The Spirituality of Welcoming: How to Transform Your Congregation Into a Sacred Community [Paperback]

Ron Wolfson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2006

So often we want our congregations to be more--more compelling, more member-focused, more spiritual and yet more useful for our daily lives. Through reflection, examples, tips and exercises--and incorporating the fruits of Synagogue 2000 (now Synagogue 3000), a groundbreaking decade-long program investigating the challenges facing modern synagogues--this inspiring handbook both establishes a sound foundation for why a deep hospitality is crucial for the survival of today's spiritual communities, and dives into the practical hands-on how of turning your congregation into a place of invitation and openness that includes:

Prayer that is engaging, uplifting and spiritually moving
* Institutional deepening that is possible because of an openness to change
* Study that engages adults and families, as well as children
* Good deeds--the work of social justice--as a commitment of each and every member
* An ambience of welcome that creates a culture of warmth and outreach
* Healing that offers comfort and support at times of illness and loss
* ... and much more.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A compelling call for a culture of welcoming in American congregations.... Especially appropriate and useful for lay and professional congregational leaders." -- Steven M. Cohen, research professor of Jewish social policy, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

"Reveals the secrets of synagogue transformation in a most inspiring and accessible way.... Empowers readers to make an immediate difference. [Will help you] transform your synagogue culture from boring to soaring." -- Goldie Milgram, author of Meaning and Mitzvah: Daily Practices for Reclaiming Judaism through Prayer, God, Torah, Hebrew, Mitzvot and Peoplehood

"Ron Wolfson [has] faith that synagogues can become centers of spiritual enrichment and empowerment--more vibrant and healthy than ever before. I am thrilled that this resource will be available to faith communities seeking ... a vital transformative role in our changing world." -- Brian McLaren, pastor, author of A New Kind of Christian

"Ron Wolfson truly loves synagogues! This book has something for every synagogue leader and for many members as well--inspiration, challenges and very practical ideas." -- Isa Aron, PhD, author of The Self-Renewing Congregation: Organizational Strategies for Revitalizing Congregational Life

From the Inside Flap

"I feel like I should go to synagogue, but what's the point?"
"When I got lost fumbling through the prayer book, no one bothered to help me out. I felt like a total outsider."
"All they really want is my money."

We've all heard these complaints before. Maybe we've even spoken them ourselves a time or two. And who can blame us? Too often religious congregations dwindle to little more than cliquish gatherings of longtime members or places we send our kids for their obligatory religious education. They feel dry, irrelevant, unwelcoming.

Yet congregations of all sizes can be so much more. Writing with humor, verve and candor, Ron Wolfson sets forth a renewed vision of synagogues as energetic sacred communities--and outlines how you can transform your own congregation into an inviting center of vibrant relationships and personal spiritual rejuvenation. The key lies in a spirituality of welcoming--not mere politeness or courtesy, but a deep hospitality manifested in all aspects of congregational life and based on the fundamental understanding that all people--members, guests and visitors alike--are created in the image of God.

* Creating a culture of honor, resisting a culture of blame
* Using music to unify the whole congregation in a truly worshipful experience
* Membership dues ... and don'ts
* Using effective greeting techniques, clear signage, and synagogue literature to welcome, not alienate
* "Low-hanging Fruit"--practical suggestions you can implement right away
* ... and much, much more

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 225 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing (July 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580232442
• ISBN-13: 978-1580232449
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #241,554 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A native of Omaha, Nebraska, I earned my Ph.D. in Education from Washington University in St. Louis and the MA in Jewish Studies from the University of Judaism. I am the Fingerhut Professor of Education at American Jewish University in Los Angeles, the Co-President of Synagogue 3000, and a member of the Consortium for the Future of the Jewish Family.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific!, September 5, 2006

By 

Ann (Westlake Village, CA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spirituality of Welcoming: How to Transform Your Congregation Into a Sacred Community (Paperback)

This book is an inspiration. Ron Wolfson presents excellent ideas to change the synagogue (or church) to become a more welcoming, engaging and spiritually uplifting place of worship. Anyone who cares about their religious community can learn from this.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A handbook for building a great synagogue, September 18, 2007

By 

M. R. Leavitt (Lansdowne, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spirituality of Welcoming: How to Transform Your Congregation Into a Sacred Community (Paperback)

Ron Wolfson accomplishes a very difficult task in this book. He writes a "how to" book that will help synagogue leaders improve the quality of their "products." Drawing heavily (but not too visibly) on the organizational dynamics literature he shows us how to change the way synagogues relate to their members and their prospective members. By using a pre-existing literature on how organizations in general can become better places to work and to do business with, he gently transposes employees and customers to the synagogue's staff (including rabbis and cantors) and its members. He studies the Christian mega-churches and the Jewish Chabad Lubavitch movement to understand and illuminate how to make a spiritually-based organization work well. In the process he puts together a package, based on the decade-long Synagogue 2000 project, that provides practical guidance on what synagogues can do to make themselves more spiritual, more attractive, and more successful with their members.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Spirituality of Welcoming: How to Transform Your Congregation into a Sacred Community, December 19, 2007

By 

CBI ADMIN (Charlottesville, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spirituality of Welcoming: How to Transform Your Congregation Into a Sacred Community (Paperback)

This book provides a very "nuts and bolts" approach to the issue of integrating new members to a congregation as well as consolidating relationship with all members. Great resource, not only for synagogues, but for other faith communities as well.