“doing jewish stuff” - an experiment called NITA
Nita (Hebrew for, "We will plant, we will grow") is an experiment in "doing Jewish" differently. As one of Synagogue 3000’s Next Dor pilots, Nita has spent the last year plus creating a new model of community led by Rabbi Noa Kusher who describes her rabbinate as "… one part sales, one part emunah (faith), and one part chutzpah - a stubborn refusal to give up on my generation of Jews."
In this S3K report, Kushner reflects on the creation of Nita and its development over the last year. If we do Jewish differently, what does it mean to be a member? How do new communities pay their way? What’s in store for the future?
Tags: 3000, dor, experiement, jewish, kushner, marin, next, nita, synagogue, Synagogue 3000
November 18th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Next Dor, Synagogue 3000. Synagogue 3000 said: Noa Kushner's AMAZING article about Next Dor site NITA in Marin County http://bit.ly/a0DLAQ #nitamarin [...]
November 29th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
So, I’m sitting in my office with the NITA “lift kit”…and it is one of the most creative ideas I’ve seen in many years. I’ve been sharing it with synagogue leaders…and they are amazed by the out-of-the-box creativity of the piece.
I think what makes the kit so effective is the seamless integration of excellent content and irreverent style. “Get your Jewish on” is both an invitation and a command; I think of it as a 21st century riff on “mitzvah.” And then to have some very creative ways to engage Jewishly: a hot pink make-your-own mezuzah, some very nice juice beauty organic soap to help with refreshing yourself for the new year, a Reboot-originated sack to give your cellphone a rest, and a hand-selected group of business cards from organizations that NITA thinks you should know about. It really is a “tool kit to do Jewish stuff.”
Oh, and the 5771 “high holiday fast pass” is a take-off of the High Holiday ticket. NITA’s version reads: “Good only 5771/2010 (so don’t think you’re getting out of it next year). yes, you can use it to prove to your mother-in-law that you went. only at participating locations. Not redeemable in stores.” I love it!!!
Perhaps the “neata-est” thing about NITA is the excellent execution of the idea. No Xeroxed stuff here…this is all beautifully printed, creatively designed, and stunningly packaged in an upscale knapsack that anyone would be proud to carry around. So much of what I see in synagogue life is schlocky; the NITA lift kit is a wonderful example of how attention to detail makes all the difference to a sophisticated audience of young Jewish adults.
Yasher koach to Noa and her NITA crew!
December 1st, 2010 at 10:08 am
December 14th, 2010 at 11:25 pm
January 17th, 2011 at 12:08 am