2007 - United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

250-500 Schenectady, NY
Submitted by Risé Routenberg and 518-393-9211
Ann Zonderman
Congregation Agudat Achim accomplished the most ambitious, ongoing fund-raising project in its 115-year history in
April 2006 with the publication of Divine Kosher Cuisine cookbook. This all-volunteer, two-year effort involved 204
participants from a congregation of 350 families. It produced a full-color, full-text, all-occasion cookbook now selling
worldwide from www.divinekosher.com, and numerous online and onsite booksellers, synagogue and Judaic gift shops.
Already in its second printing, the cookbook is funding educational synagogue programs. This long-term project has
met its projected first year goal, generating an initial cash installment.
The cookbook has garnered critical acclaim for culinary, photographic and text content from Jewish and non-
Jewish food writers across North Arnerica.* It has won the 2006 Middle Atlantic Region Mcllhenny-Tabasco Cookbook
Award for excellence,* the only kosher cookbook to win.
Risé Routenberg and Barbara Wasser, retiring chefs/co-chairs of the synagogue’s all-volunteer, kosher catering
service, As You Like It [a 2003 Solomon Schechter Gold Award winner*], proposed the project to the congregation in
2004. They envisioned the essential components for a unique kosher cookbook: wide-ranging culinary expertise, a 30-
year storehouse of closely guarded recipes and a tradition of reliable, hands-on volunteerism that would staff the
project.* A 10-member steering committee formed to coordinate the project under general areas of finance, production
and marketing, which subdivided as necessary. The congregation was mined for experts and helpers in each category. A
talented and enthusiastic staff of volunteers assembled.
Rabbi Robert Kasman, our Kashrut Authority, continues to be an important resource.* Initial seed money to
self-publish and market the cookbook was raised by creative mailings, personal solicitations and elegant taste-test
parties,* which sparked congregational and community interest, and stimulated donations from congregants and funding
from local corporations. More than 400 recipes were selected, using exacting criteria that included a home-testing team
of 140 volunteers.* An aggressive publicity and advertising campaign was launched, which continues. An international
email print and broadcast media list was compiled, which receives newsworthy press releases.* Print ads are placed in
key national magazines, strategically pegged to special cooking, home entertaining and gift-buying seasons. This
publicity generates continuing media interest and results in book reviews, interviews and timely articles featuring our
recipes.*
The cookbook brings great pride to the synagogue and continual local press coverage.* Paralleling the wide
geographic marketing program, our congregants continue to reach out to family, friends and colleagues across the
country, in person-to-person marketing that produced hundreds of pre-paid orders, long before publication.* The project
has also created mutual fundraising opportunities for other synagogues and Jewish centers across the country. The
chef/coauthors present food preparation demos and do book signings at well-attended programs.*
SILVER
COMMACK JEWISH CENTER
250-500 Commack, NY
631-543-3311
Our Junior Congregation room was desperately in need of a renovation. Ugly brown paneling on all four walls. Nothing
to inspire our youngsters to feel a part of the enthusiasm we were experiencing in other areas of our shul life. Enter
Bonnie Bresalier and Robin Farbman, two moms of Religious School students, both with a creative side just waiting to
be unleashed on this drab room.
First we obtained the poster series “350 years of Jewish life in America.” In order to frame and display the
posters, we solicited $36 in donations for a “share” in the poster. The response was enthusiastic with many families
“purchasing” an entire poster for $108. The fifteen series set sold out in record time raising $1,620 to cover the cost of
framing and all the paint needed for the rest of the project. Our students painted a beautiful mural on one wall based on
a painting of Jerusalem by Israeli artist, Bracha Lavee. The children loved the involvement and really took ownership of
the project and did a fabulous job. Robin and Bonnie faux painted two walls, convinced Men’s Club and Sisterhood to
donate the funds for an entire cork wall to display future art projects by our students. The final wall was a blank canvas
just begging for a facelift, so we conceived our “L’dor V’dor wall. Bricks were faux painted then “sold” for $36 each.