$75, $2900
As I walked into my synagogue on the High Holy Days, there were two police officers in uniform greeting everyone. They had big smiles on their faces as they closely observed those walking through the doors, perhaps enjoying the human …
Year: 2019
Being There
“She is 102 and just joined our synagogue.” I had coffee with a rabbi friend and asked him what’s going on. And he told me this great story. Martha’s husband had died several years ago. He was the CEO of …
Warm and Welcoming –But Pay Your Bill!
Some of us often posit that Jewish holidays – particularly the High Holy Days, Hanukkah and Passover – are either early or late. If Rosh Hashanah (“RH”) falls just after Labor Day, I often hear comments about the holidays being …
Belonging to a Movement: Do People Really Care?
Some friends once shared a story about how they picked a synagogue when they moved to the area. They visited the Conservative and Reform synagogues that were nearest for Shabbat worship. They also met with each of the rabbis. One …
Transparency
The internet has brought about greater financial transparency for not-for-profits. It is rare when an organization’s most recent financial statement and IRS 990 – the tax filing for not-for-profits – is not found on its website. What about synagogues? Recently, …
How We Pay
I was speaking with my friend Carl today. He lives in Atlanta and attends a Methodist Church. He shared with me that this is a big weekend for Methodists. 864 Delegates will be gathering in St. Louis to consider several …
Nickel and Dimed-Really?
When our children were in elementary, middle and high school, it seemed that the PTA and the local Fund for Educational Excellence were always in fundraising mode. Bake sales, wrapping paper, silent and public auctions – every month there was …