| Long Range Planning Committee With the start of this New Year, there is an excellent opportunity for us all to reconcile our past with our hopes for the future – both as individuals and congregants in our beloved synagogue, Temple Judea. A synagogue is a community’s precious possession and the most influential institution for the preservation of Judaism. It must be nurtured by the present generation so that it survives, strengthens, flourishes and provides sustenance to the next. Long Range planning is a crucial component of this sacred care. All Synagogues, including thriving ones, struggle with:
We must begin planning for the future now by planting seeds – like farmers or gardeners so our synagogues can cope with change, attract unaffiliated Jews, grow and remain a positive central force within the Jewish community. Our Temple has shown its strength thus far. We have made a successful transition in our Clergy, Executive Director and Educator. What better time than now for us to examine our history, our present and bind together as a diverse community towards the future? Innovative Planning can help our Synagogue become a haven in which people can be part of a community, connect with one another, reflect, pray, dream, ask questions, and seek answers. Planning is also a rational process. It requires that a congregation ask itself where it is right now, where it would like to see itself at a given point in the future and how it must go about getting to that point. Planning is goal oriented and geared toward change.
The planning process itself may help to achieve many goals since broad participation among members engenders loyalty and increased one’s personal stake in strengthening the Synagogue. As chairperson of the Long-Range Planning Committee, I am thrilled so far by the response of members wishing to join. Please bear in mind that the plan is for the committee to span a two year period of time, requiring varying degrees of involvement. The key to our success is having a cross section of the Congregation on the committee. It is essential to increase our core group of members as we need to reflect and represent (as well as to reach) all congregants. As well, we will be establishing several critical subcommittees at the start of our process: Communications Subcommittee – is responsible for ongoing communication with the Congregation throughout the process Demographics Subcommittee – will gather the required demographic information about the Congregation Focus or Small Group Subcommittee – plan for and facilitate focus group meetings Retreat Subcommittee – to plan and facilitate possible retreat You can join our Committee by either contacting me directly or through the Temple Office, who will advise me of your interest. Most importantly, keep checking Temple Judea’s Website for updated information and meeting dates. Stuart Horowitz, 1st Vice President | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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