Wishing You a Wonderful New Year

Wishing all our Christian friends a very Merry Christmas

(and don't tell anyone Santa is Jewish!)

What is Your Purpose?

By Yoram Samets, co-founder Jvillage Network

Lately I have found myself reading about and discussing -- once again -- an all too popular conversation in the Jewish community: the lack of participation and the lack of financial support. This is a topic I can recall hearing about at the dinner table when I was growing up in the 50s and 60s. It was a topic that was driving real results -- the closing of Jewish community organizations throughout the area we lived in.

This conversation has never really disappeared. And today, this issue continues to erode the foundation of Jewish organizational life. We all know the superficial reasons -- the competition from the assimilated world we now live in. Yet I believe there is a more fundamental issue that is the challenge. A challenge that we can turn into an opportunity. An opportunity that I see being realized in some national Jewish organizations and local Jewish organizations. Simply stated the challenge and the opportunity are: To provide clarity of vision and mission. But it requires great passion to deliver successfully.  

What does success look like when an organization has clarity around its vision and mission? Purpose. And Purpose drives participation, engagement, relationships, and ultimately, financial support.

Too often, organizations will spend all their time and effort on developing their vision and mission, then assign it to a banner and go on about their day-to-day lives. The intention is good, but reality requires feet on the street to take a vision and a mission to the level of organizational Purpose. And Purpose requires never ending passion to deliver on success to the organization.

None of this is easy stuff.  It requires that leadership understand that organizational success requires constant work at the strategic level, supported by very focused tactics that are in alignment with the organizational purpose. In the Jewish world, we often equate doing more with accomplishing more -- where in reality, what we need to be doing is less.  And everything we do needs to be deeper in both content and context.

It is here at this critical juncture where our Jewish organizations are failing.  It is here where too many Jewish organizations are out of alignment with their vision and mission. And once out of alignment, the Purpose is diminished.

Now is the time to gather your community’s best and brightest. Now is the time when your leadership is needed most.  As we move through this holiest time of the year, where self-assessment is central to everything we do, ask yourself what is your organization’s Purpose.  

Answer it simply. Is this the same understanding everyone who sits at the leadership table holds?  If so, you are on the right path.  If not, you know the work that needs to be done for the coming years.

The Jewish Social Network

By Mark Yaschik, president Jvillage Network

When Rabbi Avrohom Korf came to Florida in the 1960’s as the first shaliach of Chabad, his presence couldn’t have been more incongruous with the average Jew in the Sunshine State.  Yet, year after year and experience after experience, he awoke the neshamas of literally thousands of Jews by helping them perform one mitzvah at a time.

It wasn’t the mezuzah checking or tefilin pushing that made him -- and the entire Chabad movement -- a wild success. His mission was successful because he took one small step toward his fellow Jews and let G-d take over from there.

Kiruv, or Jewish outreach, isn’t my thing. I don’t ride around Atlanta looking for mezuzahs on the doorposts of the homes I pass by. However, I do see my role in the Jewish community as part of a whole and, as such, one that should be taken very seriously. As I walk through the grocery store, take my kids to soccer practice, or stop by the bank wearing a yarmulke, I am showing the world what an observant Jew does and what should be considered acceptable behavior. Even on days when nothing is going right and my patience is shot, I have to remember that the actions I take also represent our rabbis, teachers, and my fellow congregants. A single negative or deceitful experience caused by one Jew can easily open up the floodgates of preconceived notions that the community as a whole has worked so hard to reverse. In essence, at the same time that we are carefully working on our own actions and behaviors, we must also remember our fellow Jew.

In my role as president of Jvillage Network, I talk with leaders of the North American Jewish community that cater to the Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist movements. I can tell you first hand that in many ways we’re all in the same boat. Our communities share the same struggles, the same yearning to come closer to G-d, and have leaders with genuine intent who work tirelessly to enrich the lives of their members and instill within them love of G-d and the desire to perform mitzvahs.

We have a responsibility to love each and every Jew simply because we are all children of G-d, regardless of anyone’s level of observance or knowledge. We daven every Rosh Hashanah, ‘You drew us close, our King, to Your service and proclaimed Your great and Holy Name upon us.’  In other words, we should remember that a Jew is a Jew and that we’ve all been granted a unique and holy soul, or neshama. With that mantle of honor, we’re also accepting the responsibility to lead the other nations with good and honorable actions both inside and outside of our homes.

