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Synaplex
BI Certified a Synaplex™ Synagogue
(reprinted from BI Matters, July 2006)
B'nai Israel Congregation is delighted to have been accepted as a part of the
national Synaplex™ Initiative, a program of STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and
Renewal). As part of our participation in this unique program, we will be
developing exciting new programming centered on prayer, study, and social and
cultural programs during the celebration of Shabbat once a month in the
synagogue.
What is Synaplex™? Synaplex™ is a way to celebrate simultaneously the many
authentic expressions of Judaism — learning, culture, and gathering, as well as
prayer. People have a multitude of ways to participate in Judaism and Jewish
life; Synaplex™ brings them together in Jewish "prime time," that is, in the
synagogue on Shabbat™.
Synaplex™ was developed by STAR, a Minneapolis-based philanthropic partnership
of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Jewish Life
Network/Steinhardt Foundation and the Samuel Bronfman Foundation with the goal
of enriching American Jewish life in the 21st Century. Key supporters are
businessman Charles Schusterman, and Jewish philanthropists Edgar Bronfman Sr.
and Michael Steinhardt.
The name Synaplex™ was chosen akin to the multiple-theater movie going
"Cineplex" experience where a menu of different offerings is presented; Synaplex™
congregations provide congregants with a variety of offerings on Shabbat from
which they may choose.
Synaplex™ is designed to transform the contemporary American synagogue from an
institution that speaks to an increasingly limited segment of the Jewish
community to one that is relevant, inspirational and significant. The vision of
Synaplex™ is for synagogues to grow with people as they evolve over time,
instead of allowing people to grow out of them. Synagogues provide lifelong
opportunities for Jewish living, learning and celebration and place a premium on
being part of a pluralistic, multi-generational community.
Synaplex™ started in 2003 with a pilot project involving 11 synagogues;
initially grants were offered but these are no longer available. Currently,
about 50 congregations across the country representing all denominations and
non-denominational synagogues are participating in Synaplex™, spanning the
country from Connecticut to California and Minnesota to Florida. Nine synagogues
in the Philadelphia area — the largest number in any metropolitan area — offer
Synaplex™ Shabbat programming.
In affiliating with this program, B'nai Israel becomes the first synagogue in
the Baltimore-Washington area to do so and the third Synaplex™ Orthodox
synagogue—the others being Baron Hirsch Synagogue of Memphis and Congregation
Beth Israel Abraham & Voliner of Overland Park, KS.
For several years B'nai Israel Congregation has wrestled with the problem of
attracting new people to religious services as well as to its cultural and
social programming--especially young adults and empty nesters.
And so when the opportunity to apply for membership as a Synaplex™ congregation
arose, we responded eagerly since Synaplex™ congregations are known for
innovative programs that deepen the participation of members and attract the
unaffiliated. They use their volunteer talent more creatively than most and
therefore bring in new energy into their community. As a result, participating
congregations have seen sustained increases in Shabbat attendance of about 50%
on Shabbat morning and 80% on Shabbat evening.
While Synaplex™ will provide us with training modules and other help in
marketing, volunteer engagement, programming, fund development, assessment, and
other critical areas, the success of this collaboration will depend heavily on
our ability to attract volunteers willing to serve on our Steering Committee and
Action Team. If you have an enhanced love for being Jewish, excitement and
meaning in getting folks involved, satisfaction in opening new doors to Jewish
experiences for members of the community, and enjoyment in working with a group
of like-minded individuals, then we solicit your service as a volunteer. Please
call our congregation office, 410-732-5454, to make your volunteer commitment.
Finally, Synaplex™ offers us the advantage of tapping into a network of some 50
creative and vibrant synagogues with which we can share experiences and exchange
ideas and programming concepts. We are also hopeful that Synaplex™ will enable
us to bring in new sources of funding.
Rabbi Alan Yuter has enthusiastically endorsed our participation and took part
in a Synaplex™ Orientation Conference Call on Tuesday, May 9, together with
B'nai Israel Board members Frank Boches and Howard Cohn.
Please note that we will be gradually integrating the Synaplex™ logo into our
various print and web-based materials. Look for more about Synaplex™ in B'nai
Israel's newsletter and on our web site. Further information about STAR Synaplex™
is available at their web site—www.starsynagogue.org.
B'nai Israel's Synaplex™ Shabbatot
Come to Pray, Come to Listen and Learn, Come to Stay
B'nai Israel Congregation brings you Synaplex™, an innovative approach to
Shabbat celebration. We are in our first full year of an exciting affiliation
with STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal) to implement "Synaplex™
programming" on Shabbat at BI. Like a multi-screen movie theatre, Synaplex™
offers a variety of Shabbat experiences to meet the needs and respond to the
varied interests of our Jewish community. Synaplex™ programs supplement
traditional prayer services by providing more ways to connect with Judaism and
the Jewish community during Shabbat. By activating all three traditional roles
of the synagogue - House of Learning, House of Study, and House of Prayer –
Synaplex™ makes Jewish "prime time" richer and more exciting for all.
Join us for traditional prayer, learners' services, life-enhancing spirituality
and healing sessions, innovative study, political discussions, walking tours,
children's programming, interfaith discussions, congregational dinners, musical
offerings, community service opportunities, comedy performances, exciting
speakers, film screenings (on Saturday nights), wine tasting, communal havdallah,
and much, much more. Members and non-members are welcome to attend some or all
of the events during a Synaplex™ Shabbat.
Check this site for information on upcoming programs.
Synaplex™ is an initiative of STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal).
Synaplex™ is made possible by grants from UJA-Federation of New York and STAR.
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