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Relational Judaism: Using the Power of Relationships to Transform the Jewish Community
How to transform the model of twentieth-century Jewish institutions into twenty-first-century relational communities offering meaning and purpose, belonging and blessing. "What really matters is that we care about the people we seek to engage. When we genuinely care about people, we will not only welcome them; we will listen to their stories, we will share ours, and we will join together to build a Jewish community that enriches our lives."
―from the Introduction Membership in Jewish organizations is down. Day school enrollment has peaked. Federation campaigns are flat. The fastest growing and second largest category of Jews is “Just Jewish.” Young Jewish adults are unengaged and aging baby boomers are disengaging. Yet, in the era of Facebook, people crave face-to-face community. “It's all about relationships.” With this simple, but profound idea, noted educator and community revitalization pioneer Dr. Ron Wolfson presents practical strategies and case studies to transform the old model of Jewish institutions into relational communities. He sets out twelve principles of relational engagement to guide Jewish lay leaders, professionals and community members in transforming institutions into inspiring communities whose value-proposition is to engage people and connect them to Judaism and community in meaningful and lasting ways.
―from the Introduction Membership in Jewish organizations is down. Day school enrollment has peaked. Federation campaigns are flat. The fastest growing and second largest category of Jews is “Just Jewish.” Young Jewish adults are unengaged and aging baby boomers are disengaging. Yet, in the era of Facebook, people crave face-to-face community. “It's all about relationships.” With this simple, but profound idea, noted educator and community revitalization pioneer Dr. Ron Wolfson presents practical strategies and case studies to transform the old model of Jewish institutions into relational communities. He sets out twelve principles of relational engagement to guide Jewish lay leaders, professionals and community members in transforming institutions into inspiring communities whose value-proposition is to engage people and connect them to Judaism and community in meaningful and lasting ways.
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2013
45 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 1, 2013
Ron's point: connecting Jews to synagogues, Jewish organizations and to Judaism itself is all about relationships (or what I have called connectedness in my work). Relationships between Jews, between Jews and others, between Jews and Judaism, between Jews and God, and more. Theology, programs and gimmicks don’t drive Jews to connect. Nor does an interest in “joining” a particular organization. Perhaps these things were once powerful, but not today.
The author presents examples of organizations that “get it”, and successfully use relationships to connect Jews to institutions, community and Judaism: Chabad, Next Dor, independent minyanim, some very highly innovative synagogues and more. He also mentions some of the people, lay and professional, who are leading these various organizations and initiatives.
Relational Judaism has already moved to the front of the reading list of rabbis, Jewish educators and Jewish communal professionals, and with good reason. Whether you’re a Jewish professional, a community leader or simply someone concerned about the future of the Jewish community and its organizations, this is a book that will get you thinking about the changes that need to be made in order to assure the future of the Jewish people. The next questions, and I hope and expect the author to address this further in future works, is how to retrain current professional and volunteer leaders to lead in a relationship-centered Judaism, and how to best develop the pipeline of new leaders imbued with a passion for relational Judaism.
The author presents examples of organizations that “get it”, and successfully use relationships to connect Jews to institutions, community and Judaism: Chabad, Next Dor, independent minyanim, some very highly innovative synagogues and more. He also mentions some of the people, lay and professional, who are leading these various organizations and initiatives.
Relational Judaism has already moved to the front of the reading list of rabbis, Jewish educators and Jewish communal professionals, and with good reason. Whether you’re a Jewish professional, a community leader or simply someone concerned about the future of the Jewish community and its organizations, this is a book that will get you thinking about the changes that need to be made in order to assure the future of the Jewish people. The next questions, and I hope and expect the author to address this further in future works, is how to retrain current professional and volunteer leaders to lead in a relationship-centered Judaism, and how to best develop the pipeline of new leaders imbued with a passion for relational Judaism.
August 13, 2023
I'm a big believer in deeply relational community building and engagement, so I thought I'd finally come to the Jewy source for this approach. I read this and kept thinking, "wait, I know this line." "This is familiar." "I know this already." At first I was disappointed - I wanted to learn, to get new insight. And then I realized that the reason I'd heard all this before is because, in less than a decade, Wolfson's approach and language have infused the Jewish world, and Hillel in particular. So that was affirming, if not novel. And now I'm glad to have read it, to appreciate that transformation.
March 29, 2013
Amen!!!!
July 25, 2024
Wolfson has written this book expressly for non-orthodox communities, and many of his examples of programming and even some of the ideas are difficult or not relevant to orthodox communities.
