Leadership Connections #16: June 3, 2021

The New Normal

Resources for synagogue leaders in the time of Covid

Feature:

Gap Year Students Returning Home From Israel

As we welcome the participants of Nativ 40 home, hear from four of them about their experiences of an upside-down year turned right side up. To read more about their year, click here.

Additional New Normal Content:

• Virtually One-in-a-Minyan
  Mandi-Lou Gross shares her personal experience of being able to attend daily virtual minyans with her 5 year old son. An opportunity that would have been near impossible before the pandemic.
  Read more.

Leadership Content

Thought leadership, event information, and news for synagogue leaders

Featured Article:

USCJ’s Synagogue Staffing Survey 2021

Before June 28th please fill out USCJ’s Synagogue Staffing Survey. The information gathered when the Staffing Survey was previously conducted was useful to many congregations, so help us help you again by participating. It should only take 15 minutes.
Click here to fill out the survey.

Additional Leadership Content:

• Cyber Security and Ransomware: How to Protect your Community
  Tuesday, June 15 at 1PM EST
  Join Brad Orsini, Senior National Security Advisor, SCN for a webinar that will provide an overview of the current threat environment specifically as it relates to online space and cyber security.
  Register here.
• Relational Strategies for a Changing World
  Tuesday, July 6th at 1PM EST
  Join USCJ’s Bob Leventhal, Director of Leadership Development, for a presentation on relational strategies including creating personal encounters, helping people tell their stories, and reimagining volunteerism. Register here.
• New Directors’ Institute 2021
  Monday, July 12-Thursday, July 15
  A conference for Synagogue Education Directors, Early Childhood Directors, Principals, Directors of Congregational Learning, and Clergy-educators who are new in these roles or who have been hired within the past two years. Enroll here.
• Ma’alot: Taking Steps Towards Raising Israel Awareness –
  Synagogue Grants for Israel Programming
  Jewish National Fund and Nefesh B’Nefesh are excited to continue providing micro-grants in the amount of $750-$1250 to U.S. synagogues for Israel programming. They are now accepting applications for programs that will take place from August 2021-May 2022. Apply here.

Special Events

Upcoming events from USCJ and our partners

Embracing Diversity:
Wisdom from an Interfaith, Interracial Jewish Family
Wednesday, June 9, at 2PM EST
Come learn how our intentions may be different from our impact as we hear the story of a young couple’s experiences. Register here.

Juneteenth Through The Eyes of Jews of Color:Sharing Stories and Perspectives
Thursday, June 17th at 8PM EST
Panel members share their personal stories about what Juneteenth means to each of them, and consider its relevance for all members of our community. Register here.

Talk to Us!

Thanks for participating in our latest one-question survey!

Here’s what we found:

Readers were recently asked: As we think about moving out of the pandemic, what’s something new you tried this year that you are going to continue doing?

The top three responses were:

1. Online Hebrew one-on-one tutoring for weekly Hebrew School
2. Online evening adult education
3. More discussions and guest speakers on Zoom

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.