2007 - United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Participants had such a good time, many of them returned for our second dinner at a Chinese restaurant. At that event,
people were enjoying moving from table to table, just like one does at a Bar or Bat Mitzvah dinner. Many stayed past
dessert just to talk. Our third dinner was at an Israeli nightclub with entertainment and dancing. This was a fun way to
end the program.
SILVER
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF PARAMUS
250-500 Paramus, NJ
Submitted by Sandra Alpern 201-262-7691
The Membership Committee of the JCCP has been working especially hard in the last few years to develop programs
and policies aimed at making our synagogue even warmer, more comfortable, and more welcoming for new, as well as
esblished, members.
It is has long been our informal poilcy to remind Board members that they are all ambassadors of the
Membership committee. We also encourage long time members to approach and speak with people they don’t recognize
when they see them on Shabbat and at synagogue events.
We have come up with a package of more formal initiatives which include:
• The publication of a JCCP magazine
• Name tags for all members of our Board of Directors
• Calling every member of our synagogue on the telephone
• New Open House format
• Honoring long-time members at Shabbat services
• Contacting new members about upcoming programs
• Annual Sukkah luncheon honoring new members
• Newest member Breakfast or brunch with Rabbi Weiner
• A full Kiddush luncheon every Shabbat
SILVER
HAR ZION TEMPLE
Over 900
Penn Valley, PA
Submitted by Ana S. Kolansky 610-667-5000
In Shul Fest we set out to create a program that would bring together all constituent groups while offering an
opportunity to build community and engage both new and old members. Our aim was to create a unifying program that
would celebrate our past, present, and future. There were various elements to be incorporated in an effective program,
including: the 30th anniversary of our building dedication in Penn Valley, introduction of a new Educational Director of
our schools, and the beginning of a new year of learning for children and adults. The result was the creation of a festive
day at the synagogue, which honored our past, celebrated our present, and pointed us, enthusiastically, toward the New
Year.
Shul Fest was successful because it allowed us to come together and build our own Mishkan, our own
Tabernacle. As much as we are not in the desert, we still have to give our leaders and our members the opportunity to be
part of something that is being built and if they choose so, to be part of the building process. Shul Fest did it for us.
Everyone made his or her contribution, and at the end of the day we ended up on a higher spiritual level, more ready to
usher the new Jewish year feeling better about ourselves and about our Synagogue.
Shul Fest was successful because it was conceived and executed in a very inclusive way. We made a concerted
effort to include and capitalize on all the different aspects or Har Zion Temple’s both professional and lay leadership’s
dedication, skills and talents. We learned that what we can create together is much bigger that the simple sum of our
individual efforts.
Shul Fest was successful because it generated a very powerful buzz that permeated into the programming for
the rest of the year. The leaders of the different constituent groups appreciated the benefit of working together. We were