I've been in the synagogue game since 1992, and let me tell you, it's more than just a job. It's personal. One thing that's been driving us crazy for years? Dwindling Shabbat attendance.
In my 30 years, I've sat through countless strategy sessions and task forces, all trying to crack this nut. And almost every single time, we end up with the same old solution: "Theme Shabbat" experiences. You know the drill - "Football Jersey Shabbat," "Birthday Month Shabbat," that kind of thing.
I'm in the middle of this cycle today. Calgon, take me away.
Now, sometimes these themed services seem to work. They might draw a crowd, create a bit of buzz. Sometimes. But here's the kicker - they do absolutely very, very little to change the culture of Shabbat service attendance.
Why do these theme Shabbats fall flat?
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They're one-offs. They don't encourage regular attendance.
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They put the gimmick before the actual point of Shabbat.
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People show up for the theme, not for Shabbat itself.
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It's exhausting for staff to keep coming up with new themes.
But you know what? I think we're looking at this all wrong. We're so focused on Shabbat numbers that we're missing the bigger picture.
We need to step back and look at our synagogues as a whole. How are our educational programs doing? Our social action initiatives? Are we there for our members when they're struggling? What about our cultural events, youth engagement, and outreach to interfaith families?
These are all part of what makes a synagogue successful, not just how many people show up on a Friday night.
So, what's the solution? We need to stop relying on gimmicks and start addressing the real issues:
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Make our services relevant and accessible.
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Build a sense of community beyond themed events.
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Provide spiritual experiences that actually resonate with modern Jews.
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Educate people about why regular Shabbat observance matters.
It's time to do the hard work of revitalizing our Shabbat services. We need to create experiences that are meaningful, spiritually fulfilling, and community-building. That's how we'll see real, lasting change.
It won't be easy, but hey, nothing worth doing ever is.