Tomorrow's Synagogue Today: Creating Vibrant Centers of Jewish Life [Perfect Paperback]

Hayim Herring (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 17, 2012

In the past decade many intelligent people who care deeply about synagogues have written about them. So how is this book different from all other books? Many books take the overall mission of the synagogue as a given, and the recommendations around structure are really about incremental change. Tomorrow's Synagogue Today stimulates the reader to unleash the power of synagogues to exponentially influence people's Jewish lives.
Herring offers creative scenarios to stretch the imagination about how more synagogues could become vibrant centers of Jewish life and how congregational leaders can begin to chart a new course toward achieving that goal. Key to his vision are the ways synagogues can collaborate with other synagogues and other Jewish institutions in the local Jewish community and around the globe, as well as with organizations outside of the Jewish community.
Herring also explores structural change that is occurring in the rabbinate, as well as future roles rabbis may play and how rabbis might begin preparing for that future now. He shares insights from twelve rabbis from across the country about new models of synagogue mission, governance, and organization. He concludes with recommendations about the kinds of investments those who care about synagogues and the Jewish future need to make so that synagogues will remain a significant force in the Jewish community.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Rabbi Herring provides an extremely thoughtful consideration and analysis of the challenges that confront the institution of the American synagogue and its rabbinical and lay leaders in view of current technological, demographic, societal, and cultural realities and trends. Tomorrow's Synagogue Today is a most reflective book that is 'must reading' for all persons striving to create the institutional frameworks that are necessary to meet the ongoing spiritual and communal needs of American Jews in the 21st century. --David Ellenson, president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

The synagogue members of today and tomorrow are Gen Xers, Millennials and Gen Z, whose lives are organized in fundamentally different ways than how many synagogues operate today. Synagogue leaders must align their congregations with these generations, whose understandings of hierarchies and collaboration, native use of technology, and desire to play an active role in producing their own realities are already having a profound impact on the Jewish community, and synagogues in particular. Herring's big vision and practical knowledge of synagogue life unite here to provide the roadmap and insights to help leaders steer their congregations from here to there. --Lisa Colton, president, Darim Online

Hayim Herring has distilled years of experience as a successful congregational rabbi, a leading student of institutional change, and an expert in American religion and Jewish life into what is the definitive book on synagogue transformation. Wise, insightful, truthful, and prescriptive, Tomorrow's Synagogue Today is a must read for anyone interested in reimagining the synagogue in the early 21st century. --Rabbi Irwin Kula, President, Clal, The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership

The synagogue members of today and tomorrow are Gen Xers, Millennials and Gen Z, whose lives are organized in fundamentally different ways than how many synagogues operate today. Synagogue leaders must align their congregations with these generations, whose understandings of hierarchies and collaboration, native use of technology, and desire to play an active role in producing their own realities are already having a profound impact on the Jewish community, and synagogues in particular. Herring's big vision and practical knowledge of synagogue life unite here to provide the roadmap and insights to help leaders steer their congregations from here to there. --Lisa Colton, president, Darim Online

Hayim Herring has distilled years of experience as a successful congregational rabbi, a leading student of institutional change, and an expert in American religion and Jewish life into what is the definitive book on synagogue transformation. Wise, insightful, truthful, and prescriptive, Tomorrow's Synagogue Today is a must read for anyone interested in reimagining the synagogue in the early 21st century. --Rabbi Irwin Kula, President, Clal, The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership

About the Author

Rabbi Hayim Herring is the CEO of the Herring Consulting Network, whose mission is to prepare today's leaders for tomorrow's organizations. Hayim was executive director of STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal), a national foundation for congregational innovation and executive leadership development, where he created the Synaplex Initiative. Hayim has served as a senior rabbi of a congregation, assistant director of a federation, and has published dozens of scholarly articles on the American Jewish community.

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback
• Publisher: The Alban Institute (February 17, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566994268
• ISBN-13: 978-1566994262
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #749,165 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars What About "Tomorrow's Judaism Today?" May 6, 2012

By Jordan Goodman

Format:Perfect Paperback

Rabbi Herring's book "Tomorrow's Synagogue Today," tackles, head on the inviability going forward of the status quo for the delivery systems of non Orthodox Judaism (synagogues, federations, movements and other "Jewish" organizations). I do wish that he would have further elaborated on the no less than equal if not greater need for radical change in how we look at and think about the actual product to be delivered, i.e., non Orthodox Judaism. All the new-fangled technological tweaking and ideaspeak in the world won't bring the vast majority of Jews living in North America back through the doors of non Orthodox synagogues. These folks have voted with their feet that for reasons other than life-cycle fixes (b'nei/b'not mitzva, weddings and funerals) and maybe a worship service during the High Holidays, the non Orthodox synagogue and non Orthodox Judaism are irrelevant and meaningless in/to their 21rst century lives as they (the folks) live and experience them (their lives). The questions, "1. Why be Jewish? Why do Jewish and 3. Why Judaism?" all need clear and compelling answers and there are none to be found.

Talking about how success in the synagogue would be defined as well as the need for measuring results and subsequent accountability would have been welcome topics as well.

But then again, very near the end of his book on page 124, the very last person whose wisdom Rabbi Herring quotes as an example of how to move forward, Rabbi Tirza Firestone said, "If you really want numbers, make yourself more relevant." And I'll add a paraphrase of Hillel's statement and challenge: "the rest is commentary;" now let's go study with the intent of actually acting on our findings, rather than being paralyzed by despair and fear of charting the new course that's most certainly necessary. Incrementalism is insufficient.

Blessings to all who are in the trenches Godwrestling with all of this, realtime,

Jordan

4.0 out of 5 stars Rabbi Hayim Herring is a man with a vision April 28, 2013

By S. CHALOM

Format:Perfect Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

As someone in the "synagogue" business, I find this book full of insight and creativity. Change is a hard thing to implement and as someone in the middle of great changes, I take heart in the vision of a better system in the near future. Rabbi Herring is to be commended on this useful book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! April 27, 2012

By Aaron R. Spiegel

Format:Perfect Paperback

At the risk of repeating another reviewer, there's not much new information in this book. However, Herring presents it in a concise, no-nonsense manner that encourages discussion and, more importantly, action. Also, because it's so concise it begs to be used as a study guide for synagogue teams. Every synagogue should buy a copy for each staff person and lay leader.

Rabbi Aaron Spiegel
CEO, Synagogue 3000