When Criticism is Not Enough: Strengthening the Synagogue
May 2000
Synagogues are vulnerable and easy to attack. Anti-Semites, motivated by hate, attack the synagogue using physical weapons. But many Jews attack the synagogue as well -- if only with verbal harangues. These critics explain that they are motivated by love.
Over the past five years, criticism of synagogue life has intensified. This criticism has not gone unheeded. The synagogue community is aware of the need for improvement, recognizing shortcomings and acknowledging the need for greater vitality. Yet while we agree that synagogue life is not all that it should be, attacks on the synagogue -- however loving or well meaning -- frequently are not helpful.
Some synagogue leaders have become defensive. There is a great deal that synagogues are doing that is positive, and it is important to recognize the wonderful contributions that synagogues from all streams of Jewish life are making to the lives of their congregants. Are all Jews enriched by the religious services of their congregations? No, but many are. Is every synagogue member stimulated by his or her shul's educational program? Certainly not, yet many learn a good deal. Is every congregant touched by the rabbi or cantor? No, but many are truly moved.
The task for the synagogue is to build upon its successes to create an institution that will, more effectively, meet its mission of enriching the lives of its congregants. Astute observers have made meaningful suggestions to transform synagogue life. Foundations have established creative endeavors that are seeking to re-engineer the synagogue. Significant funding is generating surveys and studies that will, hopefully, point to improved ways for synagogues to enrich lives. These efforts must be applauded. The synagogue has great potential, and the continued development of new approaches can be useful. But we do not have to wait. There are steps that can be taken now to begin to fix the problem.
First, we must begin to acknowledge the wonderful accomplishments of our synagogues. By constantly focusing on their shortcomings, we mistakenly give the impression that synagogues are ineffective. Synagogues meet the needs of many. If they do not meet our needs, it may be the fault of the institution or it may be our own fault. To get something out of the synagogue, you must be willing to put something into it.
Second, synagogues require more funding. If you ask the average synagogue leader what the congregation needs most, the answer most certainly would be "money." Clearly, money -- in and of itself -- will not make the synagogue better. But most synagogues have dreams and visions that cannot presently be implemented simply because the requisite financial resources are not available. Most synagogues want to be creative. But without funding, it is impossible to test new initiatives, let alone implement them. In order for an institution to grow, it must be able to take risks. Not all endeavors will succeed. But when they do, funding must be available to institutionalize them.
Third, synagogues require more staff. Congregational leaders know that personal outreach is what influences people, and personal outreach is dependent upon human resources. Synagogues rely upon dedicated staff and spiritual leadership. Unfortunately, there is too much to do and too few people to do it. If we want synagogues to meet their potential and our needs, the Jewish community must seek ways to enhance current synagogue staffing so that the more passive synagogue center can become the more active synagogue mentor.
Fourth, we know that rabbis and cantors need time to be creative, just as educators and administrators require time to influence the individual. In order to make our synagogue leaders more effective, we must increase their number. To expect synagogues to enrich Jewish living without an adequate number of skilled and caring individuals to personally touch congregants is totally unrealistic.
The synagogue is a communal institution. It meets needs of members and non-members alike. Rabbis and cantors represent Jewish life to the community at large. They are more than synagogue functionaries. Educators -- formal and informal -- as well as synagogue executives exert an influence far beyond the walls of the building in which they work. Clearly, the synagogue reaches many Jews who do not support it.
Increasingly, synagogues have been the subject of criticism. We in the synagogue community take it to heart; for we truly want to increase our contribution to Jewish life. But it is important to remember the following: While it remains the responsibility of the community to urge us to excellence, it is also the challenge of the community to help provide synagogues with the resources we need to respond to this criticism. It is only in this way that we will move forward together, shaping the kind of Jewish life so keenly desired by those committed to the survival and growth of the Jewish people.
Rabbi Epstein is the Executive Vice-President of The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the association of Conservative congregations.
