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DESCRIPTION
A practical guide for envisioning—and transforming—your synagogue into a powerful new congregation of welcoming, learning and healing.
“The new synagogue we envision is a spiritual center for all those who set foot inside it. It is a kehillah kedoshah, a sacred community, where relationships are paramount, where worship is engaging, where everyone is learning, where repair of the world is a moral imperative, where healing is offered, where personal and institutional transformation are embraced.
The times are ripe for this spiritual call.”
—from the Introduction
So often we want our congregations to be more—more compelling, more member-focused, more spiritual and yet more useful for our daily lives. Through reflection, examples, tips and exercises—and incorporating the fruits of Synagogue 2000 (now Synagogue 3000), a groundbreaking decade-long program investigating the challenges facing modern synagogues—this inspiring handbook both establishes a sound foundation for why a deep hospitality is crucial for the survival of today’s spiritual communities, and dives into the practical hands-on how of turning your congregation into a place of invitation and openness that includes: • Prayer that is engaging, uplifting and spiritually moving • Institutional deepening that is possible because of an openness to change • Study that engages adults and families, as well as children • Good deeds—the work of social justice—as a commitment of each and every member • An ambience of welcome that creates a culture of warmth and outreach • Healing that offers comfort and support at times of illness and loss •... and much more.
PRAISE FOR
“The best book I have seen on how to make congregations into sacred communities where everyone feels connected and at home.... It is my belief that every synagogue can become this kind of spiritual community. Please read Dr. Wolfson's book.”
—Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, president, Union for Reform Judaism
“Ron Wolfson is right: synagogues are the ‘retail outlets’ for Judaism. This is an important book for anyone who believes the synagogue is the critical entry point for the Jewish people.”
—Bernie Marcus, co-founder, The Home Depot
“Teaches how to transform outmoded, misunderstood rites into vibrant, spirit-filled worship. Every synagogue should own and read this book.”
—Rabbi David Wolpe, Sinai Temple, Los Angeles
“Ron Wolfson truly loves synagogues! This book has something for every synagogue leader and for many members as well—inspiration, challenges and very practical ideas.”
—Isa Aron, PhD, author of The Self-Renewing Congregation: Organizational Strategies for Revitalizing Congregational Life
“Reveals the secrets of synagogue transformation in a most inspiring and accessible way.... Empowers readers to make an immediate difference. [Will help you] transform your synagogue culture from boring to soaring.”
—Goldie Milgram, author of Meaning and Mitzvah: Daily Practices for Reclaiming Judaism through Prayer, God, Torah, Hebrew, Mitzvot and Peoplehood
“A compelling call for a culture of welcoming in American congregations.... Especially appropriate and useful for lay and professional congregational leaders.”
—Steven M. Cohen, research professor of Jewish social policy, Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion
“Ron Wolfson [has] faith that synagogues can become centers of spiritual enrichment and empowerment—more vibrant and healthy than ever before. I am thrilled that this resource will be available to faith communities seeking ... a vital transformative role in our changing world.”
—Brian McLaren, pastor, author of A New Kind of Christian
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Reader Comments:
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This book was a great help to me as a board member. Wolfson doesn’t just tell you what mistakes we’ve made, but how to do better at making people feel at home in our congregation. I can’t wait to start implementing his ideas.
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RON WOLFSON BIO
Dr. Ron Wolfson is Fingerhut Professor of Education at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles. He is president of Synagogue 3000, an institute for envisioning the synagogue of the future, and is author of God’s To-Do List: 103 Ways to Be an Angel and Do God’s Work on Earth; Hanukkah: The Family Guide to Spiritual Celebration; Passover: The Family Guide to Spiritual Celebration; Shabbat: The Family Guide to Preparing for and Celebrating the Sabbath; A Time To Mourn, a Time to Comfort: A Guide to Jewish Bereavement and Comfort (all Jewish Lights) and is coauthor of What You Will See Inside a Synagogue (SkyLight Paths).
Q&A WITH RON WOLFSON
Why did you write this book?
When Larry Hoffman and I co-founded Synagogue 2000 in 1995, we always thought of our work as an action research project. After ten years of working with nearly 100 congregations of all denominations, size and geographic location, it was time to write up some of what we learned. Larry’s new book, Rethinking Synagogues: A New Vocabulary for Congregational Life, presents his brilliant analysis. The Spirituality of Welcoming: How to Transform Your Congregation into a Sacred Community is my contribution.
You call for a “new aliyah to Judaism” in your book. Why?
