes. 
This disaffiliation is strongest among younger 
people.
There have been new efforts locally and 
nationally to reach the Jewish community, 
especially younger people who don’
t find syn-
agogue membership particularly appealing, as 
well as initiatives to engage and retain existing 
synagogue members.
Several years ago, Temple Israel began The 
Well, an outreach effort for younger Jewish 
individuals and families that focuses on 
Shabbat and holiday celebrations, education 
and social programs, all held in various loca-
tions outside the temple. The goal is to devel-
op connections and strengthen Jewish identity 
and knowledge, which may eventually lead to 
affiliation with a synagogue. A new director, 
Rabbi Jeff Stombaugh, joined The Well this 
summer. 
In recent years, unrelated to COVID, some 
Reform and Conservative congregations 
across the country have been attempting to 
retain members through small special interest 
groups. This concept isn’
t completely new 
— there was a chavurah movement years 
ago and most synagogues have brotherhood 
and sisterhood groups. However, the current 
initiative is somewhat different. “People have 
always had naturally occurring small groups 

DR. RON WOLFSON: TEMPLES AND 
SYNAGOGUES NEED TO “DEEPEN 
ENGAGEMENT”
Prior to the COVID pandemic, Dr. 
Ron Wolfson, Fingerhut Professor 
of Education at American Jewish 
University, said that many synagogues 
and temples were challenged by flat or 
declining membership. He is co-found-
er of Synagogue 3000, a nonprofit orga-
nization providing leadership training 
to enhance synagogues, and author of 
Relational Judaism — Using the Power 
of Relationships to Transform the Jewish 
Community, which he describes as a 
handbook for Jewish congregations.
Dr. Wolfson cites multiple reasons 
for congregational “retention and 
recruitment issues.” Typically, fami-
lies join temples or synagogues when 
their children are ready for school, but 
today’
s young Jews are marrying at a 
later age, delaying their potential inter-
est in membership. Also, the millennial 
generation (for Christians and Jews) is 
somewhat resistant to affiliations — for 
religious participation and other aspects 
of life.
Dr. Wolfson believes that congrega-
tions must shift from a “transactional/
programmatic focus to a relational 
model” in order to maintain and 
increase membership. He cites a failure 
to “engage adults with clergy, educators, 
staff and other friends.” 
Wolfson tells of a temple member 
who said, “I came to everything and 
met nobody.” A temple program has to 
connect people to each other or it’
s not 
a sacred community, he said.
These connections can be achieved 
through religious commitment, social 
justice activities or friendships. Other 
tactics include the creation of multiple 
small groups within a congregation, 
which is common to mega-churches. 
Such groups can have a distinct brand 
and identity. “They provide opportu-
nities to engage a younger generation 
with no expectation that they become 
members,” Wolfson said.
He also views preschools as support-
ive of “relational Judaism.” “Preschools 
are a natural feeder into the life of the 
congregations. A relationship is being 
built with adults, including grandpar-
ents, and they create a group of kids,” 
he said.

RIVARD STREET

Temple Beth El was the first Jewish congregation in 
Michigan, formed in 1850. After meeting in a home 
and then a rented space, the congregation purchased 
this property on Rivard Street in Detroit, which 
served as its synagogue building from 1861-1867.

continued from page 15

continued on page 18

Rabbi Aaron 
Starr

COURTESY OF TEMPLE BETH EL

