24 | SEPTEMBER 24 • 2020 

A

t some point during the solemn Kol 
Nidre service, Dr. Mark S. Roth, 
president of Congregation B’
nai 
Moshe, will step up to his designated micro-
phone in a practically empty sanctuary to 
deliver the synagogue’
s annual fundraising 
appeal. Roth, the clergy, a few Torah readers 
and a handful of choir members will be the 
only ones there. 
This yearly campaign is one of the congre-
gation’
s prominent fundraisers, and, for the 
first time, it’
s one that B’
nai Moshe members 
will hear during a live-stream service. 
Because of COVID-19, there will be no 
packed sanctuaries or security guards direct-
ing traffic. Synagogues and temples will be 
empty this year as Jews gather in front of 
screens or at scaled-down outdoor services. 
Congregation leaders spent the last several 
months planning for High Holiday services 
amid a global pandemic that prevents large 
gatherings. Part of their planning included 
how to address the various fundraising cam-
paigns that typically take place in conjunc-
tion with the start of the Jewish New Year. 
Among the congregations responding 
to the Jewish News’
 inquiry about this year’
s 
fundraising efforts, some indicated that 
funds generated this year would be allocated 
to help members impacted financially by 
COVID. Others are giving dollars to capital 
improvements and programming.
“We typically have a High Holiday Appeal 
that is launched at the holidays,
” said Brian 

D. Fishman, executive director of Temple 
Shir Shalom. “This year will be no exception 
except that the money we raise will go to our 
COVID-19 Emergency Fund campaign.
”
Similarly, Alan Yost, executive director 
of Adat Shalom Synagogue, said money 
generated from this year’
s appeal would help 
the congregation provide membership dues 
adjustments, religious school tuition schol-
arships, camp tuition assistance and other 
needs based on financial need. Funds raised 
in years past went to projects such as build-

ing upgrades and renovations and purchas-
ing new siddurs for the congregation. 
At B’
nai Moshe, campaign revenue will 
“help move the synagogue forward rather 
than maintain the status quo,
” Roth said. 
“We’
re trying to develop innovative pro-
grams to attract more young adults and 
young families to the synagogue as well as 
cover the costs of routine expenses.
”
Before making his pitch for donations, 

Roth will spend a few minutes thanking 
clergy and leadership for making necessary 
modifications to meet the congregation’
s 
needs, especially during the High Holidays.
“They recognized that no one was going 
to sit in front of a screen for five hours, and 
they worked hard to shorten the service 
while maintaining the traditions. It’
s a lot 
like in ancient times when Judaism could 
have died out after the temple’
s destruction 
but didn’
t. They modified and persevered.
”

ISRAEL BONDS’
 VIRTUAL TABS
The impacts of High Holiday fundraising 
will also be felt by Israel Bonds and Yad 
Ezra, as both entities have in-service appeals. 
However, the unprecedented online connec-
tivity will allow Israel Bonds to reach out to 
a broader audience through virtual tab cards 
and a video message. 
According to Israel Maimon, president 
and CEO of Israel Bonds, $100 million in 
bonds are typically sold during the High 
Holiday period. During this pandemic, his 
goal is to maintain that level, he said. 
This year marks the 29th anniversary of 
Yad Ezra’
s holiday appeal, in which congre-
gants bring bags of nonperishable food and 
monetary donations to Kol Nidre services. 
Typically, the organization collects 
between 24,000 and 28,000 pounds of food. 
This year flyers went out asking that collect-
ed food be dropped off at the food bank. 
Some congregations requested envelopes to 
distribute to members. 
While it’
s not Yad Ezra’
s largest fundrais-
ing campaign, the holiday appeal is crucial 
because it helps the organization raise 
awareness and maintain community visibil-
ity. 
“The beauty of the food drive is that it’
s a 
way to remind people to teach their children 
that there are others who are struggling and 
people who don’
t have a choice of three dif-
ferent kinds of cereal in the morning,
” said 
Lea Luger, executive director of Yad Ezra. 
“
As an organization, we can buy cereal 
cheaper than a family donating it, but this 
is a way to remind children that there are 
people in need. 
“While our High Holiday appeal does 
help support our bottom line, it’
s more of an 
educational promotion.
” 

Synagogues and organizations adjust to an unusual year.

JEN LOVY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“The money we 
raise will go to 
our COVID-19 
Emergency Fund.”

— SHIR SHALOM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 
BRIAN FISHMAN

in a
Fundraising
Pandemic

Yom Kippur

