http://www.starsynagogue.org/blog Star Synagogue Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:28:38 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en CLICK ON PICTURE TO SEE VIDEO  The video has gone viral and is on YouTube, Yahoo Video, AOL Video, Facebook and My Space. In the past few days thousands of people have watched. The success of this video and the exposure that the Streit's brand is receiving is coming at an interesting ... http://www.starsynagogue.org/blog/streits-uses-of-social-media-and-turns-matzah-into-a-super-star/62 I started working in the area of outreach to interfaith couples and families over a decade ago.During that time, I’ve come to appreciate the possibilities and the pitfalls of outreach. There are a few key principles that especially guide my thinking, which I want to share with you. Active congregational outreach ... http://www.starsynagogue.org/blog/an-outreach-committee-blueprint-first-step/61 How would you answer this question? If you had to create a list of Modern Day Plagues, what would that list look like? That is exactly the question I was asked by a reporter from the Minneapolis StarTribune (the major local daily newspaper in Minneapolis), for a story he is writing for ... http://www.starsynagogue.org/blog/create-your-list-of-10-modern-day-plagues/59 It's become a Purim/Synaplex(tm) tradition. For the third year in a row, Brotherhood Synagogue in New York has hosted a Friday night congregational dinner with a comic as the "main" entertainment during their Synaplex weekend closest to Purim. Turns out the comedy hour Shabbat dinner is one of the best attended ... http://www.starsynagogue.org/blog/comedians-bring-in-the-crowds-for-synaplex/58 Much of the work we do at STAR is future oriented. Based on the best available data, and discussions with synagogue and philanthropic leaders throughout the country, we try to anticipate the future shape of the Jewish community so that we can prepare for it.  But periodically, I need to be ... http://www.starsynagogue.org/blog/recycling-the-jewish-past-is-good-for-the-jewish-future/57 With the best of intentions, many synagogue leaders try to please every congregant. After all, we want to model the Jewish values of kindness, respect and caring in the synagogue. And, we know that retaining synagogue members and finding good volunteers are serious challenges, so they strive to respond positively to ... http://www.starsynagogue.org/blog/real-leaders-are-not-loved-by-all/56 Karen Sobel, Call Synagogue Home Project Consultant, spent time this week reviewing the findings of the extensive Pew Study on Religion. Here are some of her thoughts. Jewish demographers and all those committed to a vibrant future for the American Jewish community in the twenty-first century will need to pay close ... http://www.starsynagogue.org/blog/thoughts-on-the-pew-study-on-religion-in-america/55 When your synagogue is trying to make a change become permanent--a part of your congregation’s system--there are many ways to increase the chance of doing so. A few weeks ago, I made a presentation in Philadelphia to a lovely group of rabbis involved with STAR’s Synaplex™ and PEER Initiatives. My good ... http://www.starsynagogue.org/blog/the-leadership-challenge-distinguishing-between-change-and-transition/54 In the recent issue of Clergy Journal Magazine, Rev. Rich Melheim wrote an article about congregations and technology. His article included a manifesto he titled, “95 Melheimian Theses of Church Technology.” Since there really are 95 statements we can’t include them all here. You can check out the entire list ... http://www.starsynagogue.org/blog/guest-blogger-rabbi-aaron-spiegel-on-why-synagogues-need-to-increase-their-use-of-technology/53 A big round of applause to the synagogues who received Solomon Schechter Awards for Adult Education from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Nine synagogues, which either have PEER rabbis or are part of our Synaplex Network of Synagogues, received top honors during the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism biennial ... http://www.starsynagogue.org/blog/star-family-of-synagogues-receive-solomon-schechter-awards/52