I cannot think of a more urgent need in the North American Jewish community than to present Judaism as a compelling way to find meaning, purpose, community, and a sense of God’s presence—for born Jews, Jews-by-Choice, and non-Jews who are raising Jewish children. Synagogues represent the best opportunity to make this call. Synagogues are, by far, the one institution that most people affiliate with at one time or another during their lives. They are the “retail outlets” for Judaism. Many of our congregations are fine institutions. But, we can be better, go deeper.
You write about your research into the megachurch phenomenon and what synagogues might learn from how they do their outreach to “seekers.” How did you come to learn about these congregations?
The megachurch movement was gaining a lot of attention in the mid-1990’s. A case study of Willowcreek Church in Barrington, Illinois, appeared in the Harvard Business Review. We heard about Saddleback Church in Orange County, California, and Larry and I made a visit there. These folks were thinking differently about the mission of congregations and how to reach the “unchurched.” We thought we could learn a lot from them—and we did.
Why is a “welcoming ambience” so important?
Shul-shoppers and visitors to synagogues are asking themselves many questions when they first walk into a congregation: Is this a friendly place? Are the people here like me? Does the worship engage me? Do I “like” the rabbi, the cantor, the educator, the executive director? Is this a place where I might find a “spiritual home?” The ambience of the community is palpable from the minute a newcomer arrives in the parking lot. It’s only the first step in, but it’s a critical first step.
You write about lessons spiritual community leaders can learn from corporate America. Does that seem like an oxymoron?
On the surface, yes. Corporate America is interested in issues of “quality service” to further their mission of making a profit. We’ve all been in companies where the “welcoming” felt forced, even fake. That’s clearly not what I’m advocating. I wanted to explore whether there were techniques and best practices of “customer service” that could help us do the sacred work of hachanasat orchim—welcoming guests. It turns out there are many ways we can apply these lessons to our mission—the building of sacred communities.
The second section of the book deals with “Welcoming Worship.” Why is this so important?
If creating a welcoming ambience opens the door to the spiritual community, the question then becomes “what do I find when I get in?” For most seekers and visitors, this is a prayer experience. I was interested in finding services that “worked” for those with few “access skills”—Hebrew, knowledge of the Jewish prayer service, etc. I also wanted to look at any service that was attracting large numbers of people; I write in the book: “If 1,000 people were coming to the service, I wanted to know what was going on.” What I learned from these experiences as a “Jew in the pew” was instructive.
You write that in many congregations, “the front door is a revolving door.”
Last year, I made this point to my friend, Steven M. Cohen, the eminent sociologist of American Jews, and he disagreed. Steven thought the data would show that it may be true in liberal congregations, but not as much in more traditional ones. So, when we transitioned Synagogue 2000 into Synagogue 3000 and established the first academic Synagogue Studies Institute, we asked Steven to look at the 2000 National Jewish Population Survey data to find out. The first S3K Report (available online at www.synagogue3000.org), written by Steven, indicates there is a revolving door in many Reform congregations—something that Rabbi Eric Yoffie told me the Union for Reform Judaism is working hard to reverse. More traditional Conservative and Orthodox congregations, especially those in the East and Midwest, tend to see people making lifelong commitments to synagogue membership. Even so, there is much we can do to deepen the relationships in the congregation, both between individuals and between the members and the spiritual community.
What has been the response to the book?
I’m thrilled that many congregational boards and clergy are reading the book together and applying the “lessons learned” and the activities in their own communities. It’s certainly one way to get everyone “on the same page”! I look forward to hearing from readers—and I always respond to e-mail! B’hatzlacha —good success in your sacred work of building sacred communities!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Download a printable version
- Why did you join a synagogue? What initially attracted you? Why have you stayed?
- Consider this question: “If someone met you in the grocery store and asked what you love about your synagogue, what would you say? If asked what your synagogue is known for, what would you say? Answer in this way: “I belong to Congregation So-and-So because…” “We’re known for…” “We’re proud of our…”
- Have you ever stopped your membership in a congregation? Why? Did anyone “follow up” to ask you why?
- What is your response to Ron’s call for a “new aliyah to Judaism”? Is reaching out to non-members an important value in your spiritual community?
- If you were visiting your own synagogue building for the first time, would you be able to easily find the sanctuary? The rabbi’s study? The office? The library?
- Do you think your congregation offers “quality service” to its members?
- Are you “spiritually moved” by the worship services offered by your congregation?
- Is the “congregational voice” engaged by the prayer service?
- How were you “inducted” into the membership of your spiritual community?
- How can your congregation deepen the relationships between members and between members and the spiritual community?
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The Spirituality of Welcoming
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