Kerry M. Olitzky

“regardless of background, and is geared specifically for adult beginner learners. Also, the program is advertised in secular media.”

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“thought outside the religious realm. 3. Jewish values, particularly because they are often manifest in concrete ways, are of particular interest to…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“5. It is just as important to establish groups of followers who are seeking change as it is to foster leaders who…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“1. How can synagogue leaders transform those events already planned into Public Space Judaism events? 2. How can we reallocate our human…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“The challenge facing the synagogue is not an increase in the cost of membership. The challenge facing the synagogue is a decreasing…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“its current form. Yet, all is not lost. The experience of being fully American has also motivated large segments of millennials to…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“their feet. And that vote may help them march away from the synagogue if the synagogue doesn’t find effective ways to engage…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“what I call Destination Jewish Culture. These programs are also low barrier and held in secular spaces. However, they usually require some…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“be financially viable in its current form.”

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“to serve the majority of the Jewish community, even its entirety, rather than just those who are members of Jewish institutions.”

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“Some synagogues are simply calling themselves community institutions rather than membership institutions that require payment of dues to become a member. These…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“While the American synagogue was built with the financial support of what are commonly called three-day-a-year Jews, referring to those who may…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“local area become members of the synagogue simply by virtue of their living in the synagogue’s newly defined service area. They are…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“and through secular media outlets. 7. Recruit and train a sufficient number of staff and volunteers for the event to help make…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“I argue that synagogue leaders have it backwards. Engaging individuals is what will lead them to affiliate with a synagogue as the…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“While the notion is undoubtedly controversial, I argue that when a synagogue turns itself inside out, it can provide for life-cycle events…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“be familiar to potential participants, such as Passover or Hanukkah. Charge no entry fee to keep the barriers low for participation. 3.…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“Ten Working Principles of Big Tent Judaism 1. All people are welcome in an inclusive Jewish community, including those with a diversity…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“hegemony of the modern synagogue. These are the events that surround birth, coming of age, marriage (including divorce), and death. Many synagogues…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“participation, such as insider language or the high cost of Jewish life. 7. An inclusive Jewish community takes Jewish life out to…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“Turning the synagogue inside out, into a community institution, means that it has to become a recognizable presence. The building used to…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“Synagogue Leaders 1. If people are attracted to Judaism and want to convert to Judaism, are we willing to make conversion more…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“will be interested in moving forward on the path of engagement during the first year of follow-up activities and events. The other…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“practice, the synagogue generally limits its services only to members in the area of bat or bar mitzvah. Most life-cycle events (outside…

— Kerry M. Olitzky

“default position, synagogues need to take what they do best—if they can indeed do them better than any other institution in the…

— Kerry M. Olitzky