Self Renewing Congregation: Organizational Strategies for Revitalizing Congregational Life(Revitalizing Congregational Life)

How can my congregation become more vital? How can we both honor the past and embrace the future? “[The Self-Renewing Congregation] calls for ‘renewal’…from within, not without—a renewal that begins with institutional self-reflection, proceeds through a process of self-engagement, and ends with self-generated innovations that can deepen the synagogue congregation as a sacred community. The core of this book offers any congregation seeking this path a compelling and realistic roadmap, a vision, and a process that is rooted in applied research and practical experience.” —from the Foreword by Dr. Ron Wolfson, codeveloper, Synagogue 2000; author of Shabbat: The Family Guide to Preparing for and Celebrating the Sabbath Revitalizing and re-imagining the organization of our synagogues takes work! Combining expert advice and experience garnered from congregations throughout North America, The Self-Renewing Congregation shows us how transformative change is possible. A complete resource full of ideas, information, and support, this is a guide for those of us involved in, or interested in, energizing our spiritual communities. Isa Aron, founding director of Hebrew Union College’s Experiment in Congregational Education (ECE), offers concrete, practical information on how to bring about change through collaborative leadership, and helps us grow dynamic, successful congregations.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Dr. Ron Wolfson, Co-Developer, Synagogue 2000 Acknowledgments 1 The Self-Renewing Congregation 2 Inadvertent Change vs. Conscious Self-Renewal 3 Thinking Back and Thinking Ahead: Being Reflective and Proactive 4 Collaborative Leadership: When Leaders Learn to Follow and Followers Learn to Lead 5 Seeing Both the Forest and the Trees: Creating Community amid Diversity 6 Honoring the Past While Anticipating the Future: Balancing Tradition and Change 7 Individual Self-Renewal Notes About Jewish Lights

About the Author :
Isa Aron, PhD, is professor of Jewish education at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion's Rhea Hirsch School of Education. Founder and former director of the Experiment in Congregational Education (ECE), she now serves as senior consultant. She holds a PhD in philosophy of education from the University of Chicago, and her writing on education and congregational renewal has appeared in such journals as the American Journal of Education, Tikkun and the Journal of Reform Judaism. She is also author of Becoming a Congregation of Learners: Learning as a Key to Revitalizing Congregational Life and The Self-renewing Congregation: Organizational Stragegies for Revitalizing Congregational Life. Isa Aron, PhD, is available to speak on the following topics: Synagogue Change (or Synagogue Renewal) Jewish Education Moral Education Dr. Ron Wolfson, visionary educator and inspirational speaker, is Fingerhut Professor of Education at American Jewish University in Los Angeles and a cofounder of Synagogue 3000. He is author of Relational Judaism: Using the Power of Relationships to Transform the Jewish Community; The Seven Questions You're Asked in Heaven: Reviewing and Renewing Your Life on Earth; Be Like God: God's To-Do List for Kids; God's To-Do List: 103 Ways to Be an Angel and Do God's Work on Earth; Hanukkah, Passover and Shabbat, all Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs Art of Jewish Living family guides to spiritual celebrations; The Spirituality of Welcoming: How to Transform Your Congregation into a Sacred Community; A Time to Mourn, a Time to Comfort: A Guide to Jewish Bereavement and Comfort and, with Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, What You Will See Inside a Synagogue (all Jewish Lights), a book for children ages 6 and up. He contributed to May God Remember: Memory and Memorializing in Judaism—Yizkor, Who by Fire, Who by Water—Un'taneh Tokef, All These Vows—Kol Nidre and We Have Sinned: Sin and Confession in Judaism—Ashamnu and Al Chet (all Jewish Lights).