Finding a Spiritual Home: How a New Generation of Jews Can Transform the American Synagogue

by Sidney Schwarz

Book Overview

Offers a penetrating analysis of the American Jewish community, challenging synagogues to respond to a generation of seekers and to satisfy the spiritual hunger of the "new American Jew."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1580231853
• ISBN13: 9781580231855
• Release Date: September 2003
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Interesting, Thought Provoking and Fun

The book focuses on issues faced by many of our generation. One can easily relate to the searching and the questions posed by the people portrayed. The clear and readable style of writing, along with "down to earth" anecdotes makes it an enjoyable read.Recommended for all those trying to figure out how to enjoy a Jewish spiritual experience in today's world.

Jewish Newspapers Highlight Rabbi Schwarz's Book

The following is excerpted from an article in the New York Jewish Week by Gary Rosenblatt, Editor in Chief. He agreed to allow his article to be reprinted as long as credit is given to himself and the Jewish Week. Other Jewish publications have highlighted this book, as well. Most synagogues today, whether they are Orthodox, Conservative, Reform or Reconstructionsist, are struggling to increase, and even maintain, membersihp. And most of their services are, well, boring. Across the denominational lines, congregants complain services are too long, too routine and less than inspiring, even as they wonder why more young people aren't joining up. Now comes a Washington-area rabbi, Sid Schwarz, who has written a thoughtful analysis of why synagogues are not meeting today's needs and a thought-provoking plan to help them make the paradigm shift he asserts is necessary for their survival and success. The book, "Finding a Spiritual Home," describes in detail four model congragations, one from each denomination, and how they are serving and inspiring a new generation of American Jews. It also includes personal essays from congregants about how their synagogue has given new meaning to their lives, and concludes with "ten strategies to transform your congregation." Rabbi Schwarz's thesis is both simple and revolutionary, making the case that most synagogues have not satisfied or attracted the baby boomers, many of whom are spiritual seekers turned off by the formality and rigidity they've found in established congregations. The new American Jews are looking for more personal meaning in their lives and a strong sense of connectedness and belonging. What's needed, he asserts, is to change the institution from a primarily child-centered synagogue-center, with its educational, cultural and social components, into a warmer, family-oriented syangogue-community, a synthesis of the synagogue-center and the havurah, combining informality and participation within the structure of the traditional synagogue. Easier said than done, the rabbi readily admits. "Even synagogues that understand the need for change find it difficult to move forward," he said during an interview from his office in Washington, where he is founding president of the Washington Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values. But it can be, and Rabbi Schwarz profiles four congregations he feels successfully respond to the religious needs of younger Jews. While there are striking differences among the four congregations, they each have a welcoming environment, and an articulated mission promoting serious Judaism. And they each have inspiring rabbis who seek to empower their members, making them feel part of a real community of caring Jews. But Rabbi Schwarz is quick to point out that the key to success is not dependent on "superstar rabbis who do everything themselves," but almost the opposite, spiritual leaders able to teach their congregants that

Read it for yourself, then give it to your rabbi and board

Simply put, this is a must read for any Jewish communal or spiritual leader, anyone who serves on a synagogue board, or any active synagogue member. Rabbi Schwarz presents a short history of American synagogues, a cogent analysis of four successful synagogue models, interviews with some of the members and searchers, and a clarion call to action for a fourth stage of synagogue evolution. It is extremely readable. His hypothesis is similar to those found in Christian lit, such as Mike Regele's "Death of the Church," that it is time for synagogues (and churches) to adapt or die. I cannot tell you how many highly successful Jewish men and women I know, who are at the tops of their fields and professions, who are made to feel stupid, awkward, and worthless in many synagogues. They turn their back on synagogue life, they receive no benefit from congregations. They are not disloyal, just unaffiliated. Is it any wonder that the latest reports state that only 41% of American Jews are affiliated with a synagogue, down from a recent 48%, and down from an 85% rate fifty years ago? Schwarz, who was raised in a Long Island Orthodox family, whose big rebellion was driving on Shabbat in college, discovered that synagogues could be interesting, while he was studying for the rabbinate and had a student pulpit. His study begins with the three stages of history of the 20th Century American synagogue: the immigrant synagogue of recent immigrants, the ethnic, more prosperous synagogue of the anchored middle class Jews, and the child-focused, shul-with-a-pool synagogue center, where the focus was lectures, Israel, and basketball, and the least attended day was the Judaism-lite program on Saturday. The four synagogues that Schwarz highlights are New York City's B'nai Jeshurun (C), Beth El of Sudbury MA (R), the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale (O) in the Bronx, and Schwarz's Bethesda MD Adath Shalom (Reconstructionist). Among their commonalities are a focus on participatory prayer, support groups; real Judaism (not Judaism lite); walking the talk/social action; energy; connectivity and community; learning; congregational ownership; and even `god talk." Simply a must read.

Buy This Book!

I think that anyone interested in the future of a religious organization that they are involved with, particularly Jewish, or in the future of spirituality in America in general would find this book of interest.This book should be required reading for all temple board members. In fact after reading the first two chapters I emailed all my fellow trustees and recommended it. As I've read further, I've continued to find a virtual feast of food for thought.

Transforming Religious Experience

Anyone who has ever been turned off by, tuned out from, or--even more common--unaffliated with a synagogue or church, should pick up this book. Sidney Schwartz provides history, analysis, and personal stories of individuals that will resonate with anyone not really happy with his or her current religious experience. This book contains enough pearls of wisdom to turn the most cynical person into an excited, active participant in a movement that could change the face of organized religion in the twenty-first century. The book spotlights congregations from the four major branches of Judaism, but reference to the enormous growth in evangelical churches provides a context for a similar rejuvenation of traditional churches. Testimonies of individuals from each of the four congregations profiled in the book describe various routes to the kind of active participation that is rarely seen in traditional congregations with a hierarchical structure. Some people searched for years and explored every possible alternative. Others stumbled into a congregation in response to the needs of a child. The theme that emerges is of the deep satisfaction each person feels when he or she has found a spiritual home. The author's historical analysis of the development of the American synagogue and the American Jewish community is brilliant, as is his study of the baby boomer generation. Here he helps us understand why contemporary Jews have such a hard time connecting with the synagogue. He examines obstacles to synagogue transformation and ways these might be overcome. He frankly admits to the challenges of replicating the success of the institutions profiled in this book, but he does not leave us with the easy option of saying that it can't be done. The epilogue offers 10 strategies for transforming a congregation, which could also serve as an agenda for creating a new synagogue-community. That is followed by a discussion guide for any group ready for brainstorming the subject.This book contains enough wisdom to make it a classic resource for the transformation of religious experience in the new millennium. Read it and think about whether any of the ideas discussed make sense for you today.