The Jewish community has lost some of the
most sensitive spiritual souls of this generation. They are
Jews who were looking for God and found spiritual homes outside
of Judaism. Their journeys traversed the Jewish community, but
nothing there beckoned them. The creation of
synagogue-communities in which the voices of seekers can be
heard and their questions can be asked will challenge many
loyalist Jews. It will upset and enrage them. But it would also
enrich them.
—from Chapter 18
In this fresh look at the spiritual
possibilities of American Jewish life, Rabbi Sidney Schwarz
presents the framework for a new synagogue model—the
synagogue community—and its promise to transform our
understanding of the synagogue and its potential for modern
Judaism.
Schwarz profiles four innovative
synagogues—one from each of the major movements of
Judaism—that have had extraordinary success with their
approach to congregational life and presents practical ways to
replicate their success.
Includes a discussion guide for study
groups and book clubs as well as a new afterword by the author
describing developments in synagogue change projects since the
book was first published.
“An extraordinary book. A clarion
call for spiritual leadership in a post-ethnic age.”
—Rabbi
Lawrence A. Hoffman, co-founder of
Synagogue 2000; editor of My
People’s
Prayer Book: Traditional Prayers, Modern
Commentaries series
“Schwarz, an outstanding community
builder and creative figure in American Jewry, has written a
thoughtful, insightful treatment of the synagogue, its limits
and its real potential to sustain a new generation of Jews. If
you care about the future of Jewry, you want to read this
book.”
—Rabbi
Irving Greenberg, president of
Jewish Life Network;
author of The
Jewish Way
