Empowering synagogue leaders to build strong Sacred Communities
What would happen if synagogues were required to pay property taxes to local municipalities? Or capital gains taxes on income generated from their endowment? Or what if synagogue dues were no longer tax deductible for members? My personal opinion is …
Will Synagogues One Day Have To Pay Property Taxes? Read more »
Many rabbis hate fundraising. They may have had a class or two in rabbinical school on this topic, but similar to many synagogue leaders and congregants, it is not an area of comfort for them. And yet the more engaged …
A few years ago, within a six-month time span, both my wife Linda and our teenage daughter Dani had appendectomies. I was a little fearful that there might be something in the water in our house and my turn with …
Health Insurance for Synagogue Employees: Options and an Opportunity Read more »
We want our synagogue buildings to be welcoming places. What is the message that is conveyed when there is an on-going leak from the ceiling in the sanctuary on rainy Shabbat evenings? Or a building that was built in the …
Dreaming Big: Ensuring Your Synagogue’s Financial Future Read more »
If you were to ask synagogue leaders how they feel about asking others for Tzedakah – a charitable contribution – not many would say it is something they love to do. “It is worse than root canal!” might be a …
Asking Others for Tzedakah: Is It Really Worse Than Root Canal? Read more »
September 2, 2012 – 15 Elul 5772 Sarah and Ben Pollack 220 School Street Montclair, NJ 07042 Dear Sarah and Ben, Each summer seems to pass more quickly than the last, especially this year, when my oldest child …
It is hard to believe that my daughter Dani begins college at American University in just 4 months. I am reminded of when I was preparing to go to George Washington University, when I opened my first checking account. I …
Online Payments: When “High Tech” is actually “High Touch”. Read more »
I worked on a project with a leadership group of a synagogue in the South. It is near a couple of major universities with teaching hospitals so its membership is comprised of many academics and physicians. The congregational leaders told …
How can a synagogue impact our lives? I am thinking a lot about this question as I embark on a consulting practice to help synagogue leaders tackle financial and strategic planning challenges. For me, part of the answer comes from …
We’re proud to announce the launch of our web presence here at SynagogueStrategies.com. Please check back for more information on how your synagogue can create and achieve goals that will strengthen your community of faith. We would love to discuss …