By setting a good example both within our own families, among our congregations, and with the non-Jewish world, we will be sure to strengthen and enhance our relationships with our various communities and, ultimately, with G-d.  


Happy new year and g’mar chatimah tovah!

Contact Mark to learn more about what Jvillage can do for your organization.

Cooperation, not Competition, is the Key to Survival

by Yoram Samets, co-founder Jvillage Network

Recently, The Jewish Week ran an article on the new synagogue competition sprouting up in many different communities.  This article showcased many issues that our congregations are facing today, but the primary two that I took away were:

1. A decreasing number of Jews are becoming dues paying members of synagogues, and
2. "Competition" from start-ups was causing new friction within the traditional organized Jewish world.

Both of these concerns have been gnawing my insides since I read this piece. Gnawing, because both of these concerns are the result of the "traditional" Jewish world living in a time that has long passed the definition of "traditional."  As long as Jewish organizations continue to plan for the future by looking through the rear view mirror instead of the windshield, we will continue to see these organizations become less and less relevant to the future of Jewish life.  

It is time for us to stop thinking that one Jewish organization is in "competition" with another. The world we are in today values cooperation and shared meaning between organizations. It is our particularity that breeds the notion that we have the "right" way, when in fact we should be embracing -- not competing with -- the other and together planning for the future. When one synagogue views another as a "competitor," fearing the loss of membership and money, their negative focus is missing the opportunity. This is not a values-based organization that I would want to belong to.

Today, only 30 to 35 percent of Jews are affiliated with a synagogue -- and that does not even begin to address the issue of how few actively participate in their synagogue community. With as many as 70 percent of Jews lacking synagogue affiliation, our focus should be on institutional cooperation, and increasing the value of our organizations, not challenging each other to split the small numbers we presently have. Our strength -- and our future -- is enhanced through our linking arms as we provide the services our lives are in need of today.

We live in a values-driven environment. I am attracted to do what I value, not what i should be doing. Our Jewish world needs to decrease its provincial infighting and focus on providing more shared and cooperative value. That is what we are looking for. That is how we will get more Jews involved in a Jewish life.

The Business of the High Holidays

By Yoram Samets, co-founder Jvillage Network

Everyday I wake up, I have this internal struggle between my personal Judaism and my desire to make my synagogue a successful home for our Jewish community. In some ways, this is the conflict between heart and head.  At this time of year, it is much harder to get into my head and look at the ways the High Holidays can be used to gain greater engagement, greater relationship with our community, but this is exactly the time to be thinking about engagement opportunities -- that lead to new relationships for the coming year.

For most of our synagogues, this will be the largest audience we draw for the year. What can we be doing during this time period that invites congregants to connect with us just one more time during the year?

How about:

• Posting  an oversized calendar of upcoming events for the next quarter on bulletin boards.

• Posting the schedule for year around shabbat children's services near the area where families drop off their children. Or better yet, hand a flyer to parents and guardians when they pick up their children after services.

• Asking board members to mingle and welcome everyone; they should be the synagogue's Relationship Building Ambassadors.
  
  
• Asking the president of the congregation to acknowledge key lay leadership during her/his speech.

• Asking the Rabbi to create sermons that bring people together. To move from telling to asking to relationships.

• Asking the Rabbi to use language and ideas young people can relate to.

• Sending congregants a special post-holiday email with the Rabbi's sermon. And invite them back.

• Making sure everyone knows about our website, Facebook page, etc. -- and inviting them to connect online.

Has your congregation tried other strategies that have been effective at keeping the post-High Holiday momentum going? Tell us about them.

Welcome to Our House

By Yoram Samets, Co-founder Jvillage Network

Preparations for the High Holidays are full steam ahead. This is the time when we open all the doors and welcome our largest gathering of Jews throughout the year.  

This is the time when many first impressions will be made.  Whether it is extended family that is visiting, a new congregant’s first time participating in the High Holidays, or new guests who are invited for dinner, these days will provide lasting impressions. These all-important holy days provide the foundation for the future of our synagogues. Yes, the future is tomorrow, but it is also next year and the year after that. The impressions with which your congregation leaves after services will lead to conversation. And conversation leads to the potential of further engagement. So, what can you do to ensure a good first -- and, more importantly, lasting -- impression?

Five Keys to a Welcoming Home

• Ushers should smile and say welcome. That first interaction sets the tone for the full experience.

