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Synagogue 2000 lives on, in part through its curriculum. You'll find a wealth of knowledge available in these resources which we now make available to anyone at no charge.

NOW AVAILABLE

R'fuah Sh'leimah

48 Songs of Healing and Wholeness from the Comfort of Jewish Tradition Edited by Merri Lovinger Arian and published by Synagogue 2000, R'fuah Sh'leimah was compiled in response to a growing need from synagogues of all denominations, in response to all who yearn for the nearness of God.

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Nefesh
Nefesh

Experience the joyous sounds and inspirational words of Merri Lovinger Arian as she sings your favorite S2K melodies in Craig Taubman's beautiful arrangements.

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God's To-do List: 103 Ways to Be an Angel and Do God's Work on Earth
by Ron Wolfson

"This wonderfully readable, highly actionable book of gentle wisdom can turn your life's journey toward deeper meaning, greater compassion, and joy. You CAN be a blessing!"

Rabbi Rachel Cowan,
Executive Director, Institute for Jewish Spirituality

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ReThinking Synagogues: A New Vocabulary for Congregational Life
by Rabbi Larry Hoffman

A critical and challenging look at reinventing the synagogue, as the centerpiece of a refashioned Jewish community.

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The Spirituality of Welcoming: How to Transform Your Congregation Into a Sacred Community
by Ron Wolfson

"Dr. Ron Wolfson of the University of Judaism in Los Angeles has written The Spirituality of Welcoming (Jewish Lights, 2006), the best book I have seen on how to make congregations into sacred communities where everyone feels connected and at home."

Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie
President, Union for Reform Judaism

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EMERGENT JEWISH COMMUNITIES and their PARTICIPANTS:

Preliminary Findings from the 2007 National Spiritual Communities Study

Over the past few years, we have seen an important new phenomenon in Jewish life: the creation of dozens of independent minyanim, spiritual communities, alternative worship services, EMERGENT JEWISH COMMUNITIES and their PARTICIPANTS: Preliminary Findings from the 2007 National Spiritual Communities Study and emergent congregations. This rich array adds diverse opportunities for worship, learning, social justice work, community-building and spiritual expression.

We knew very little about the thousands of people associated with these new endeavors. Who are they? What are their concerns? How do they feel about the communities they're creating, joining, and building? Why do they participate?

To answer these questions, the S3K Synagogue Studies Institute, in collaboration with Mechon Hadar, conducted a survey designed by the prominent sociologist Steven M. Cohen in partnership with Rabbi Elie Kaunfer and Shawn Landres. Our goal was to find out more about the participants, members, partners, and "acquaintances" of these new spiritual communities. The results of this work is the first ever portrait of the interests, values, and concerns of a critical innovative turn in American Judaism.

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in pdf format

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EMERGENT JEWISH COMMUNITIES and their PARTICIPANTS: Preliminary Findings from the 2007 National Spiritual Communities Study

EMERGENT JEWISH COMMUNITIES and their PARTICIPANTS: Preliminary Findings from the 2007 National Spiritual Communities Study

Discuss the findings
on Mechon Hadar's dicussion board

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Bloggers react to the 2007 NSCS and the Emergent/Indy Minyan Phenom

»What Defines the New Minyan Movement?: at Jspot by Jeremy Burton
»Judaism without Synagogues: at JewsByChoice.Org by David Gottlieb
»Facts on the Ground
»Cold Hard Facts: at On the FAR Side by David Singer
»The Continuity “Questions”: at Thinking Jewish (Brooklyn Jews blog) by Rabbi Andy Bachman
»kiruv: can Orthodoxy prove itself meaningful?: at Divrei Chaim by Chaim B.
»Jews Are So Edgy and Religious: at Faithhacker / Jewcy by Tamar Fox
»Letter to Aaron re: Reform, & tolerance of others observance.: at Yiducation by David Kopp
»The Future of the Jewish People – Could It Be Unity?: at The Litith Blog by Rebecca Honig Freidman
»The Minyan without a Binyan: at Temple Board Authority by BoredofDirectors

On Sunday, November 5, 2007, 4,500 people gathered at the ornate Fox Theatre for Hallelu Atlanta, a celebration of Jewish spirit and synagogue life that can accurately be described as a Jewish tent meeting. The event was an extraordinary moment in the history of one of the fastest growing Jewish communities in North America.

It was the purpose of the event that made the difference between a Jewish hootenanny and a celebration of synagogue and spirit. It was the culmination of a year-long series of Synagogue 3000 workshops on membership outreach and inreach for the clergy and lay leadership teams of twenty Atlanta area congregations from across the denominations.

S3K commends the synagogue leadership in Atlanta for having the courage and vision to create a more welcoming community.
learn more about S3K's Atlanta Initiative...