Nevertheless, this book is of immense importance for everyone involved in building jewish communities across the world. Wolfson has done us all the favour of isolating, describing and exploring the social glue which holds together many of our communities. For any jewish community which is not completely held together by irresistible social pressure or wellsprings of Individuals and households possessed by religious passion, then this book is essential reading.
Nevertheless, this book is of immense importance for everyone involved in building jewish communities across the world. Wolfson has done us all the favour of isolating, describing and exploring the social glue which holds together many of our communities. For any jewish community which is not completely held together by irresistible social pressure or wellsprings of Individuals and households possessed by religious passion, then this book is essential reading.
July 22, 2019
A very powerful, interesting, and compelling book on how to use a focus on relationships to drive building Jewish community.
May 1, 2021
Really, really helpful. I'm recommending that my temple's board read and study this together to think about the fundamental move from programmatic to relational Judaism.
February 25, 2023
Very thought provoking. Essential reading for those involved in modern Jewish community work.
April 19, 2015
The premise of Ron Wolfson's Relational Judaism—that Jewish synagogues and other institutions need to focus on establishing relationships with members and potential members as a means of combating declining enrollment and engagement—is a solid one, and is a message to which anyone involved in the administration of such institutions would do well to give some serious thought.
Unfortunately, this book is bogged down by lengthy anecdotes and testimonials that are not anywhere near as informative as would be needed to justify their length, and which too often do not speak as directly to the book's central point as they should. At the same time, beyond the premise itself, the book does not offer a lot in the way of a roadmap for institutions that are trying to reform themselves, particularly those which are struggling most heavily with the sort of financial and demographic challenges to which Dr. Wolfson offers Relational Judaism as an antidote.
Still, this book can serve administrators of Jewish institutions with a starting point for the conversation needed to turn struggling institutions around (though I would also suggest such administrators take a look at Simon Sinek's Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action as well, as one of the big questions Dr. Wolfson never suggests that those involved in running these institutions ask themselves is "Why are we doing this and what purpose should we be serving?"). It is, in short, an imperfect book, but one that is currently still alone in seeking to address some very pressing questions faced by Jewish institutions today.
Unfortunately, this book is bogged down by lengthy anecdotes and testimonials that are not anywhere near as informative as would be needed to justify their length, and which too often do not speak as directly to the book's central point as they should. At the same time, beyond the premise itself, the book does not offer a lot in the way of a roadmap for institutions that are trying to reform themselves, particularly those which are struggling most heavily with the sort of financial and demographic challenges to which Dr. Wolfson offers Relational Judaism as an antidote.
Still, this book can serve administrators of Jewish institutions with a starting point for the conversation needed to turn struggling institutions around (though I would also suggest such administrators take a look at Simon Sinek's Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action as well, as one of the big questions Dr. Wolfson never suggests that those involved in running these institutions ask themselves is "Why are we doing this and what purpose should we be serving?"). It is, in short, an imperfect book, but one that is currently still alone in seeking to address some very pressing questions faced by Jewish institutions today.
June 20, 2014
Ron Wolfson makes a powerful argument about the importance of prioritizing relationships above programs and buildings when it comes to the survival of Jewish institutions. I have found myself thinking about how I can value and build better relationships among people I encounter not just in the Jewish community, but in the wider community.
January 6, 2014
Good book. The author uses concepts explored for such a long time by community organizing; yet, here these ideas seem somewhat taken off their context. Clear and straightforward point, although sometimes over-repetitive. Overall, nice read, discussing very important and we'll-needed elements lacking on Jewish life.
January 26, 2014
I read this because the rabbi & several others leaders in our synagogue are very taken with this book. The author stresses how "relationships" are what hold a Jewish community (at least, this seems to hold for non-Orthodox communities) together, more than programs or buildings. Some good points, & lots of real-life examples.
January 4, 2015
The author missed an opportunity to talk about why individuals are not engaged in the synagogue. Wolfson is more concerned with the overall health of the organization rather than that of the individual. He fails to realize that a healthy organization is composed of healthy, engaged individuals. Build it and we will come! A shame!
August 31, 2014
Great ideas. Very motivating and affirming.
September 19, 2013
A superb approach to revamping the current affiliation model of religion. Some of the ideas, like not having set dues but just asking people to pay what they can, are so crazy they just might work!
June 12, 2014
Everyone involved in a synagogue community should read this book about what being part of a community is really all about.
July 15, 2015
I kind of found it boring, but that might have been because I had to read it for work "book club". Interesting take on the importance of relationships in Judaism, but not super exciting.
January 4, 2016
Ron Wolfson is decades ahead of the curve when it comes to Jewish community building. His work should be studied by anyone with a stake in the future of Judaism and the Jewish community.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews