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Founded in 1951, Temple Reyim is a traditional egalitarian congregation in Newton, MA, affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts. We have more than 200 household units - including traditional families, single parent families and single people.

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Shalom v'Shalva | Rabbi Shalva's Blog

Inspiration from the Uninspired

I just read a wonderful article, forwarded to me by my very wise spouse, about synagogue growth and rejuvenation. The article is called "Synagogues Must Reach Out to the 'Uninspired'," written by Rabbi Rick Jacobs. In the article, Rabbi Jacobs challenges us with these words: "Synagogue life is too important to be entrusted solely to those who already are within congregational walls."

What on earth does Rabbi Jacobs mean? Shouldn't those of us who spend most of our days, most of our lives for that matter, within synagogue walls be the ones to shape and define our holy institutions? If synagogue life wasn't trusted solely to those already within congregational walls, with whom should we share this burden? The answer, according to Rabbi Jacobs, is to reach out to the unaffiliated, who he has dubbed the "uninspired." And we should do so not with the thought that we will enlighten these lost tribesmen by leading them back to our synagogue doors. Rather, we should reach out to the uninspired, those who would rather do just about anything than go to shul, to learn from them firsthand about their own needs. Why do they stay away from synagogue? Where do they go for inspiration, rejuvenation, and community? What could our synagogues offer them that would bring them back through our doors?

At Temple Reyim, we are beginning a strategic planning process that asks, first and foremost, the question: who are we? As we continue to ask that question, I pray that we not only look to our clergy, staff, lay leaders, regular attendees, and membership, but that we look beyond our walls to the thousands of Jews in our area who right now remain uninspired. "Who are we?" should be a question we ask them, as well.