News about S3K's Atlanta Initiative and Hallelu Atlanta

Yo, Yenta!: Jessica Leigh Lebos blogs about Hallelu: Sing Low, Sweet Chariot
September 20, 2007; Are Y’all Feelin’ The Hallelu Love?
October 17, 2007; Debbie Friedman Made Me A Better Jew
November 1, 2007; How-dee From Hallelu…
November 4, 2007; Snippets From the Stage
November 5, 2007; Snippets From the Stage, Part 2
November 5, 2007
Media Coverage: Joyful Jewish tent meeting is worthy of emulation
Jewish Telegraphic Agency November 26, 2007; Hallelu Atlanta brings together 4,500
Jewish Telegraphic Agency November 7, 2007; Faith & Values: Atlanta a testing ground for bolstering Jewish life
Atlanta Journal Constitution October 27, 2007; Packing the Pews: Synagogue 3000 pilots effort to restore shuls to the center of Jewish life
Atlanta Jewish Times March 9, 2007; 1 Weekend, 3 Services Music star Taubman to introduce different worship models for community
Atlanta Jewish Times March 9, 2007; Keeping the Excitement At Synagogue Week After Week
Atlanta Jewish Times March 9, 2007; Applying a Retail Model at Shul
Atlanta Jewish Times March 9, 2007

S3K SHOUT OUT

Of Newsweek's Top 25

Pulpit Rabbis in America,
at least 9 have ties to S3K.
Yasher Koach to them - and to S3K!

S3K SHOUT OUT

Synagogue 3000 welcomes noted sociologist Professor Steven M. Cohen to its staff as Director of Research.
Baruch habah!

S3K SHOUT OUT

Synagogue 3000 congratulates S3K co-founder and Senior Academic Fellow Rabbi Larry Hoffman on winning a National Jewish Book Award for "My People’s Prayer Book Series" in the category of Modern Jewish Thought and Experience from the Jewish Book Council. Mazel Tov!

S3K SHOUT OUTS

Synagogue 3000 congratulates four Jewish Emergent Initiative organizations, Hadar, IKAR, Kavana, and Storahtelling on being included in this year's "Slingshot, A Resource Guide to Jewish Innovation," an annual compilation of the 50 most inspiring and innovative organizations, projects, and programs in the North American Jewish community today published by The Charles and Andrea Bronfman Philanthopies. Mazel Tov!

Guidebook to Understanding Liberation of the Jews

Why is this book different from all other prayer books used in Jewish services? The April 12 edition of the New York Times answers the question by quoting Larry Hoffman's new book, My People’s Passover Haggadah.

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NOW AVAILABLE

EMERGENT JEWISH COMMUNITIES and their PARTICIPANTS:

Preliminary Findings from the 2007 National Spiritual Communities Study

News about S3K's Atlanta Initiative and Hallelu Atlanta

Guidebook to Understanding Liberation of the Jews

Seeking a Third Way to Respond to the Challenge of Intermarriage

The Urge to Emerge: New Communities Blossom

Recentering the Kehilah: Gender and Sexual Identity in Jewish Emergent Communities

Jewish-Christian dialogue: Vive l’difference!

Jamie Korngold: "Adventure Rabbi" Leads People into God's Country

Synagogues Become Rock Venues Congregations Using Music To Revitalize Membership Rolls

DIY Judaism: A Roundtable on the Independant Minyan Phenomenon

Think spiritually, act strategically

The Mega-Shul

Reform finds inspiration in mega-church techniques

Creating Community

Time To Act On Continuity Studies

Looking For The Perfect ... Shul

Young Jews creating their own community

Breaking the Code of Ritual Observance

Study Looks Beyond Shul

‘Wake-Up Call’ For The Denominations

Amazingly, the new Jews actually love their Shabbat services

A Jewish Lesson: The Georgia Aquarium

Emergent Jewish Communities Study Released

Minyan study: Jews pray on own terms

What Defines the New Minyan Movement?

Challenging Tradition, Young Jews Worship on Their Terms

Joyful Jewish tent meeting is worthy of emulation

Be like God

Hallelu Atlanta brings together 4,500

On Religion: An Unlikely Megachurch Lesson

Faith & Values: Atlanta a testing ground for bolstering Jewish life

Muslims, Jews share a holy day

Reforming Reform

Finding Our Fourth

Wolfson inspires B'nai Amoona audience

Ah Yes, I Remember Them Well

American Jewish youth alienated from Israel, study finds

Rosh Hashana time of reflection for many. Rabbis to encourage faithful to make new year meaningful

Rosh Hashana time of reflection for many. Rabbis to encourage faithful to make new year meaningful

Queen Anne Jewish community goes its own way

'Emerging' communities receive microgrants

Day of Awe

Closer To God, Far From Shul

Top 10 NY Jews

Jewish self-help books flood market

The ‘Cool’ Beit Midrash