Spiced-Up Synagogue Offerings
Interesting piece in today's NY Times about how synagogues are fighting dwindling attendance by trying to spice up their programming. I had heard about this hapening at Reform and Conservative temples, and had even read before about this specific program:
I don't expect to see yoga used "as a means of Sabbath observance" in my shul any time soon, though this trend has spread to some Orthodox shuls:
Cool. Also check out the cute little video of the Soho Synagogue.
Some 50 synagogues across the country have been experimenting with "Synaplex Shabbat," a national program that began in 2003 that encourages congregations to enhance their Sabbath services by offering an array of nontraditional extras.
The Society for the Advancement of Judaism, a Reconstructionist and Conservative synagogue on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, for instance, has organized Sabbath programs around tai chi and nature walks. Others have tried yoga classes and stand-up comedy as a means of Sabbath observance.
I don't expect to see yoga used "as a means of Sabbath observance" in my shul any time soon, though this trend has spread to some Orthodox shuls:
Dovi and Esty Scheiner, a young Lubavitch couple who moved from Crown Heights to TriBeCa several years ago, are trying to bring Judaism to the cool and hip in Lower Manhattan.
In order to reach the downtown audience, it was necessary to rethink the traditional synagogue approach, said Rabbi Scheiner. "This is a very anti-establishment, anti-organized-religion type of community."
Instead of holding religious services, they gave fancy cocktail parties in art galleries and lofts. In the middle of the events, Rabbi Scheiner would offer a few words of Jewish teaching.
The parties have now given way to the SoHo Synagogue, which they believe is the first Jewish house of worship in the neighborhood. About 250 people attended a dedication party last month for the synagogue's first home, on Varick Street near Canal Street. It is a stylishly decorated 5,000-square-foot space, complete with chic couches, a lacy flora-and-fauna-patterned curtain that functions as the mechitza separating the sexes and an avant-garde sheet-metal ark to store the Torah.
Cool. Also check out the cute little video of the Soho Synagogue.
posted by orthomom at 9:04 AM
11 Comments:
Ironically, as part of this hip, neo-traditional wave, some reform temples are reverting back to separate prayer services for boys. They say it helps them focus, and that the boys are more likely to sing loudly and with more fervor than when they are in the presence of teenage girls. Duh.
How about the IMAX Shabbat experience?
Hey, if you've read my history of the Red Shul, you know that the Red shul once had couches too. Does that make the Red Shul a precursor to these kinds of things? LOL
Can I just add one point? The article makes the Scheiners out to be Chabad shluchim-- they are are Lubavitchers who are doing 'shlichus work' and teaching chassidus, etc, but they are not actual shluchim and are not endorsed by the official Chabad kiruv organization. That makes them totally independent and free to pursue the most unconventional route. They also don't consider their project Chabad outreach. Kul hakavod to them, but just keep in mind that they don't go fall under the umbrella of Chabad.
I just wish they'd spice things up at my shteibel!
I just wish my place would add some flavor to the kiddush. The rest I could do without.
Frankly, i would love Chabad's funding. Anyone could do a lot of "out of the box kiruv" with that kind of $$$.
Hopefully if "we" had Chabad's funding, we would fund our schools first.
Ortomom have you seen the pics on the soho synagogues website?? its unnacceptable nothing about that is orthodox sorry
The 2009 Nurse Benefits Survey conducted by RN Magazine found that benefits packages have remained strong during the recession. The 685 nurses responding to the online survey indicated greater access to health insurance, vacation days and defined-contribution retirement plans than when last surveyed in 2007. Part-time nurses found their odds of receiving benefits increased, and they enjoyed a larger boost in tuition assistance and direct training than their full-time counterparts. Another aspect of nursing thats also appealing to me in succeeding as a nurse, is that the nurse uses therapeutic communication and treats the patients reaction to real or perceived illness. This is the corner stone of which nursing is dependant on. The holistic approach is so successful in helping patients to heal. I am a firm believer that to have an individual in order to heal from without, they must first heal from inside. And so the nurse can help clients to change and grow in a positive way instead of negative. Since all of nursing is now based on evidenced practice, it is exciting in order to put the scientific method to use. Nowadays there are logical and provable reasons that a nurse should have a particular strategy. The first reason you should go online for jobs Madurai or jobs Meerut is because you can choose which jobs you want to apply to. If you submit your CV with the job consultants you are completely at their mercy because it is they that will decide whether your CV fits the requirement of a particular job opening. They may not even shortlist you for a particular job. On the other hand, when you have your online account with one of the job portals you can see the jobs that are open and even when your CV doesn't completely fit their criteria you can still apply. Who knows, you may end up landing the job. I remember when I did the test, I was given an entire booklet explaining how it affected my relationships and my career choices! You won't get that kind of information from an internet freebie - they're mainly intended as a fun exercise.
You got a really useful blog and I really your style of writing. Keep it up
Asus - Ultrabook 14" Touch-Screen Laptop - 6GB Memory - 500GB Hard Drive - Black/Silver
Asus - 14" Laptop - 8GB Memory - 750GB Hard Drive - Black
Post a Comment
<< Home