18 | AUGUST 6 • 2020
but relationships were second-
ary,
” explains Rabbi Nicole
Auerbach, who is in charge of
congregational engagement and
small groups at the
Central Synagogue
in New York.
“
A synagogue is
not a building or a
set of programs. We
want to make sure
that everyone feels
seen and recognized and has a
sense of connection,
” she said.
The congregation has a group
for dads with young children, a
Jewish cookbook group, a group
interested in photography and
another focused on social justice.
“What is powerful is that
people build really deep rela-
tionships — people who are
there for them,
” Rabbi Auerbach
said, adding that the goal is for
congregants to be co-owners and
co-creators of their community
and to feel their Judaism without
a rabbi in the room.
While groups may be activi-
ty-based, discussion groups have
“explicitly Jewish content,
” she
said. Group leaders receive train-
ing and may later use those skills
for other synagogue roles.
Locally, prior to the pandem-
ic, Congregation T’
chiyah was
developing a different small
group model — based on groups
of individuals who live close to
one another with designated
point people for check-in and
to facilitate connections. These
groups are providing lay-led
social support and mutual aid, as
well as connection, to counteract
isolation during this pandemic,
Ehrlich explains.
A NEW APPRECIATION
While synagogues are closed
now, rabbis are encouraged by
their congregants’
continued
involvement. They believe
that synagogues will survive,
although perhaps with signifi-
cant changes.
“People are now realizing
how important synagogues
are in their lives. All have been
engaging their congregations
with new modalities for prayer,
education and connection,
” said
Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, exec-
utive director of the Rabbinical
Assembly and United Synagogue
of Conservative Judaism.
“I think that a significant
impact that this crisis will have
on synagogue life will be one of
decentralization: synagogues will
need to see themselves as facil-
itators of home-, community-
and online-based Judaism, rath-
er than a physical ‘
one-stop shop’
for Jewish life,
” Ehrlich said.
“Synagogues will be needed
more than ever. We want com-
munity. We want support. We
want validation,
” said Rabbi
Bergman. “There is a craving
for connection and community.
There will be surface changes
through technology.
”
He anticipates continued use
of Zoom and online program-
ming, social distancing and
some form of hybrid services “at
least for the next few years, due
to the health and age of so many
people, until there is a vaccine
that works.
”
Rabbi Nicole
Auerbach
continued from page 16
YOUR VOICE
What can synagogues do
to grow their members?
Do Jews need shul to stay
connected? Let us know at
letters@renmedia.us
Jews in the D
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