Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 September 1960 — Page 7

Friday, September 2, 1980

The National Jewish POST and OPINION

How Ti late Bigness In k Uppp fori For Your Congregation

By MYRON SCHOEN A problem that besets most congregations and one that has sorely troubled the devoted rabbi and lay leader is how to activate and integrate a larger proportion of the membership into

the many faceted program of the contemporary s y n agogue. With the beginning of the congregational year program c o mmittees of the synagogue and its affiliates

will be wrestling with this very problem and will be calling and writing national .headquarters for ideas and suggestions. While the parent organizations can be very helpful, since they create and collect program ideas from many sources,'most synagogues will do no better in this congregational year; than the last —no more than 25 per cent to 50 per cent of their membership will participate in a true sense in the life and program of the synagogue. If this pessimistic statement has any basis in fact, what is at fault and what can the synagogue do to change the picture? THE ANSWER is related to a question posed in a basic college economics course. Students are asked, “Why do the shops on

thousands of potential customers that pass the shop each day.” In programming for the synagogue we tend to put the cart before the horse. Programming is done without knowing the basic background of our potential participants. How many congregations have taken the trouble to go over their membership records to breakdown the individuals into age brackets, educational and occupational backgrounds and geographical locations? In many congregations unfortunately, the membership form (and/or the family record cards) do not even contain this information so vital to intelligent programming. JOHN E. MIXON, associate professor of church and community, Southern California School of Theology, writing in The City Church on the “Bugaboo of Bigness” states, "The tendency for people to be at home in a relatively small circle of friends really becomes a major clue in dealing with bigness. Even in the church of less than average size, success will depend not so much on expecting close fellowship on an interpersonal basis among all members but in the development of close friendship relations within the larger fellowship . . . The development of meaningful relationships through small group participation is one of the most effective ways to integrate new members

and old into the fellowship of any church.” HOW DOES one gather the necessary information in order to program for the interests of its membership? Temple Beth El of Northern Valley in Closter, N. J., conducted a congregational census, utilizing a specially prepared, thorough two-page form. In the covering lettA' which went to all temple members, President Louis Stein wrote: As we grow larger (we now have over 200 member families), it becomes more ana more difficult for the officers and the Rabbi to know each of you personally. As part of our program to achieve a greater degree of member integration into the activities of our congregation, we are conducting a congregational census. Your co-operation is essential. SINCE SOME of the questions appear to be somewhat personal, I should like to explain to you specif!cially why each .section is required. The first two. sections are important from the point of view of the general management of our Temple, especially the vital statistics on your family. We want to be able to plan, in an

orderly manner, for the expansion of our school and other Temple facilities. For example, if we know exactly now many children to expect each year, we will certainly be able to provide better for our school program. During the last year, several yahrzeits were unintentionally overlooked. We want to prevent that from ever happening again. Therefore we have provided Section 3. Many times we need to solve problems in our Temple which require specific talents, professions, or occupations. Certainly, if these talents are available in our congrgegation, we want to avail ourselves of them. Therefore we thing it is important that we know what you do and where you do it. You will get from the Temple no more than you give it, not only of your money but also of yourselves. We should like to take the opportunity of calling upon you to participate in our Temple’s activities in those areas in which you have an interest. The final question of our census deals with your interests and the Temple’s activities. We have listed our present Committee

New York’s famed Fifth Avenue charge such high prices for their merchandise?” The average student is quick to respond, “Because the shopkeepers pay such high rentals.” The instructor points out that this Is “putting the economic cart before the horse. They are willing to pay such high rentals because of the

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Schoen

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structure (with the exception o\ one Nursery School which was inadvertently omitted). Please indicate under the column for husband, wife, or other adult (as appropriate) in which activities you would like to participate. Many of our Committees will be expanded next year-to take care of the additional workload that our growing membership imposes. You will probably be needed. Please do not hesitate to indicate your interest. If there is some activity that you thing the Temple should be carrying on which it is not now carrying on, and you would be interested in participating, please write it in the blank spaces.

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