Thriving Communities Leadership Calls
This page contains a regularly updated list of leadership calls offered to congregational leadership, along with accompanying resources. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jacob Weinberg, Associate for Thriving Communities, at JWeinberg@ReconstructingJudaism.org.
FY25 Calls
Attracting New Members: The Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Approach – 11.20.24
Recordings
Video
Resources
- Maurice Harris’s video presentation on YouTube
- Workshopping a “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood” Approach to Outreach (Worksheet)
- Thriving Communities Safety & Security webpage
- Security Community Network (SCN)
Introducing our new VP for Thriving Communities and Partnerships – 9.18.24
Recordings
Video
Audio
FY24 Calls
Resources
- Thriving Communities Tips for Presidents Slides
- President’s Primary Relationships Slides
- Maintaining Healthy Board and Organizational Culture Slides
- The Rabbi Congregation Relationship aka The Purple Book
- Synergy Report on the Role of The Executive Director
- Sanctifying Digital Communication
- Leadership Resource Library
Resources
The War and the Tensions within our Congregations – 5.15.24
Recordings
Audio
Resources
- Reconstructing Judaism’s Israel Resource webpage – Take some time to explore this page and the different sections you’ll find as you scroll through it.
- Yom Ha’atzma’ut Programming Ideas from Rabbi Lily Solochek
The “J” Stands for Joy in our Communities – 4.17.24
Recordings
Audio
Resources
- Disability and accessibility Reconstructing Judaism webpage
- Haggadah Supplement – Adding JOC Voices to Your Haggadah developed by the Tikkun Olam Commission of the Reconstructionist Movement. This free supplement brings you a collection of contemporary commentary on our Passover narrative written by Jews of Color.
Attracting and Retaining Members – 3.20.24
Alternative Dues/ Membership Models – 2.21.24
Recordings
Video
Audio
Resources
- New Insights on Voluntary Dues – Synergy 2017.pdf
- Are Voluntary Dues Right for Your Synagogue? – Synergy – 2015.pdf
- Membership Levels – Mishkan Shalom
- Dorshei Tzedek’s model with income brackets
- Synagogue Blues with Less Blues by Rabbi Shawn Zevit
- Offerings of the Heart: Money And Values in Faith Communities by Rabbi Shawn Zevit
- Money and Jewish Values in Community 2024 b Rabbi Shawn Zevit
- Recording of 2019 Leadership Call on Alternative Dues including Rabbi Shawn Zevit
Synagogue Real Estate – Should We Stay or Should We Go? (EDA) – 1.24.24
Recordings
Video
Safety and Inclusion – 1.17.24
Leadership Development – 12.13.23
Recordings
Video
Audio
Resources
- PowerPoint Leadership Development
- Leadership Development & Succession (12.15.21 Recording)
- Leadership Development (12.21.22 Recording)
- Cultivating Volunteers – Understanding Basic Myths – Charles Simon
- Congregation Assessment Worksheet
- Inc – Why You Need to Learn How to Speak a Leadership Vocabulary
- New Presidents Workshop Part 1
- New Presidents Workshop Part 2
Rabbi Liaison Committees – 11.15.23
Planned Giving – 10.18.23
Recordings
Video
Audio
Resources
- Presentation slides from Planned Giving call
- Legacy Gift Pledge Form Template (PDF)
- Legacy Gift Pledge Form Template (Word)
- Legacy Gift Intent Form Template (Word)
- Legacy Gift Intent Form Template (PDF)
- Legacy Circle HHD Sample Bookmark (PDF)
- 23 Planned Giving Terms You Should Know A Glossary of Common Terms
- Planned Giving Wiki Glossary of Terms
Transgender Equity with Keshet – 9.27.23
Recordings
Audio
Resources
- Presentation from today’s call
- LGBTQ+ terminology glossary
- “What’s in a Pronoun?” guide
- Gender Inclusive Aliyah Cards
- Institutional Self Assessment for LGBTQ+ Inclusion
Resolution on affirming transgender and non-binary Jews
FY23 Calls
High Holiday Speeches – 8.16.23
Recordings
Breakout Room Recordings:
Session 2 Resources
Presidents’ Guide to Writing a High Holiday Message 2023.pdf
Tips for Creating a High Holiday Speech
Sample President’s Messages:
- Or Hadash: Or Hadash President’s Message
- Temple Beth Israel – TBI High Holiday Appeal & TBI Presidents’ Address
- Kehilat Sukkat Shalom – Kehilat Sukkat Shalom President’s Message
- Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue – Malibu President’s Message
New Presidents’ Workshop Part 2 – 7.19.23
Recording
Resources
- Thriving Communities Favorite Tips for Presidents
- President’s Primary Relationship – Slides
- The Rabbi-Congregation Relationship or The Purple Book
- 2018 Synergy, Role of the Executive Director
- Teutsch Guide to Jewish Practice – Volume 1
- Sanctifying Digital Communication
New Presidents’ Workshop Part 1 – 6.14.23
Recording
Resources
- Presentation by Rabbi Maurice Harris
- Making a Difference – Rabbi David Teutsch – Decision Making Models
- Jewish Communal Leadership and Congregational Governance
- Compass Point Board Model
- Blessing for Community Work
- Opening song: L’dor Vador by Rena Branson
Engaging Communities – 5.17.23
Recording
Resources
- eJewishPhilanthropy – Is anyone ever coming back to the pews?
