Why can’t shuls cater to the majority? Since when is judaism a religion for the very inspired? Even before corona, many of the " "young married generation" (even daveners) don't seem so comfortable in most shuls.
The MO community doesn't have the "black hat" social expectation that you need come to davening, so it might be "worst." Why people don't come to shul, or don’t want to, or don't daven? Is shul a club for older people? Do people not know what the words mean? Does davening take too long for many, with stilted singing? Are shuls welcoming? Is there a seat where they can sit? If you don't pay $1000+ membership do you even have a seat or siddur or are you just stared at? Does the rabbi say hello to them? Are there social activities connected with the shul that are relevant for people who measure their spare time every week in the
Shuls can learn from Cheers, where everybody knows your name. Not becoming a bar, but I rather creating more and more points of entry so more and more people can be associated with the shul and the community.A shul needs multiple points of entry for each profile of congregant. Whether they are the 30ish looking for a serious minyan, or coming for social opportunity’s, each activity of a shul should try and have a point of entry for them. As well, shuls have to build trust.Building trust is the sort of thing a shul can only do once. Once lost, you can’t get it back.
The same shiur can appeal to nobody or to many other people. You can call it Halachos of Tefillah, and get a serious or committed crowd. You won’t even get the walk-in, as they are afraid they are in the middle of a series. However, if each shiur has its own engaging stand-alone title as well,. (Speaking with God, is He really listening? ) you have opened the door to someone looking for a stand-alone shiur, as well as to appeal to someone with a weaker background. If this shiur also offers (very light) refreshments and time for a Q and A (instead of davening or the rabbi running out) than this shiur offers two more points of entry, namely social time and opportunity to speak with the rabbi.
Membership.
Why be a member? Some shuls think the answer is that if you are not a member, we just will give you less goodies, aliyot and whatnot. However, this seems backwards. Being a member should be a positive thing, not a negative one. However, often people don’t join as being a member just seems to be a way to end up paying more.
If membership is actually worth it, people might join. When you join you (hopefully) get a welcome packet. Why not send a non-member welcome packet to newcomers. Don’t worry, this won’t give away the goodies free. It would just have basic communal information and open the lines of communication.
Membership must then offer pluses that are realistic and useful. For instance, highly reduced high holidays seats is a draw for many younger people. Also reduced prices at all tickets events. This doesn’t really have to be a lot. You can offer 10-20% off, depending on the event, and it seems to add up, but in the long room you don’t lose much if they wil then lay out for membership instead. You might lose $50-$100 and gain $500-$1000, not a bad exchange
What about the Rabbi? Rabbis need to have as many regular in person “occasions,” as possible with congregants every week. It is probably more important to have fewer that happen all the time, than to have more that happen only sometimes. Many rabbis overstretch themselves and end up constantly cancelling shiurim etc. angering congregants even more than not having those shiurim would. Research show that congregations look for rabbis to be available most of all. Shabbat and holidays are good times for rabbis to plan to stay in shul for extra time, coming an hour early and leaving an hour early, instead of trying to slip out and in. It is hard for a rabbi to go to kiddush then give a shiur after davening and Shabbos, and then stay for to answers questions, but often that is the best time.
Women’s Concerns
Regarding women’s clerical representation. Some research indicates that many people are happy with intelligent congregation facing active Rebbitzins. While a vocal minority, talks of having female clerics of one type or the others. Most congregations have a pressing need to enable and empower the Rebbitzins, through training as well as fiscal incentives to allow for this. For shuls with Rebbitzins who are not able to be present, some shuls have had success with trial programs of female scholars in residence and either eventually hiring a female scholar in residence or the creation of a permanent program. It is also good to note that an active Rebbitzin can also be the channel to the rabbis for women’s questions, especially niddah questions.
Shul as An Open Place
Making the shul an open place. A common concern is how “left” or “right” a shul is. Many successful shuls adopt the counterintuitive program of having multiple minyanim, each leaning a different way. For instance, a more “left” shul will also have a “Beit Midrash” minyan where the davening is more “Yeshivish,” and a less “Zionistic” versions of the Tefilah for the medina will be said. A more “right” wing shul will have a “late minyan,” where the davening is more “social” the Kiddush is mixed, and the “Tefilah for the medina will be said. While “common sense” dictates this doesn’t work, there are many successful shuls where it does.
Teens and youth.
Many shuls have lackluster teen programing. A frequent claim is that the youth are not interested or that “our community doesn’t have much youth” or that the youth are too serious for teen /ncsy type events. However, many shuls bring in youth of all sorts, once they start. Teen minyanim, teen class with rabbi/ Rebbitzins, coffee with the rabbi/ Rebbitzins in a hip shop, sushi making classes, late night oneg with rabbi, Friday night onegs.
To be continued when I find my notes ...
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