Federation and Synagogues: Serving Our Broad Jewish Community
Our Federation and the diverse synagogues of Greater MetroWest all share a common goal – to ensure that our community remains a thriving, welcoming place where Jewish families want to settle down, plant roots, and get involved.
Our Federation established the Synagogue Leadership Council (SLC), comprised of synagogue lay leaders representing a cross-section of denominations and geographical areas, to provide synagogue leaders with access to experts on topics of concern, to increase mutual knowledge and understanding, and to evaluate and expand collaborative programs.
Throughout the year, the SLC hosts many events which convene clergy and synagogue leaders to network and share common challenges. On other occasions, it focuses on needs specific to particular segments of the community. In the month of November, for example, it participates in two events that, combined, have broad impact on local synagogue life.
On November 24, 11 of our area Orthodox synagogues joined together with our Greater MetroWest Day Schools to create an impressive presence at the Seventh International Orthodox Union (OU) Fair in New York City. This annual event is designed to help observant families looking to make a move explore the Jewish communities throughout North America and Israel.
All gathered under one Federation umbrella, the Greater MetroWest Orthodox communities are able to offer day school affordability, a collaborative community, excellent kosher markets and restaurants, reasonably priced housing in walkable neighborhoods, robust special needs programs, and much more.
According to Ben Hoffer, president of Congregation Israel of Springfield, “The OU Community Fair is an incredible opportunity for any Orthodox synagogue to showcase itself to a massive number of prospective members. The fact that we in Greater MetroWest are able to leverage the collective strength of several distinct communities, each with their own identity, is a tremendous advantage that affords our members with the best of small town living and more robust Jewish communal life.”
Earlier in November, Jodi Bromberg, CEO of Interfaith Family, led a discussion with professionals and lay leaders representing 12 synagogues that want to increase their understanding of best practices for engaging interfaith couples and families in Jewish life. In this session, participants talked openly and respectfully about concerns and strategies around interfaith outreach. Bromberg stressed the difference between being welcoming and being inclusive. She used the example that welcoming is having a great time as a guest at someone’s house for dinner; inclusion is feeling comfortable enough to help clean up the dishes. “Both are necessary for interfaith families and couples,” Bromberg explained. She led the group through various synagogue scenarios to illustrate this concept and presented a list of best practices for communicating with interfaith families – a series of dos and don’ts that can serve as a necessary reminder that small adjustments in the things we say and do can make a big difference in the message we send.
Through the SLC, Federation will continue to provide leaders of all synagogues in the community opportunities to converse in ways that can help us build our community and strengthen the bonds between our organizations. Past topics have included Synagogue Security, Fundraising, Succession Planning, Dues Models, and more.
Upcoming Synagogue Leadership Seminar include Emerging Trends in Jewish Engagement and Creating a Community of Belonging for all Ages and Abilities. For more information on these programs contact Sarah Segal, Director of Synagogue Initiatives at ssegal@jfedgmw.org or (973) 929-2952.