• Prepare a "High Holiday" customs tip sheet, enabling everyone to understand the "rules" for the day.

• Overdo your signage. Make it easy for people to find their section, the coat room, the restrooms, the appropriate childcare room, etc.

• Provide pre-printed name tags. When we only see each other once a year, names can be challenging.

• Keep your bathrooms clean. Believe it or not, your bathrooms say as much about your synagogue as your sanctuary.

As you think and plan through the High Holidays, think through the lens of a first-time experience. You will discover many details that will make this a more pleasurable experience for everyone.

Happy Independence Day

65 More Things I Love About Israel

It’s that time of year again, when comedian Benji Lovitt lists things he loves about Israel, and this year’s list (all new, every year) is 65 things long in honor of Israel’s 65^th birthday. Enjoy, share the love, and Happy Independence Day from The Times of Israel!

1. I love that 45 minutes is considered a long drive in this tiny country but that people will drive three hours to Acco to eat at Chumus Said.

2. I love Tel Aviv babes riding scooters. Chicks-on-bikes: like disk-on-key but with skirts.

3. I love that the Neot Kdumim Biblical Reserve teaches team-building and leadership via shepherding goats and sheep.

4. I love Cups-Unlimited Coffee, the app which allows me to drink as much Tel Aviv coffee as I want for just 169 shekels a month. However much money the government is taxing me, I’m getting it back tenfold in café hafuch.

5. I love the genuine interest in your well-being expressed upon meeting a friend.

Ma nishma?!?!? = Hey, what’s up?!

(30 seconds into conversation)

Az ma nishma?!?!?! = No, seriously-I actually want to know what’s up with you.

6. I love that even the urinals are religious.

7. I love how it’s totally acceptable to wear your 1995 Camp Young Judaea staff sweatshirt in public and nobody thinks you look like a total dork.

8. I love that after a stand-up comedy show, an audience member told me “yashar koach”. If only every dvar Torah had a two-drink minimum.

9. I love that you can conduct a multi-million dollar business deal at Café Aroma wearing Crocs.

10. I love the interjection “psssshhh!!!!” It’s “daaaaamn, boy!” combined with beat-boxing.

11. I love that I can choose to adopt the Sephardic customs on Pesach and not feel the least bit guilty. Olim mentality: “We moved halfway across the world and give our tax dollars go to the Jewish people. WE’LL EAT RICE AND WE’LL LIKE IT, DAMMIT!!!!”

Continue reading.

Women Only?

by Yoram Samets

I just finished reading Sheryl Sandberg's new book Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead.  While reviewers and critics argue about its content and the author's intentions, I believe that every person, father, husband, boyfriend, and son should read this book. While many women are tuned in to the issues raised, men are miles away from being on the same channel. The more "enlightened" the man, the bigger the challenge for them to open up enough to see -- to really see -- and to feel the issues.

The data presented in the book clearly reinforces how indoctrinated we are to gender stereotypes, how blind we are to how we men (and women, too) create and support the gender status quo. The data and the stories were like 2x4's hitting me in the head, pulling me out of myself, helping me to identify areas that I need to "lean in" to. Our business needs to lean in -- to participate, be engaged.

As a man reading this book, my biggest takeaway was the need for us to take responsibility, cultural responsibility, for creating a level playing field for everyone and strengthen all of our lives. The inequities that are brought up are focused on women, yet that is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our biases. Gender, sexuality, race, religion and economics are deep dividers in our culture, businesses and Jewish community. We can play a leading role in shifting the landscape. Sandberg speaks about leaning in, taking a seat at the table and "seeking challenges, taking risks and pursuing goals with gusto".  Jewish organizations have a responsibility to "lean in," to undertake the cultural challenges that are driving the inequity that Sandberg writes about, as well as other cultural barriers that disempower so many.  This is good for all of us -- now, more than ever.

Sandberg's book provided me with the opportunity to reflect on myself, my family, our company, our clients organizations. I look forward to "leaning in" to the challenges ahead. Creating a more authentic and honorable place from which to grow (personally and professionally) and contribute to the diversity that will make our company stronger and more successful in support of the Jewish community.

