Leadership Connections #5: December 17, 2020

The New Normal

Resources for synagogue leaders in the time of Covid

Featured Article:

Hiring & Placement During Covid

Though the pandemic has impacted so many aspects of synagogue life, the need to hire staff and clergy hasn’t stopped. Take a look at these valuable resources, webinars, and materials for a refresher on how to handle (and how other synagogues have handled) these processes while still maintaining pandemic-friendly practices.

• Webinar Recordings
  • Rabbinic Search – Bias
  • Interviewing and Hiring Virtually
  • Placement Stories from Synagogues
  • Intro to Rabbinic Search
  • Planning a Virtual Search
• Materials
  • Intro to Rabbinic Search Slides
  • Virtual Weekend Visit Samples
  • Virtual Search Timeline
  • Interview Welcome Packet Sample
  • Planning a Virtual Search Presentation Slides
  • Interview Note-Taking Form Sample
  • Overcoming Bias Presentation Slides
  • Participate in this year’s (virtual) Interview Week — the annual weeklong event where congregations are invited to meet graduating rabbinical students from JTS

Additional New Normal Resources:

Worried about celebrating holidays remotely? Tips from a Jewish expert

• Jenn Director Knudsen, board member of USCJ member synagogue Neveh Shalom in Portland, OR, shares expertise on how to make any and all holidays special — all while remaining safely distanced from loved ones.

Leadership Content

Thought leadership, event information, and news for synagogue leaders

Featured Article:

I Believe In Miracles: A Hanukkah Message in a Time of Pandemic from Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal

• When I think of leadership during this pandemic the image that comes to mind is of people “burning the candle at both ends.” Yet we’ve done more than we could have ever imagined — we have created community, adapted technology, transformed worship and education, and counseled those who are ill or in crisis. We have made our existing resources go far beyond what we could have expected, and have found new resources to meet our communities’ changing needs. Facing a growing number of challenges with limited means, we have truly worked miracles. Read more.

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:

What is your biggest fundraising hurdle?

• Creating a clear message and goals that resonate with your constituents
• Harnessing social media for fundraising
• Planning effective virtual fundraising events
• Planning effective in-person fundraising events
• Understanding your donor data
• Donor retention

ANSWER NOW