RJ Blog

At a three-day conference held this week at the Intercontinental Chicago O’Hare Hotel, the Union for Reform Judaism officially launched our fourth “community of practice” – congregational networking group – focused on Reimagining Financial Support for Your 21st Century Congregation. The Chicago gathering allowed congregational staff and lay leadership from 17 participating congregations that are concerned with the financial health and future of their communities to begin to examine the relational model of engagement and its impact on financial support.

by Rob Berkovitz If we examine carefully the ways in which we discuss dues with prospective members and respond to requests for dues adjustments, we discover that many times we do not act in ways that truly reflect the Jewish values we prize so dearly. The following “ten commandments” were created to engender discussion among temple lay and professional leaders as a first step in assessing productive ways to “talk dues.”

The Union for Reform Judaism is thrilled to announce the launch of three URJ Communities of Practice. Jewish tradition places great emphasis on learning and what it brings to both individuals and the community-at-large. With that in mind, the URJ’s soon-to-be launched Communities of Practice will provide opportunities for congregations with shared concerns and interests in a particular area to study and advance their current strategies. Through participation, congregations will be emboldened to experiment “at home,” pushing the boundaries of their previous efforts while receiving peer support and guidance along the way. Although most communities of practice will learn, experiment [...]

Synagogue dues can be difficult to understand if you weren’t raised in a family that maintained a synagogue membership. Without knowledge of the variety of mechanisms that all religious institutions use to sustain themselves financially, some charge that synagogues require you to “pay to pray.” What follows is one way that you might explain synagogue dues to those who raise this objection.

by Lindsey Sadler This summer I experienced my first membership commitment recertification at Temple Sinai, Atlanta. As we operate on a fair share dues model, this is the time of year when we send our membership materials to congregants and ask them to strive towards contributing 2% of their annual gross household income minus costs such as alimony and child support. Simple, right? Members and their families do the math; a household earning $200K per year would contribute at the $4000 level, and a household earning $80K would contribute at the $1600 level. The distribution of wealth will balance out; [...]

by Rabbi Howard Jaffe Okay, it is not so modest. It may be a bit too ambitious. So how about this: can we at least rethink how we fund our synagogues? We need a new financial model in North American Jewish life. Once upon a time, Jews grew up, became young adults, almost always married other Jews, and within a few years, joined a synagogue. Whatever that synagogue asked for in dues, they paid (and did not see it as a contribution, but more of a Jewish tax). No more. Even so, the vast majority of our congregations still operate [...]

by Rick RosenbergExecutive Director, Temple Emanu-El, Dallas, TX Why Budget “Men plan; God laughs.”        – Hebrew Saying A budget is nothing more than a plan. A Synagogue budget is a financial plan for the operations of the congregation.  Numbers and statistics can be frightening to some people. But numbers are simply the end product of a budget process. The primary aspect of the Synagogue budget process is to understand the short-term and long-term goals of the congregation, determine the resources available to achieve those goals and generate a plan to use the resources in an optimum manner to accomplish [...]

Twenty-eight years ago, Temple Aleph Bet (TBA), a 120 member congregation in a small city in the Northeast, decided it was through with renting space and was very desirous of a permanent home. TBA purchased its first building, and after a few years, funds were raised to pay off the initial mortgage as well as to renovate and make TBA’s new home a sacred space. Along the way, as “things needed fixing” (painting, new carpeting, a new refrigerator), specific congregants were asked to make one time contributions of no more than a few thousand dollars, and gladly did so. Fast [...]

by Rabbi Edwin GoldbergTemple Judea, Coral Gables, FL Especially with the Jewish High Holy Days coming soon, it is appropriate to stop and consider the challenges confronting mainstream religious institutions. Looking at the present, it is not a surprise that American religious institutions are going through a crisis of identity. The old rules no longer apply. People do not grow up with a sense of obligation to support their church, mosque or synagogue. For such institutions to thrive, let alone survive, they need to address serious questions about who they are (their core values) and what they are willing to change [...]

by Rob BerkovitzURJ Congregational Finance Specialist The truth is… that there is no perfect formula for dues! There are many possibilities for dues models from fixed minimum models to fair share. All the models can be successful and can be unsuccessful. When the topic of dues comes up many congregational leaders struggle with the issue of congregants who feel that dues are cost prohibitive, that it is too expensive to be a member of a congregation or question when someone needs an abatement whether it is truly a financial need or just that the synagogue is not a priority. We [...]

by David KatowitzURJ Congregational Financial Resource Development Specialist. “It’s like one giant family reunion!” That is how Rabbi Mari Chernow of Temple Chai in Phoenix, Arizona described the High Holy Days in a You Tube video sent to her congregants last year a few weeks before Rosh HaShanah. Congregants at synagogues throughout North America and the world will soon be coming together for prayer and community. With aspirations and hopes for a year of continued good health and personal fulfillment. At this time of year, so many people are really in a “synagogue state of mind”. What amazes me is [...]

by Rob BerkovitzURJ Congregational Finance Specialist Has this ever happened to you?  Hopefully it hasn’t happened in your synagogue! Dear prospective congregant, The Dues Committee of Congregation Aleph Bet has reviewed your dues relief request and your financial data. According to our financial formula, which is based on your annual income and your credit report, you do not qualify for dues relief. Our decision was made partially from information received from the credit reporting agencies as well as information you furnished to us, such as your tax return and financial statements. If you have any questions, please contact our financial coordinator at 555.222.1111. [...]

by Robert BerkovitzURJ Congregational Finance Specialist Imagine a car that gets 100 miles to the gallon. This is an idea that no one could have ever have imagined thirty years ago but could become a reality in the near future. Yet, one of the common questions that arises when a synagogue board or committee is working on a new project or idea is, “Has this been done already?” Very well meaning, caring and passionate people are involved on these projects but they might not be sure where to begin. Often times, they choose to begin by seeing what others have [...]

by Robert BerkovitzURJ Congregational Finance Specialist The budget process can be a terrific community builder:  By engaging people in the process, tying the budget to the mission and vision of the congregation and having conversations about use of funds and their connection to the goals of the community, budgeting becomes an engaging, communal experience.  Here are some suggestions for structuring your budget process.  EngageAsk members for help with budget planning so it isn’t completely the responsibility of the treasurer or vice president of finance. Consider who may be able to help you in this process. It is beneficial to involve [...]