Creating a sacred community is one of the most important tasks facing congregational leaders – rabbis, cantors, educators, executive directors, and lay leaders – in the twenty-first century. This unique book presents a master class by frontline practitioners who share cutting-edge lessons learned from their success in shaping sacred communities. Renowned educator and congregational innovator Dr. Ron Wolfson, with his student and colleague Rabbi Brett Kopin, invites the reader into his senior seminar teaching rabbinical school students the art of leading a relational sacred community in settings ranging from synagogues to independent minyanim to Hillels. Each chapter features actual transcripts of the conversations between the outstanding Master Class Contributors and the students.

Creating Sacred Communities - Leading Practitioners Share Lessons Learned

Ron Wolfson

Rabbi Brett Kopin

The Kripke Institute

"The Relational Judaism Handbook" is designed for Jewish leadership - both professional and lay - to create and implement a Relational Engagement Campaign, a comprehensive strategy for building and deepening relationships throughout the synagogue, JCC, Hillel, or other organization. The book presents a step-by-step guide to help boards and staff plan and implement an effective strategy for strengthening connections between the leadership of the organization and its members, between members and each other, and between each person and the Jewish experience itself. Filled with many successful Spotlights on Best Practice and Case Studies from leading practitioners, this interactive guide will help you improve the welcoming ambience and high quality experience offered to members and guests, as well as give you detailed instructions on how to build a robust small-groups initiative to engage your people. Extraordinarily practical, "The Relational Judaism Handbook" is a must-read for boards, clergy, executives and staff who want to make Relational Judaism come alive in their community.

The Relational Judaism Handbook: How to Create a Relational Engagement Campaign to Build and Deepen Relationships in Your Community

Nicole Auerbach

Lydia Medwin

The Kripke Institute Center for Relational Judaism

Explains the concepts behind Passover ritual and ceremony in clear, easy-to-understand language, and guides you with step-by-step procedures for observance and preparing the home for the holiday. Easy-to-Follow Format: Using an innovative photo-documentary technique, real families describe in vivid images their own experiences with the Passover holiday. Easy-to-Read Hebrew Texts: The Haggadah texts are in Hebrew, English, and transliteration. An Abundance of Useful Information: A detailed description of the procedures involved in performing rituals is included, along with a section of practical questions and answers. Innovations offers imaginative ideas and customs for Seder celebration.

The Art of Jewish Living : The Passover Seder

Religion & Spirituality

Jewish Lights Pub.

A hands-on guide to crafting a culture of academic excellence and kindness in a school...or any organization dedicated to raising children.

Raising A+ Human Beings: Crafting a Jewish School Culture of Academic Excellence and AP Kindness

bruce-powell

The Kripke Institute, Institute for School Culture

A guide to meeting the needs of those who mourn and those who seek to provide comfort in times of sadness. While this book is written from a laypersons point of view, it also includes the specifics for funeral preparations and practical guidance for preparing the home and family to sit shiva . Advice is given for attending a Jewish funeral, how to help during shiva, what to say to the mourners, and what to write in a condolence letter. Special sections deal with specific situations of modern life, including helping young children grieve and understand shiva, deaths from AIDS, and mourning the death of an infant or child.

A Time to Mourn a Time to Comfort

Self-Help

Death & Grief