2007 - United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

welcome their peers into the “fold” as they hold a tallit over their heads singing “Siman Tov.” It’s the one morning of
the week when donuts are sure to follow davening.
SILVER
TEMPLE BETH TORAH
250-500 Tamarac, FL
Submitted by Rhonda Fatt 954-721-7660
Our goal as a synagogue is to bring Jews into the building on Shabbat, both for services and other programs. As a
synagogue we are traditional egalitarian, running very traditional worship services on Friday evening, Saturday
morning, and Saturday afternoon. We are well aware that not every Jew is attracted to these services. That is why we
have introduced a variety of activities allowing participation not only during services, but also before and after worship.
On Friday nights we have introduced a number of activities before, during and after the service. These include
special programs such as Pet Shabbat, Klezmer Shabbat,Tot-Shabbat before services, more singing and guitar
accompaniment during a more informal service, class services, weekly family style Shabbat dinners, and a monthly
service conducted in Spanish.
On Saturday mornings we have also introduced various activities to increase participation. This includes a
Torah reading corps to encourage lay people to read Torah (difficult since we read an entire portion), a monthly
learner’s service, a monthly Torah discussion, Yoga Shabbat, and various formats for lunch and learning after services.
We also have a weekly mincha, shalasheudas, maariv, havdalah, with special havdalah happenings several times a
year. All of these programs have succeeded in bringing more Jews into the synagogue on Shabbat.
HONORABLE MENTION
TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM
Over 900
Roslyn Heights, NY
Submitted by Rabbi Sidney Solomon 516 621 2288
For the last twelve years we have developed a very extensive program to train lay Torah Readers for participation in all
Shabbat and festival services. The program involves people of all ages and all levels of ability.
The program fosters active involvement in the service by encouraging people to read Torah in conjunction with
life cycle events, i.e., in celebration of special birthdays or anniversaries, for an ufruf, and other significant occasions.
In addition to the Bar and Bat Mitzvah students who frequently read two and three aliyot, siblings, parents,
grandparents, cousins, other relatives and close family friends frequently read. Balebatim are also invited to read Torah
in observance of Sisterhood Shabbat, Men’s Club Shabbat, Solomon Schechter Shabbat and Ramah Shabbat. Our
Ritual Director initiated, developed and administers the program. He recruits and trains the readers and provides them
with tapes and Xerox copies of the portions and more recently, with CD’s, for people who prefer this format.
The program has had many beneficial results. One result is that for over a decade, throughout the year,
virtually all of the Torah reading on Shabbat, the High Holy Days and the pilgrimage festivals, as well as the Purim
Megillah reading have been done by teen-agers and adults of all ages. Ongoing follow-up outreach to participants has
generated strengthened ties to Shabbat and festival observance and to increased synagogue attendance, not only by the
individuals who read, but also by other family members. The program has added even more vitality to, and further
enhanced, our already-inspiring services. There has been a marked intensification of Torah study, a renewed sense of
religious enthusiasm and increased awareness of Torah as the heritage of the people of Israel.
HONORABLE MENTION
NORTHERN HILLS SYNAGOGUE B’NAI AVRAHAM
100-250 Cincinnati, OH
Submitted by David I. Zucker 513-934-6038
Increasing attendance at Friday night services, involving newer members, looking for ways to demonstrate to the larger
community who we are, participating in the Synaplex project, energizing Shabbat morning services – these were some
of the reasons members at Northern Hills Synagogue – Congregation B’nai Avraham came together to generate a new
approach to Shabbat services.