Tomorrow's Synagogue Today: Creating Vibrant Centers of Jewish Life
The synagogue members of today and tomorrow are Gen Xers, Millennials and Gen Z, whose lives are organized in fundamentally different ways than how many synagogues operate today. Synagogue leaders must align their congregations with these generations, whose understandings of hierarchies and collaboration, native use of technology, and desire to play an active role in producing their own realities are already having a profound impact on the Jewish community, and synagogues in particular. Herring's big vision and practical knowledge of synagogue life unite here to provide the roadmap and insights to help leaders steer their congregations from here to there.(Lisa Colton, President, Darim Online)Thoughtful synagogue leaders, both lay and professional, have read many books and attended conferences about creating and nurturing synagogues that will lead to a thriving, meaningful Jewish way of life. From each book and learning experience, there has been much to learn. Hayim Herring's book takes us beyond all the learning we have done so far to new questions. Herring asks exactly what I need to know: Can the mission of my synagogue be framed and shared in such a way that it will find an authentic place in the everyday lives of congregants? Can I challenge preconceptions about the very mission of my synagogue? One of the chief goals of my rabbinate is to create a synagogue that is influential in people's Jewish lives. Herring tells me how to do this work with real examples, accessible theory and concrete suggestions. I am grateful to add this volume to my collection of books about re-envisioning synagogues. It will be on my desk, filled with notes and bookmarks, not tucked away on a shelf. Thank you, Rabbi Herring, for Tomorrow's Synagogue Today!(Rabbi Paula Mack Drill, Orangetown Jewish Center, Orangeburg, New York)Rabbi Herring provides an extremely thoughtful consideration and analysis of the challenges that confront the institution of the American synagogue and its rabbinical and lay leaders in view of current technological, demographic, societal, and cultural realities and trends. Tomorrow’s Synagogue Today is a most reflective book that is “must reading” for all persons striving to create the institutional frameworks that are necessary to meet the ongoing spiritual and communal needs of American Jews in the 21st century.(Rabbi David Ellenson Ph.D, President, Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion)Hayim Herring, who has for some time commented on more effective ways for Jewish communities to work, has once again articulated the core changes that must occur. I would suggest that if one substituted the word 'synagogue' with nearly any Jewish agency or organization, many of the same principles that Herring has written would apply. All parts of the Jewish community have to change significantly, and the 'rules of engagement' must be rewritten... now.(Allan Finkelstein, President and CEO, Jewish Community Centers of North America)Hayim Herring has distilled years of experience as a successful congregational rabbi, a leading student of institutional change, and an expert in American religion and Jewish life into what is the definitive book on synagogue transformation. Wise, insightful, truthful, and prescriptive, Tomorrow's Synagogue Today: Creating Vibrant Centers of Jewish Life, is a must read for anyone interested in reimagining the synagogue in the early 21st century.(Rabbi Irwin Kula, President, National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership (CLAL))Hayim Herring’s new volume adds immeasurably to our understanding of what it takes for modern synagogues to reinvent themselves into engaging institutions that exist at the center of people’s lives. Herring offers a nuanced, thoughtful reimagining of synagogues, based on a clear assessment of how larger forces—demographics, technology, grassroots movements—shape how vibrant spiritual communities are developed and maintained. He provides a vision of synagogues based on big ideas and collaborative relationships—and clearly articulates the leadership practices of rabbis and congregants necessary to enact that vision. The book contains just the right blend of theory and practice, offering a valuable guide to the creation of the most vibrant synagogues.(William A. Kahn, Professor of Organizational Behavior, coauthor of "This House We Build", Boston University School of Management)Dynamic services, inspiring rabbis, engaged congregants, increasing memberships—these can be accomplished this book argues through re-envisioning and re-energizing the congregation. No matter what your religious persuasion is, this book has good practical advice about how to accomplish these goals. It shows how in an electronically connected world the synagogue can become more inclusive, nurturing, and meaningful. For those who care about the future of the synagogue I highly recommend this book.(Alfred A. Marcus, Professor and Spencer Chair in Strategy and Technological Leadership, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota)Rabbi Hayim Herring is one of those rare people who can simultaneously observe acutely, manage wisely, and innovate creatively. Herring uses all of those gifts as he invites us to capture a vision inTomorrow's Synagogue Today.Herring's wisdom provides a practical and entrepreneurial guide to forming vibrant, relevant synagogue life.(Carol Howard Merritt, author of "Tribal Church" and "Reframing Hope")One does not have to agree with all the points in this book to see that Rabbi Herring is a exceedingly keen observer of both external and internal trends that powerfully affect the Jewish community. Readers from all backgrounds and stripes within the Jewish community—lay leaders, organizations and the rabbinate—will find ideas and material in this important work that should be thoughtfully considered as our community envisions its future. We ignore Rabbi Herring's observations at our own peril.(Dr. Joseph S. Ozarowski, Rabbi, Jewish Healing Network of Chicago, and Congregation Darchei Noam, St. Louis Park, Minnesota)Tomorrow’s Synagogue Todayis a bold, gutsy look at the North American synagogue. Rabbi Herring raises radical questions, most importantly asking if synagogues are doing the right work. He lays out an audacious and compelling vision for synagogues, with boundaries and roles fundamentally different from what we know today. But the book is not pure rhetoric. A set of scenarios concretize the vision and take the reader from the big idea down to the details of a re-imagined synagogue. By the time we are through reading, we have the sense that radical change is indeed possible. Throughout the book, Herring asks the tough questions about everything from competition among synagogues and rabbinic compensation, to congregant engagement and religious spirit. Current leaders might not agree with him, but they would be well-served to engage the questions laid out in the book. These alone would lead to a new conversation in their synagogues and the first possibilities for deep change.(Amy L. Sales Ph.D, Director and Senior Research Scientist, Fisher-Bernstein Institute for Jewish Philanthropy and Leadership, Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies, Brandeis University)After exploring the challenges facing the American synagogue with vigor and clarity,Tomorrow's Synagogue Todayprovides fresh and creative avenues for rethinking what congregations should be doing. Herring gives concrete examples, suggests new ways for training rabbis and considering rabbinic careers, and provides practical suggestions that can help any synagogue.(Rabbi David Teutsch, The Louis and Myra Wiener Professor of Contemporary Jewish Civilization, Chair, and Director, Department of Contemporary Jewish Civilization, and Levin-Lieber Program in Jewish Ethics, Restructionalist Rabbinical College)Reading Rabbi Hayim Herring’sTomorrow's Synagogue Todaygave me hope for religious life in the times to come. Too often we are staid and rigid in our conceptions of the ways we organize ourselves, and unimaginative in the application of our faith. Herring helps us to loosen up and get creative. Insightful and sharp in its analysis,Tomorrow's Synagogue Todaycompellingly offers us a glimpse into what life could be like as faith communities seek to follow the Creator in seeking peace, justice, and wholeness in the world.(Rev. Landon Whitsitt, Author, "Open Source Church: Making Room for the Wisdom of All")Change in our world is not longer incremental but exponential. Every institution must respond to the realities of the modern world and the synagogue is no exception. The synagogue, while continuing to perpetrate fundamental Jewish values, will be communicating and delivering these key messages vastly different in the 21st century. While change at this level can be frightening, it is imperative for the survival of the synagogue. Rabbi Herring inspires us, in his new book, to see how exciting this change can be. He breaks down the walls of fear through imagining a 21st century synagogue Temple Torah to imagine a synagogue that is flexible and creative in solving modern challenges. It makes me want to roll up my sleeves and get to work.(Marcia Zimmerman, Senior Rabbi, Temple Israel, Minneapolis, MN)