S.O.S.— Save Our Synagogues

Jewish communities nationwide are facing a watershed moment that may redefine the present and future of Jewish life in America.

We know that the pandemic has resulted in fantastic advances in the mainstreaming of remote learning and religious services while providing synagogues with a foundation to inspire individuals globally utilizing video conferencing services.  

At the same time, synagogues are suffering a precipitous decline in attendance for in-person activities and religious worship. It is understandable that some may be reluctant to attend in-person services for a variety of reasons: fear of attending large gatherings; enjoyment in taking a break from communal obligations; competition created by outdoor services at people’s homes; and a sense that services no longer feel “compelling.” To the extent that synagogues are failing to fulfill the spiritual needs supplied by a religious service, every congregation must evolve to ensure that worship is spiritual, meaningful and uplifting. And I know that the leadership at congregations across the country are devoting resources to this daily.  

As President of Beth Jacob Congregation—the largest Modern Orthodox synagogue west of the Mississippi—I am particularly troubled by a larger failing of congregational leadership.  Synagogues nationwide have habituated some community members to believe that synagogue membership is purely transactional. There appears to be a growing sense that if one personally elects to not attend services daily, on Shabbat or on High Holy Days, then synagogues do not merit the financial support of that member. This has created a sense that “someone else” will always be there to financially support our synagogues and that responsibility for our fellow congregants and the community is conditioned on whether one elects to attend in-person services.  

At congregations throughout our community, members are deciding in droves to withdraw their membership for this very reason, and, in turn, are causing some congregations substantial financial hardship.  

This withdrawal of congregational support means that our community has failed to express one of the foundational reasons for a synagogue’s existence: to support the spiritual, moral, intellectual, social, and religious needs of a community. Synagogues exist to elevate not just ourselves but also others. We support our synagogues not simply for our own purposes but also to help others in their religious and spiritual development as well as those in need. We support synagogues because congregational leadership is there for the good times as well as when members need someone when tragedy strikes. This occurs every day.

The pandemic has made it apparent that it is no longer a nearly universally held belief that we support a synagogue because of what it says about who we are. We must support the vitality of our local synagogues just as our critical support for schools, Israel, feeding the hungry, etc. is an absolute expression of our values.

We must support the vitality of our local synagogues just as our critical support for schools, Israel, feeding the hungry, etc. is an absolute expression of our values.

To those that have withdrawn synagogue membership because the pandemic has made you feel uncomfortable with attending services, I make this request to you: Pick any synagogue in our community and minimally become an associate member. Our local synagogues are the only “one stop shop” if you care about ongoing vibrant learning, spirituality, social programming, communal support for Israel, financially supporting those who are in need, caring for our seniors, and raising the next generation of committed Jews.  

Each of us, through our commitment to our synagogues, are catalysts for the future of Jewry in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Jewish community is rapidly growing with young families and young professionals who have made a choice to live and raise their children here. I fear the lessons we are teaching their children, and the future of Judaism in our community, if we do not serve as examples of what it means to be osek b’tzarchei tzibur be’emunah, to be immersed in caring for the needs of our people, in full faith. We must busy ourselves for our community with belief, love and care for ourselves, the Jewish people and the vitality of Judaism in our community.

Please support a synagogue today. The present and future of our Jewish community depend on it.

Jonathan Stern is President of Beth Jacob Congregation.