If you go by just the numbers, the Conservative Jewish movement in the U.S. is in trouble demographically. The National Jewish Population Survey 2000-2001 found that the number of Jewish households affiliated with a Conservative synagogue had dropped from 43 to 33 percent from 1990 to 2000, while Reform affiliations grew from 35 to 39 percent and Orthodox grew from 16 to 21 percent.
And, with the national Jewish population essentially static, there is no rising tide of overall growth to offset the proportional decline in the number of Conservative Jews.
Are there reasons to be pessimistic? Sure. But just because the big picture may be bleak doesn’t mean that on the local level there is reason for despair. In fact, here at Tikvat Israel I am feeling just the opposite. As I write this, our Membership Committee, chaired by Lynne Benzion, is meeting to plan a number of new membership development initiatives. I am confident that Lynne and her committee will work hard to boost our membership ranks.
But an optimism tempered by realism dictates that the prospects of a significant jump in our numbers may not be possible in the current climate. And that is why it is more important than ever that our membership program include a strong retention component. This is not just the province of Lynne’s committee or our Board of Directors. Membership retention is the responsibility of every member of Tikvat Israel who cares about the future of the synagogue.
We will continue to focus on planning events and programs that are halachically appropriate, fiscally sound, and geared toward providing a positive experience for as many members as possible. And I hope that, whatever your level of involvement in our synagogue, you will do what you can to help keep it the member-friendly congregation that we all love and that was one of the reasons why most of us joined in the first place, whether it was at Beth Tikva 40 years ago, Temple Israel 30 years ago, Tikvat Israel 10 years ago—or just last summer.
Do you see someone new at Shabbat services? Please, greet them. Whether they are veteran members returning after a long absence or newcomers to the community, they’ll appreciate the gesture, I guarantee it. Do you know someone who has a synagogue-related problem or question and doesn’t know where to turn? Please, encourage them to contact the appropriate people—the office, the rabbi or cantor, or me—and offer to do it for them if you think that will help. Or, on a more mundane level, do you see a stray gum wrapper on our front patio? Please, pick it up and put it in the trash. Is someone struggling with our sometimes balky front doors? Please, give assistance where you can.
Sure, this is all simple, common courtesy. But we live in an often discourteous, or at least indifferent, world. Going even a bit out of the way to reach out to a fellow member at Tikvat Israel, and to make our facility a more inviting one wherever we can, can do wonders. You may just be helping to keep some fellow members in the fold, by reminding them of what makes our congregation so special—and encouraging them to make a similar gesture to their fellow congregants.
