Jewish Community Development

A Conversation With John S. Ruskay and Jeffrey Solomon [download PDF]

In April 2009, Jeffrey Solomon, president of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, and John S. Ruskay, executive vice president and CEO of UJA-Federation of New York, sat down together to discuss their common hopes and differing perspectives on the future of Jewish communal institutions and giving.

The Costs of Jewish Living: Revisiting Jewish Involvements and Barriers [download PDF]
Gerald B. Bubis

A 2008 article, published by the American Jewish Committee, in which Gerald B. Bubis analyzes information from previous studies and surveys regarding costs associated with living a fully Jewish life. Among his conclusions is a need to develop strategies that increase the appeal of Jewish education for those who can afford it in order to attract them as users and as underwriters for those who can't.

Uncoupled: How Our Singles Are Reshaping Jewish Engagement [download PDF]
Steven M. Cohen and Ari Y. Kelman

A 2008 study from the Jewish Identity Project of Reboot posits that at least half of the non-Orthodox Jews in America are “uncoupled” in two ways: they are unmarried and they are currently unengaged in organized Jewish life and community. The study argues that these uncoupled Jews are not rejecting their Jewishness; instead, their state is a reflection of their dissatisfaction with the Jewish communal world as it currently exists. The authors see several challenges in engaging this new generation, among them a need to develop opportunities and programming that is not solely family focused.

"Grande Soy Vanilla Latte With Cinnamon, No Foam . . .": Jewish Identity and Community in a Time of Unlimited Choices [download PDF]
Anna Greenberg and Jennifer Berktold

A 2006 Reboot report finding Jews of Generation Y are confident of their Jewish identity and proudly Jewish in America’s multicultural landscape — but these young Jews also identify themselves along gender, geographical, and sexual-orientation lines. Key findings show that this generation doesn't differentiate between American and Jewish values, experiences their Jewishness informally rather than formally, struggles to find meaning and connectedness in the Jewish community, and are disconnected from traditional Jewish institutions.

Who May Abide in Your House? Jewish Ethics and Decision Making [download PDF]
Union for Reform Judaism

An article providing Reform Jewish views on ethics and leadership in congregations and the workplace, discusses conflict resolution, and provides 10 steps to quality leadership.

Making Leaders: How the American Jewish Community Prepares Its Lay Leaders [download PDF]
Hal M. Lewis

A paper that examines methodologies and educational objectives of lay leadership training programs in 40 national and local Jewish organizations in the United States.

Setting Standards for Volunteer Leadership and the Profession: A Dialogue [download PDF]
Richard L. Wexler and Jeffrey R. Solomon

A 1999 article that compiles the thoughts and insights of two pillars in the Jewish communal-service family, Wexler and Solomon, as they explore an increasing need to standardize the lay–professional relationship.

The Changing Jewish Community [download PDF]
David M. Elcott

Published by the American Jewish Committee, this recent article explores topics from changes in social capital (the extent to which individuals come together in communal activities) to moves to democratize Jewish communal life.

Slingshot: A Resource Guide for Jewish Innovation [download PDF]
Produced by 21/64

This all-encompassing guide to innovations in the Jewish communal-service world examines cutting-edge developments in programming, fundraising, and community services at agencies throughout North America.

Cultural Events & Jewish Identities: Young Adult Jews in New York [download PDF]
Steven M. Cohen and Ari Y. Kelman

Partly funded by a grant from UJA-Federation, this 2005 report examines data from the 2000–2001 National Jewish Population Survey in combination with observations of the New York cultural scene to understand trends in how young Jews in New York self-identify.

The Jewish Marketplace [download PDF]
Chava Weissler

A 2004 article that examines current trends to market Jewish spirituality, questioning whether the marketing of self-fulfillment through such programs as "Torah yoga" can successfully mix with the communal aspect of the synagogue.

The Peoplehood Papers [download PDF]
United Jewish Communities

A selection of essays on Jewish peoplehood distributed at the 2007 General Assembly in Nashville, Tennessee.

"Sustaining Versus Innovative: Debunking a False Dichotomy" in Contact [download PDF]
John S. Ruskay

Within this Winter 2006 issue of Contact, the quarterly journal of the Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish life, UJA-Federatin's executive vice president and CEO argues that the assumption that large, established Jewish communal agencies lack the innovative drive to launch new programs and services is false.

Boston’s Jewish Renaissance
Doug Most

A 2005 Boston Globe article on the revival of the Jewish community in Boston looks at the ongoing changes in the community over the years and who is leading the current revival.

Other Materials

For copies of the following, contact 1.212.836.1883 or .

UJA-Federation and Temple Beth Sholom — Perfect Together!
Rabbi Alan Lucas

Temple Beth Sholom explores the relationship between the synagogue and UJA-Federation.

Preparing Your D’Var Torah
UJA-Federation of New York

A short tip sheet to help you locate a topic for your D’Var Torah and prepare for delivering it to a group.

Explorers of New Worlds
David M. Elcott

A 1993 article calling for a new approach to leadership and mission in the Jewish community in order to engage baby boomers.

Leadership Development: An Overview of The Associated's Commitment to Its Human Resources
Adam Rosenberg

A presentation that addresses the need for and initial plan to develop lay leadership at The Associated, Baltimore's Jewish Federation.

The Importance of Local Context in Leadership Development and Evaluation
Larry Peters and John Baum

A chapter from The Handbook of Leadership Development Evaluation that examines the difficulty in establishing data to support leadership-development efforts, and how local context matters when evaluating such efforts.

Understanding New York’s Jewish Coat of Many Colors: Bukharians, Persians, Israelis, and the Strictly Orthodox
William B. Helmreich

A scholarly look at four distinct Jewish communities in and around New York City providing historical backgrounds, what the communities look like here, the issues they face, and their relationships with the wider Jewish community.