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.