Open wide your mind and your community to fresh concepts of synagogue financial and spiritual success. "[A] welcome addition.... Replete with examples of synagogues, independent minyanim and spiritual communities that have developed creative and sometimes surprising strategies ... that ameliorate what many observers believe are obstacles to recruiting and engaging Jews into their spiritual communities." from the Foreword by Dr. Ron Wolfson The concept of the "dues-based membership model" i...

Winner of the 2016 National Jewish Book Award in the category of Education and Jewish IdentityThe Jewish world is changing before our eyes. The traditional notions of what it means to be a Jew, what Jewish organizations look like and what Jewish leadership means are no longer working, leaving many Jewish organizations in a struggle for survival. Many Jewish leaders are afraid that this will only get worse as the millennials—the “my way, right away, why pay” generation—begin to ente...

Prepare to revive your Jewish community with the transformative power of the Divine spirit."Rabbi Baruch HaLevi and Ellen Frankel have correctly identified Ruakh as a key missing ingredient in Jewish institutional life, especially in the synagogue. Their call is for a revolution of spirit, a rejuvenation of our purpose, our worship, even our sacred spaces. It is recognition that the craving for community can bring people back to our institutions, if we wel...

How to transform the model of twentieth-century Jewish institutions into twenty-first-century relational communities offering meaning and purpose, belonging and blessing."What really matters is that we care about the people we seek to engage. When we genuinely care about people, we will not only welcome them; we will listen to their stories, we will share ours, and we will join together to build a Jewish community that enriches our lives."—from the Introduct...

A step-by-step guide to cultivating volunteers who thrive within the Jewish community.We can never forget that volunteering is a two-way street. Volunteers must be motivated, but volunteer organizations also need to maximize volunteer satisfaction. Blaming one or the other for the failures prevalent today in the world of Jewish volunteering helps no one. The search is for a win-win strategy.from the IntroductionCultivating successful volunteers in th...

Powerful life lessons in a funny and moving portrait of family, community and spiritual discovery in America. Hilarious and heartfelt, Ron Wolfson's inspiring memoir is filled with stories of growing up in a warm family, encountering colorful characters like the merchants of Omaha and the famous Warren Buffett, navigating adolescence and learning never to underestimate his mother. With easygoing Midwestern humor and profound poignancy, Ron's "true stories" of family and community in the Un...

Celebrate the joy of “making Shabbat” each week in your home—with rituals, prayers, blessings, food, and song.This expanded, easy-to-use edition of the classic spiritual sourcebook offers updated information, more ideas, and new resources for every aspect of the holy day.An inspiring how-to guide to every aspect of Shabbat, including:History and meaningHow to prepareRituals, prayers, and blessings (step-by-step)Th...

How do you get to the heart of a life well lived?Its all about the questions.If you can hear the questions and apply them to the way you live your life on earth today, then when the time comes, your soul will be ready to take that stairway to heaven, prepared to answer the Seven Questions with a resounding Yes!, and take your rightful place among the angels.from the PrologueIn this charming, inspiring and wise guide to a well-lived life, belov...

A colorful, fun-to-read introduction that explains the ways and whys ofJewish worship, faith, and religious life.What You Will See Inside a Synagogue will:Satisfy kids’ curiosity about what goes on in synagogues attended by their friends, broadening awareness of other faiths at an important age when opinions and prejudices can first form.Provide Jewish children with a deeper understanding of the practices of their own religio...

Remember, retell, recreate, and relive the Exodus experience—with the stories, rituals, foods, and songs of Pesah.This revised and expanded edition of the classic spiritual sourcebook offers updated information, more ideas, and new resources for every aspect of the Festival of Freedom.An inspiring and practical how-to guide, Passoverclearly explains all the vital information that you need to fully honor—and to fully enjoy—this sacred celebra...

A Step-by-Step Guide for Honoring the Dead and Empowering the LivingWhen someone dies, there are so many questions—from what to do in the moment of grief, to dealing with the practical details of the funeral, to spiritual concerns about the meaning of life and death. This indispensable guide to Jewish mourning and comfort provides traditional and modern insights into every aspect of loss. In a new, easy-to-use format, this classic resource is full of wise advice to...

How can my congregation become more vital?How can we both honor the past and embrace the future?“[The Self-Renewing Congregation] calls for ‘renewal’…from within, not without—a renewal that begins with institutional self-reflection, proceeds through a process of self-engagement, and ends with self-generated innovations that can deepen the synagogue congregation as a sacred community. The core of this book offers any congregation seeking this path a ...