When "Size" Means "Bigger Than Yourself"

Last Sunday and Monday, before Atlanta shut down, (again), from ice and snow, leaders from half of the largest Conservative congregations on the continent came together for a conversation at Ahavath Achim Synagogue. This was the third Large Congregations Conference sponsored by United Synagogue, and was, by all measures, the most productive and forward-thinking.

Here's why: It didn't allow large congregations to focus only on themselves.

The conference program, designed by USCJ staff in partnership with the attendees, allowed time to learn and share with each other about synagogue leadership, governance and operational issues. But presentations pushed the envelope from self-help to helping others.

• Rabbi Steven Wernick began with an in-depth explanation of the implications of the Pew Study on Conservative Judaism.
• Rabbi Noah Farkas described using community organizing as a tool for creating relationships outside the walls of the synagogue.
• Jeff Goodell, vice president of government affairs for Jet Blue, compared a large congregation to an airline.
• An interdenominational panel, featuring Rabbi Neil Sandler, senior rabbi at Ahavath Achim, Rabbi Peter Berg, senior rabbi of Atlanta's Reform congregation, The Temple, and Reverend Pam Driesell, senior pastor at Trinity Presbyterian, discussed the opportunities and gifts of large congregations.  

And, in an inspiring closing presentation, Rabbi Michael Siegel, senior rabbi of Anshe Emet in Chicago, brought the program elements together by challenging the leaders of large congregations to understand their responsibilities for building the Jewish community of the future.  He described Anshe Emet's ground-breaking steps to collaborate and build community, like once-a-month hosting of the independent minyan, Mishkan Chicago, and outlined four obligations that large congregations have because of their capacities and influence: Experimentation, Cooperation, Coordination and Creation.

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