Sulam for Imagineers

Sulam for Imagineers

A USCJ Action Community

Informational Webinar: View the Recording Here and View the slides Here.

Sulam for Imagineers (SFI) is a USCJ learning community for synagogues interested in dreaming up new approaches to transform their congregation into an inventive and creative environment.

SFI Action Community is a cohort of twelve synagogues committed to a seven-month journey of thinking creatively, developing an innovative project, and creating an implementation plan. Ben Vorspan and Linda Sussman will be your guides. All cohort participants are required to read The Nonprofit Imagineers by Ben Vorspan and utilize the study guide by November 1, 2025. There is a $1,000.00 cost for participation. Half the fee will be due upon acceptance into the program.

Our Vision: To infuse a new level of creativity into your synagogue.
Our Mission: To help our congregations dream of new ways to thrive and build capacity.
Our Goal: To learn together how to create a safe space to dream, address the problems that synagogues face when trying to think creatively, brainstorm for fresh approaches to solving problems we might not have known existed, and experiment with new ideas at our synagogues.

APPLY HERE

FAQ:

WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR PARTICIPATION?

Applications for participation are due by 12:00 pm EST on June 30, 2025. The selection of the participating synagogues will be completed and congregations notified by July 15, 2025.
Synagogue Team Leaders will be required to attend the following sessions:
- The first 3-hour virtual training will be on October 28, 2025 at 10:00am PT/1:00pm ET
- 2-hour training workshops will be held at 10:00am PT/1:00pm ET on Tuesday November 12, December 16, February 3, March 17
- 1-hour lab sessions will be held at 10:30am PT/1:30 pm ET on Wednesday November 12 , January 7, February 25, April 15, June [date TBD]
- A final presentation will be made during a 3-hour session on June 2 at 10:00am PT/1:00pm ET

WHAT WILL YOUR SYNAGOGUE RECEIVE AS A PARTICIPANT?

If selected, your synagogue will receive tools, training, and coaching designed to enable the development of an SFI project. These supports include, but are not limited to:

Five training workshops for team leaders.
Coaching in developing an action plan and piloting an exciting new program.
Resources for study and tools adapted from the Sulam leadership programs.
A higher profile in your community and nationally that will lead to new and more deeply engaged members.
Cohort lab hours with Ben Vorspan and Linda Sussman to share wins, challenges, and to answer questions.

WHAT COMMITMENT MUST A SYNAGOGUE MAKE TO PARTICIPATE?

Support and endorsement of professional staff and lay leadership.
Enlist two (2) team leaders to attend cohort trainings and work on an ongoing basis to support the SFI Cohort at your synagogue.
Recruit members who are interested in being trained and serving on the SFI team. See suggestions below.
Provide evaluation data and narrative as part of the cohort assessment.
Demonstrate long-term interest in building an innovative community.
Congregational efforts related to the SFI cohort will be shared with all members through the synagogue’s newsletter, bulletin, or other means.

Selecting your team of Synagogue Imagineers

Your team will include two “Innovation Champions” who will lead your team and represent your synagogue at SFI trainings, and a “Dream Team” of 8-10 staff, board and community members. For now, please think about who your Innovation Champions and Dream Team members might be. Please aim to solidify your list by the end of August.

Your Dream Team should draw from a diverse array of backgrounds, experiences, and opinions, and may include the following members. Some people may satisfy more than one requirement:

Someone who is an ally for your synagogue but may not be a member; they get their Jewish communal or spiritual connection from multiple sources
Someone who plans to be a member in the future, but is not currently
Someone who has a reputation for pushing for changes at your synagogue
Someone whose job responsibilities fall in the creative realm (marketing, creative direction, fiction writer, film producer/director, architect, etc)
A youth group participant.
Someone who recently discontinued their membership, but is interested in helping your synagogue retain people in their demographic

Bio:

Ben Vorspan has been serving the Jewish nonprofit community for more than 20 years and, during that time, has built a reputation for the creativity that he injects into marketing, communications, fundraising, programming, and membership engagement. Ben is the author of, The Nonprofit Imagineers. The book explores how to use the same principles that make Disney Imagineering the gold standard of imaginative thinking to transform your organization into an equally inventive and creative environment.

To purchase the book use discount code USCJ45 to receive 45% off. www.uscj.org/bookpurchase

For Book Discussion Guide www.uscj.org/discussionguide