Planning For a Site Tune Up

By Yoram Samets

If you got past my headline, past the memories of your last site redesign, then I hope you will join me in what will be a much easier project than when you launched your new website. Let me start by suggesting that in all likelihood much has changed since your last site build. Does your site reflect the organization that you are today?  Does it reflect where your members are in the online world? Those are the key questions you need to be asking.  I am sure that many of you will answer ‘yes’ to those two questions. Yet here are a couple of things for you to reflect on:

Mobile

You already know that the number of visitors that are going to be accessing you on mobile devices is only going to explode in the next two years. Is your site mobile-ready? Unless it’s been specifically designed to do so, your existing site will not translate to a mobile platform that will be useful to your members or prospective members. Mobile needs to developed through both platform and content. Are you putting your best foot forward to engage with people in this ever expanding format?

Content

Those who have read any of my blogs know that I am a content beast. And most importantly, a relevant content beast. When was the last time you reviewed your content? When was the last time you updated content? Are you still using the same "about" information?  Is your Rabbi's bio current?  Undertaking a site audit would help you determine what content changes should be made. Not sure how to conduct a site audit? Check out the Jvillage Network Tune-Up Guide.  

Call To Action

Or should I say call to actions. Involvement is what your social media strategy is all about. And your website is a foundation of your social media strategy. Your website should be the start to a conversation. Are you connecting all the dots?  At the end of your "about us" section are you providing a contact link for a potential new member -- or do they need to click elsewhere to find this? Does your "early childhood center" page have a call to action?  Does your "men's club" page provide a link to upcoming activities or a link to a "get involved" form? Your website is all about informing and getting members and prospective members involved -- make it easy and provide them with a call (or calls) to action.

A site tune up is as big a project as you want to take on. It can range from totally rebuilding your site to refreshing all of your content to providing more frequent, compelling, and relevant calls to action.

Whichever route you choose, the key points to remember are:

• Keep your site current
• Make sure it reflects your purpose as an organization
• Make it relevant and valuable to your members

Two Key Website Strategies To Increase Membership

by Yoram Samets

If you are like most synagogues, you are unhappy with the number of new members that join every year.  And year after year the synagogue is doing the same things to attract new membership -- which in my experience is not very much, because most synagogues are focused on their existing members. As the world has changed, and synagogues and Jewish organizations are no longer the central part of life for Jews in America, the opportunity is to reach out and connect more with non-members.  

Two key elements of connection are:

Add Content To Your Site.

If you want your site to generate the opportunity for new members, you need to be adding quality content to your site. With an ever more dispersed Jewish population looking for a synagogue when they need one, your website has to have a depth of engagement that will resonate for the prospective new member.  

Content is the price of admission for an effective website strategy. Most synagogue websites are filled with basic information. Your opportunity is to deepen that information and make it more personal. The first step is to determine the two or three key reasons new members should join your synagogue; these are the areas you want to focus more attention to on your site. If you do this right, your efforts will pay off with new members. For example, if most of your new membership is coming from the parents of school-aged children, then concentrate there. Make sure your religious school section of your site is current and robust.  This would be a great area for an ongoing blog effort, too. Make every teacher responsible for one blog per month or every other month. This spreads the work out, and provides a great deal of content quickly. Think about your religious school section on your site as a microsite. Most synagogues will supply a list of learning features on their religious school home page, and you have the opportunity to stand out differently when you do not just list children's book library, Jewish holiday rituals, Israel, etc, but actually link those features to a deeper understanding of what you provide. Instead of just saying Israel - take them to Israel.  

Building content is hard work. It takes time. Your synagogue should have a content plan for what you wish to build out.  Over time, your synagogue will differentiate itself from others. And the drive by synagogue shopper will be able to make the best membership decision.

Increase Your Contacts.

I have noticed that most synagogues have a vibrant communication program focused on their existing members, but the bigger opportunity is to build your database with prospective members. Synagogues need to be reaching out to create membership opportunities. If you have 400 members you should have a prospect database of an additional 400 members. Let’s stop keeping all your good work, your incredible events, and your caring for the community a secret. The email newsletter you work so hard to put together -- why limit its distribution to just your members?  

Everyday, your members are connecting to other Jews, connecting to others who could become part of your synagogue. Ask your membership committee to create a referral program. Regular communication with members that asks them to provide names and email addresses for your synagogue to communicate with.  This is an opportunity for you to show the benefits of joining the synagogue. This provides you with the opportunity for getting non-members to learn about you -- on their time and over time.

By focusing on your website content and your database, you will be working toward the long term health of your synagogue.