Leadership Connections #45: July 3, 2023

Leadership Content

News, thought leadership articles, and past event information

Featured Article:

USCJ Resource: Board Orientation Leadership Bite

We know that many boards are turning over this time of year. New presidents and executive directors can find a short, 20 minute video here about onboarding and orientations. Want a more involved workshop? Contact your synagogue consultant to discuss.Additional Leadership Content:

• Featured USCJ Digital Marketplace Vendor: Rabbi Josh Warshawsky
  Our featured Scholar in Residence this month is Rabbi Josh Warshawsky. You can use USCJ’s Digital Marketplace to invite him to your synagogue as a Scholar in Residence. In each of his residencies, you will have the opportunity to deepen relationships with each other, our tradition, liturgy, language, and our past and future to impact and inform our lives throughout Shabbat and beyond. Each residency weekend is curated to fit the individual community through conversations and relationship-building with all stakeholders. Learn more on USCJ’s Digital Marketplace.
• Conservative/Masorti Shabbaton & Convening this December
  If you are passionate, interested, or curious about Conservative/Masorti Judaism…register now for the 2023 Conservative/Masorti Shabbaton & Convening – T’nuah B’yahad: Building our Movement Together! Early-bird registration is now open! Join us from December 1-5, 2023 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront.
• Have You Visited the USCJ Digital Marketplace?
  We are continuing to grow our USCJ Digital Marketplace. We’ve added several new vendors this month and are well on our way to becoming the one stop shop to find vendors connected to synagogue life. Visit the site to see for yourself.

  In order to be listed vendors must pay a subscription fee. The vendors are not recommended by USCJ. Before purchasing goods, products or services from any vendor, it is important that each congregation or affiliate conduct its own due diligence, compare pricing, consult with its own professionals and consultants, and decide for itself whether dealing with the vendor is in the best interests of the congregation. Please read our Terms and Conditions here.

• Exploring Judaism: Resources and More
  ExploringJudaism’s articles offer share-worthy content through a Conservative Jewish lens that you can send to your community by adding a link to your synagogue’s homepage or bulletin.

  Sign up for email updates featuring new, timely content here, and encourage others to do the same.

• Nativ 2023-24
  Recommend a student to attend Nativ this fall and they are automatically qualified for a $1,000 tuition* discount! We also offer additional generous scholarships of up to $15,000. Check out this video to learn more. Apply here today.

  *Discount applies to the Hebrew University and Ulpan tracks because of grant sources.

• USY Alumni Double Chai Honorees
  To read about all our outstanding USY Alumni Double Chai Honorees, please visit usy.org/double-chai-honorees. To donate and write a Mazel Message to an honoree, go to usy.org/doublechai.

Special Events

Upcoming events from USCJ and our partners

• ADL’s Kulanu Program Cohort
  Deadline: August 15
  ADL, a partner of USCJ, has opened registration for the 5784 cohort of Kulanu, ADL’s no-cost, national synagogue engagement program. This self-paced, customizable program empowers congregations to address antisemitism and hate in their communities through community
  engagement, advocacy and education. Kicking off after the High Holidays, Kulanu congregations’ leaders (lay, clergy and/or staff) receive exclusive access to ADL resources, content, experts, briefings, and program materials, as well as an inspiration library and a network of congregational peers across North America to expand your engagement ideas and learning. The deadline has been extended to August 15, 2023, so encourage your congregation to apply now. Reach out to ADL staff with any questions at [email protected]. Learn more about Kulanu and find the application here.
• RootOne Teen Israel Trip Funding RootOne Teen Israel Trip Funding Opportunity
  Join our Info Session on July 18th at 12:30 PM ET. Register here.
  Sustain the pipeline and build our future by sending teens to Israel! RootOne funding – a voucher for $3000! – is available to your community’s teens for summer trips to Israel. This new incentive starts as early as the B*Mitzvah, and it will encourage families to maintain synagogue membership while committing to their children’s Jewish futures. It’s WIN/WIN/WIN and we want YOUR SYNAGOGUE to be part of it! When the congregation’s leadership is ready to get the process started, please visit the B*Mitzvah Israel Summer Travel page to register your community. Please be in touch with questions, comments, or suggestions to [email protected].

  We’re looking forward to your partnership – thank you for helping us make this program a success!

• Eit Ratzon Summer 2023
  Eit Ratzon is the RA’s summer professional development, geared to supporting Rabbis, encouraging collaboration with lay leadership, and beginning the New Year of 5784 from a place of strength. The following three sessions are open to Presidents/Success teams with Rabbis.

  Synagogue Rabbis & Presidents Together
  Tuesday, July 18th 3:30-5 PM ET
  How does a search committee become a success committee? Explore tools to introduce your new Rabbi to your synagogue community (and your synagogue community to your new Rabbi). We will also work together to communicate our work styles and feedback preferences in order to start our working relationship off right. Synagogue presidents/success teams are encouraged to join this session.
  
  Goals & Evaluation in a Synagogue Setting
  Wednesday, July 19th 3:30-5 PM ET
  Learn how to use the RA/USCJ Collaborative Goal-Setting & Evaluation handbook and get started setting your goals for the year. Presidents/success teams are encouraged to join this session.
  
  Sustained Together
  Wednesday, July 26th 12:30-2 PM ET
  Life-work harmony: it is a necessity for every rabbi and every lay leader. Let’s work together to craft a mutually agreed-upon success plan to care for each other in this holy work. Presidents/success teams are encouraged to join this session. Read more about all sessions being offered here. To ensure that a session is appropriate for you (or your team), please reach out to Rabbi Ilana Garber at [email protected]. More info and register here.

• Ma’alot Grant Program 2023-2024
  JNF/NBN has opened the 2023-2024 Ma’alot Grant Program, for Israel-focused programming taking place from 7/1/2023-6/30/2024. Updated guidelines can be found on the new application form linked here. Synagogues are highly encouraged to apply! Find the key points and additional guidance included in the application form. Read the application request letter here.

This Month’s Synagogue Spotlight

Shearith Israel, Atlanta GA
Congregation Agudas Achim, Austin TX
Beth Jacob Congregation, Mendota Heights MN

This month’s synagogue spotlight we are featuring three USCJ affiliated synagogues that were chosen to receive a Scientists in Synagogues programming grant for the 2023-2024 year. The three listed above were among only 15 communities that were chosen across the United States.

This is the second time that Shearith Israel in Atlanta, GA received this grant. Their program launched with the recent AI and Torah-themed Shavuot Night of Learning. We are so proud and excited for these grant recipients.

You can view the announcement on the Sinai and Synapses website here.

Synagogue Spotlight

Share your stories, programs, and events:

Each month we will feature one program, story, or event from one of our synagogues. This is an opportunity to highlight you and the amazing work you are doing. We want to maximize the power of our network, and give you the space to share your ideas, learn from each other, and be inspired. We hope you will participate by sharing a success. Please check back in this space next month for our next spotlight.

USCJ affiliated synagogues can submit information via this easy-to-use Google form, and email Rivka at [email protected] if you have any further questions. Share here.

We’re Hiring!

Come join our team! We’re hiring the following positions.

• Director of Marketing and Communications
• Los Angeles USY City Director
• Interim Development Consultant

Click the link here to view all of our open positions. Please share with anyone you think would be interested.

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.