Dear Hevreh,

This past Shabbat, I spoke about the importance of innovation, in our programming and in our mission building, to not only keep the content of our community fresh but to build excitement in our community for trying new and innovative ways of engaging Judaism. Today, is a day devoted to fulfilling that promise of being innovative.

This morning, I will join our esteemed executive director Elliot Rubin at a half-day conference run by United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism to bring small congregations together to talk about best practices and share ideas on how to run our organizations more effectively. As small congregations we share many of the same challenges, like membership growth and retention, programming breadth, and depth of educational opportunities. This will be an opportunity for us to “share notes” and perhaps put our heads together to innovate new ways of making Judaism relevant for our communities.

If you’d like to follow some of what we learn at the conference, follow me on Twitter today @Ari_Saks.

When I return from the conference, I will join our friend and interfaith partner Reverend Anne-Marie Jeffery of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church for the first of a three part seminar for Jewish-Christian couples to help them in navigating the challenges of being an interfaith couple through affirming and understanding each other’s faith traditions. This seminar is unlike many other attempts by synagogues and religious institutions to engage with interfaith couples insofar as it brings the wisdom of both traditions together to guide the couples in making intentional, informed, and meaningful decisions about their family’s faith identity without expressing judgment on what path they should choose.

These are just a few ways that our community is seeking to be at the forefront of innovation that will help us grow and build a bright future in our Jewish Home for the Soul in Perth Amboy.

Do you have any innovative ideas? Feel free to share them over email.

Kol Tuv,

Rabbi Ari Saks

 

Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal
Tag : elliot rubin faith traditions innovation interfaith families small congregations united synagogue wisdom