RJ Blog

by Rabbi Robin Nafshi Serving as the rabbi in the small community of Concord, NH, I receive so many emails and calls from people exploring Judaism, those who are nominally Jewish or estranged from Judaism, and more. For each email and call there is a story – usually compelling in some way – and an excited or anxious person who owns the story. A few weeks ago, such an email came my way, with the subject line, “Reestablishing.” The writer began, “I am very interested in rediscovering my Jewish faith. My dad was Jewish and my mom was Protestant. I was [...]

by Alan S. Halpern I confess to a prejudice. When a synagogue or church website proclaims, “We are a warm and welcoming congregation,” I am immediately skeptical. Why tell me you are warm and welcoming? Just be warm and welcoming. When I visit a friend’s home, my friends don’t claim to be warm and welcoming. They open the door, they smile, they say “hello,” and they invite me inside. Synagogues must do the same. At our congregations, someone has to answer the phone, open the door, and greet our visitors. Someone has to write the newsletter, maintain the website, post [...]

by Rabbi Jordan D. CohenTemple Anshe Sholom, Hamilton,Ontario, Canada The mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim – welcoming the stranger – for a congregational rabbi, can be one of the most satisfying mitzvot of all. When a phone call or e-mail comes in, or a new face walks in the synagogue door, asking about conversion, I know I am going to get to share in a remarkable story. This inquiry may be the first step towards the fulfillment of a life-long spiritual yearning. It may be the reclamation of a lost family heritage. It may bring unification to the mixed identity of [...]

by Alan S. YoffieTemple Emanuel, Worcester, MA Passover Seders in my family were always large affairs. Strangers (who had no place to go for Seder) and Christian friends joined family members in giving thanks for freedom. Whether conducted by my grandfather (mostly in Hebrew), my parents (much more in English) or my father-in-law (a Reform Rabbi who used a healthy mix of Hebrew and English), we joyously celebrated together. Several years ago, I was asked by my synagogue (Temple Emanuel in Worcester, MA) to attend a seminar given by the Outreach Training Institute (OTI) in Boston. The OTI conducts courses [...]

by John WoffordTemple Emanuel, Grand Rapids, MI The first Pesach Seder during my conversion process took place at the local Reform synagogue, my home-temple. As a matter of immersing myself in Jewish life before ‘making the change,’ I went to several home-hosted Seders, but the largest service was at Temple Emanuel in Grand Rapids, Michigan. These holiday events bring many fresh faces; I wasn’t surprised when I sat next to a stranger–a young guy about my age.We greeted each other, but as I saw a few familiar Temple ‘regulars,’ he and I didn’t begin to speak until much of the [...]

by Andi Rosenthal No one was more surprised than I when I was approached by our congregation president on the train platform in Larchmont that spring morning in 2003. All I knew was that she was a powerful, warm presence on our bimah every Friday night. But I had no idea why she wanted to speak with me. As it turned out, she had big news: she had recommended to our rabbi that I attend a training session at the Hebrew Union College campus in Cincinnati, and wondered if I would be interested ingoing. “It’s perfect for you,” she said. [...]

by Rabbi Edwin GoldbergTemple Judea, Coral Gables, Florida Many years ago I took a two month sabbatical in January and February. Our Shabbat services are at 6 pm on Fridays and that means that usually I could not watch my son play baseball on Fridays since his games were going on at that time. I did attend a game during that period (in Florida that’s the baseball season for little league) and watched him catch an improbably difficult fly ball in right field. I felt great to have seen this catch but was a little embarrassed when a temple member [...]

by Dave OneyMember of Beth Orr, Coral Springs, FLVice President, Men of Reform Judaism My family joined our synagogue in 1989. Even though I was not Jewish at the time, the men in our Brotherhood were among the first to welcome me and make me feel part of their community. Shortly thereafter, our Brotherhood began a serious decline for a variety of reasons. While I was able to maintain the friendships I had made in Brotherhood, I missed the camaraderie of the organization. In 1996 I converted to Judaism and the next day, as I felt Brotherhood was such an [...]

by Hope ChernakDirector of Youth and Informal Education at Temple Shaaray Tefila, New York, NY For those of us in the field of Informal Jewish Education, we face the uphill battle every year recruiting students for our youth programs. We spend a good deal of our energy on retaining our students and another chunk of our time trying to get new members. While many of our congregations have fancy membership brochures, membership recruitment budgets and gimmicks, most of our youth programs’ budgets are small or have fewer tools to focus on membership. Some youth professionals are even part-time and only [...]

by Matt MenscherGrade 6, Temple Beth Or, Washington Township, NJ When I first went to Torah study I felt barely connected to Judaism. I was a year away from my planned bar mitzvah date, the time when I was supposed to begin Jewish life as an adult. Honestly, I viewed my bar mitzvah as just the end of religious school and beyond that, I didn’t think it would have any meaning to me. I didn’t really even want to have a bar mitzvah, but if I was going to have one, I at least wanted it to be meaningful. I [...]

by Rabbi Joshua StromAssistant Rabbi, Temple Shaaray Tefila, New York, NY Can you hear it? They’re talking about us again. They’re theorizing and pontificating on us 20′s and 30′s, jumping to conclusions about our Jewish identity. They’re pointing to declining numbers in affiliation with synagogues and other institutions, and they’re afraid. Terrified, even. They’re worried to their core that Judaism just doesn’t mean that much to us, that tzedakah isn’t high on our list of priorities, that we don’t care enough for Israel. And because they don’t see us in the seats of our sanctuaries on Shabbat, they assume that, [...]

by Bracha YaelBeth Chayim Chadashim, Los Angeles, CA I worked 60 hour weeks, did triathlons, served on 3 boards and traveled extensively; then suddenly it all ended. Eventually, diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome, I was bedridden and devastated. It made me realize how quickly I had become a stranger to myself and my community Beth Chayim Chadashim. My own need for connection prompted me to seek out others suffering with health and mobility challenges; which in turn inspired me to create community in a new way. Via telephone, we started weekly Torah study, Shabbat and High Holy Day [...]

by Kathy KahnURJ Membership Specialist Those who are responsible for membership in our synagogues are not like used car salesmen, who sell a car and move on to the next “customer.” The efforts of membership committees and professionals are based on a sacred mitzvah…to welcome, love and protect the stranger and bring them into a community that will sustain them, nourish them and value the unique gifts they bring. Their charge is to follow in the steps of Abraham and Sarah in welcoming the stranger. Once someone joins a congregation, the real effort begins–to empower them to learn, to worship [...]

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. [...]