Congregational Development - Affiliation Process
- Capital Campaigns
- Community Building
- Article: Dues And Financial Policy: Our Tax For Jewish Citizenship
By Rabbi Jonathan Malamy, Rabbi Shawn Zevit
This article brings a historical perspective on biblical taxation, suggesting that synagogue dues are a tax for Jewish citizenship. It also introduces the idea of "fair share" dues, where individual members' dues vary based on their income.
- Article: Kehillah Builders: Inreach, Outreach And Membership
By Rabbi Shawn Zevit
This article connects effective inreach and outreach in the process of community growth. Thinking about how to grow can help a congregation figure out how to better serve its current members as well.
- Article: Making Decisions on Controversial Issues
By Rabbi Rebecca Alpert
This article contains talking points on dissent and community, as well as a guide to a three step method for ethical decision making in your community.
- Article: Making Our Synagogues Vessels of Tikkun Olam
By Rabbi Mordechai Liebling
Rabbi Mordechai Liebling is the Torah of Money director at the Shefa Fund. This article is adapted from a talk at the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation Tikkun Olam Kallah March, 2003.
- Article: Perhaps You Belong In A Reconstructionist Community
By JRF
An overview of Reconstructionist philosophy and community life, plus testimonials from members of Reconstructionist congregations.
- Article: Resolution Regarding Children of Mixed Marriages
By The Federation Of Reconstructionist Congregations And Fellowships
This is the "Resolution on Patrilineal Descent" that was adopted by the Federation of Reconstructionist Congregations and Fellowships at its 9th Annual Conference, May 5, 1968, in Great Neck, Long Island.
It was published in the Reconstructionist, Volume 34, No. 8, May 31, 1968.
- Article: The Torah of E-mail
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin
This article uses a brief and simple e-mail exchange as a text study. It's purpose is to point out how certain e-mail practices can achieve much in humanizing the time we spend communicating with others via electronic methods.
- Bibliography: Resources On Community Building
By Rabbi Shawn Zevit
A list of books and periodicals about congregational growth, outreach and inreach.
- Community Discussion Guide: Kol Ehad: JRF Committee on Inclusion of People with Disabilities - 1994 Report
By JRF
Kol Ehad: JRF Committee on Inclusion of People with Disabilities - 1994 Report
- Dvar Torah: Walking the Walk: The Sacred Art of Energy Conservation
By Rabbi Brant Rosen
Rabbi Brant Rosen makes a passionate plea, textually based, for building environmentally sustainable synagogue. His own congregation, The Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation (JRC) of Evanston, IL is an example.
- Evaluation Tool: Values Inventory
By Rabbi Shawn Zevit
An exercise examining your congregation's goals and values, evaluating successes and planning for the future.
- How to: Organizing Money: Capital Campaigns And Fundraising
By Rabbi Jonathan Malamy, Rabbi Shawn Zevit
A guide to values-based, community-oriented fundraising. Includes sections on general/annual fundraising, capital compaigns and solicitation.
- How to: Planning For Change: Dollars And Sense
By Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg, Rabbi Shawn Zevit
A guide to thinking about and implementing long-term strategic planning in your congregation as a community building process.
- How to: Ways to Welcome New Members
By Rabbi Shawn Zevit
A list of ways to warmly welcome new members into your community, from partnering new members with veteran members to running special programs for members' uninvolved partners and families.
- Policy: Summary of Boundaries and Opportunities Report
By JRF Task Force On The Role Of Non-Jews In JRF Congregations
After two years of study and discussion, the JRF Task Force on the Role of Non-Jews in JRF Congregations released the Boundaries and Opportunities Report. This summary of the report give background information, outlines the twelve recommendations made by the Task Force and explains a Reconstructionist decision making process that can be used to further discuss relevant issues locally in each congregation. The full report is available for purchase from the Reconstructionist Press.
- Program Description: Proposal For A Reconstructionist Day School
By Shira Stutman
Shira Stutman imagined this model of a Reconstructionist high school that she named Lab Yeshiva. She proposes block scheduling, integrated secular and Judaic studies and service learning to Jewishly educate students who are not being served by traditional college-prep academies.
- RT Article: A 350-Year-Old Jewish Community
By Michael Tayvah
In this article, Rabbi Michael Tayvah guides us through 350 years of Mikve Israel-Emanuel's existence, from its early beginnings as an emigrated Portuguese community to its affiliation with the Reconstructionist movement in 1964. This is an incredible history of the "oldest continuous Jewish community in the Americas."
- RT Article: Enhancing the Rabbi-Congregational Partnership
By Richard Cohen
In March of 2005, the Greater Metropolitan New York Regional Council sponsored a presentation on the complex relationship between Rabbis and congregations. The article summarizes the main points of the presentation that is based upon the The Rabbi-Congregational Relationship: A Vision for the 21st Century
- RT Article: Jews and Fellow Travelers: Appreciating the Gifts of Non-Jewish Partners
By Rabbi Maurice Harris
Rabbi Harris's article, written after his workshop at the 2004 JRF Convention, focuses on the benefits that non-Jews, mostly with Jewish partners, bring to the community. Harris leads us away from the "framework of cost," to open up the conversation on intermarriage.
- RT Article: West End Synagogue Celebrates Its Twentieth Year
By Jane Weprin-Menzi
Reaching it's 20th anniversary, West End Synagogue celebrates its communal vibrancy and diversity, along with the creativity, uniqueness, and humor of its individual members.
- Fundraising
- Innovative Programming
- Interfaith
- Marketing
- Membership
- Money and Values
- Ritual Life and Music
- Synagogue Administration
- Synagogue Board Development
- Synagogue Leadership Development
- Synagogue Mission
- Synagogue Program
- Synagogue Staffing
- Transitions
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