Leadership Connections #11: March 19, 2021

The New Normal

Resources for synagogue leaders in the time of Covid

Feature:

Pandemic Milestones

It’s been one year since the pandemic began. As we reflect back on the past year and look toward the next, there are a number of articles, webinars, and resources available from some of our member synagogues to aid in marking this moment.

Additional Pandemic Milestones Content:

• Memory and Meaning: Beth El (Baltimore, MD) Reflects on a year of COVID-19 — Beth El of Baltimore, Maryland compiled links to events and opportunities, from writings to services, to reflect on a year of the pandemic. Read more here.
• Rituals for Marking One Year – COVID-19 — Provides a resource book of rituals from Congregation Neveh Shalom, Portland, Oregon. Read more here.
• Our Pandemic Year — Series of articles from The Jewish News of Northern California marking the one year anniversary of the pandemic. It features rabbis from Temple Beth Abraham, Oakland; Congregation Beth Ami, Santa Rosa; Congregation B’nai Shalom, Walnut Creek; and Congregation Sherith Israel, San Francisco. Read more here.
• Synagogues Mark Covid Milestone with Bicoastal Rituals — Kerem Shalom of Concord, MA, and Congregation Beth David, of Saratoga, CA, invited the community to share in a special weekend of online Shabbat rituals on March 12 and March 13, 2021, as they marked the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.
• Refuah Shleimah: A Healing Ritual Marking a Year of Pandemic — Ritualwell marked the one-year anniversary of the pandemic with a ritual to hold our losses and create hope for healing on March 11, 2021. Read about it here.
• One Year In: Reflecting on COVID — 70 Faces Media held a series of webinars March 1- March 5 to mark the one year anniversary of the pandemic. Read more here.
• How Should We Process 500,000 American COVID Deaths — The Forward asked 13 Rabbis. Including Rabbi David Lerner of Temple Emunah, Lexington, Massachusetts, Rabbi Jaymee Alpert of Congregation Beth David, Saratoga, California, and JTS Rabbinic student, Kendell Pinkney. Read their responses here.

Additional New Normal Content

• Member Engagement in the Age of COVID: What Have We Learned? — Tuesday, April 6, 2021, join this webinar to learn some of the information and insights from the recent USCJ and NAASE Synagogue Membership Survey. Register here.
• Pre-Pesach Siyum –Rabbis, communities, congregations, and individuals are all welcome to join us for the traditional Pre-Pesah Siyum (conclusion to learning a Jewish text). Register here.

Leadership Content

Thought leadership, event information, and news for synagogue leaders

Featured Article:

Scenarios of Strength: Idea Generator

We are asking synagogues’ leadership, both lay and professional, to now look to the future and develop creative solutions for the in-person/virtual engagement dilemma of our post pandemic environment.

The three strongest ideas will receive seed money to implement their visions. Submissions must be received by 5:00 pm Pacific Time on April 14, 2021. More information here.

Additional Leadership Content:

• Sign Up For Imun 2021 — Imun 2021 is an updated version of the popular Imun program that USCJ organized in the 1990s and early 2000s. It is a collaborative program of USCJ, the Rabbinical Assembly, and the Cantors’ Assembly, meant to empower lay leaders of small congregations, to fill certain ritual roles such as leading a Shabbat or weekday service, running a shiva minyan, visiting the sick, or officiating at a life cycle event. Registrations are due by May 1, 2021. Read about the faculty and program here. Register here.

• Update on USCJ/RA Collaboration — We have come a long way in our first few months of collaboration, and are excited to share new developments and additional projects as we continue to align the work, staff roles, and budgets of our organizations. Read more here.
• Synagogue Budgeting and Financial Sustainability: Tips for Uncertain Times — Barry Mael, USCJ’s Senior Director of Synagogue Affiliations and Operations, has compiled some recommendations for budget committees and synagogue leaders for the new budget season. Read more here.

One Question Survey

We want to hear from you so that we can tailor future content, events, and resources to exactly what you need.

This edition’s featured question:

Given the events and challenges of the past year, we are interested in learning about your synagogue’s current level of member engagement. Compared to the same time last year, are your members currently more engaged, the same, or less engaged?

• More Engaged
• The Same
• Less Engaged

ANSWER NOW

Questions?

District synagogue consultants are available to offer guidance on a variety of issues. Find your district and look up your synagogue consultant’s contact information by clicking here.