- Evolve – Re-imagining Synagogues and Communities
Rabbinic Field Study Program – 4.19.23
Recording
Resources
- Field Education Overview
- Year 4 and 5 – Student Compensation Guidelines
- Student Salary Guidelines 2022
Staff Supervision & Reporting Structures- 3.8.23
Recording
Meeting Resources
- Slides from Call
- Center for Congregations List of Resources
- Policy for Staff Evaluation
- HR Policies and Procedures
- Staff Job Descriptions and Example Contracts
- Organizational Charts
Rabbi – Congregational Relationships- 2.15.23
Recording
Meeting Resources
- The Rabbi-Congregation Relationship (Purple Book) PDF
- Liaison Committee – the how’s and why’s – Rabbi Elyse Wechterman
What to Say About Your Budget- 1.18.23
Recording
Meeting Resources
- Presentation Slides
- Meeting chat
- eJewishPhilanthropy – The Dynamic Budgeting Process
- Reconstructing Judaism – Living Our Financial Values
- Offerings of the Heart: Money And Values in Faith Communities – Rabbi Shawn Zevit
Leadership Development – 12.21.22
Recording
Meeting Resources
- Presentation Slides
- Making a Difference – David Teutsch – Leadership Development
- Stepping Forward – Bob Leventhal
- A Guide to Leadership Development in Your Congregation – UUA
- Center for Congregations List of Resources
- STAR Map – Excellence in Volunteer Recruiting
- Cultivating Volunteers – Understanding Basic Myths
- Meeting Chat
Healthy Conversations in our Congregations – 10.19.22
Recording
Meeting Resources
- Presentation on Behavioral Covenants by Rabbi Elyse Wechterman
- Community Covenants and Britot
- Listening in the Midst of Pain
- Mahloket Matters: How to Disagree Constructively – The Beit Midrash Way
- 9Adar – How do we disagree
- Table Tent with 10 Commandments for Board Members. For an editable Microsoft Publisher File, click here.
- JRC Covenant of Honorable Discourse
- JRC Covenant for Board Members
- Kol Ami Northern Virginia Code of Civility
- UUA Covenant of Right Relations
- UUA Destructive Behavior Policies
Resolution on Reparations- 9.21.22
Recording
Meeting Resources
FY22 Calls
Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (RDEI) in Congregations – 4.20.22
Recording
Meeting Resources
- All of Rabbi Sandra and Rabbi Micah’s resources from the RDEI intensive at Convention
- Jewish Social Justice Roundtable – Pilot Racial Justice Work
- The Three-Legged Stool of Congregational Racial Justice Work
Pew Study Discussion – 2.9.22
Recording
Meeting Resources
Leadership Development and Succession – 12.15.21
Recording
Meeting Resources
The Next Normal – 10.20.21
Recording
Meeting Resources
- The Next Normal – Tresa Grauer
- For those who were interested in the Kaplan quote from the call, it was from his definition of community, which is “that form of social organization in which the welfare of each is the concern of all, and the life of the whole is the concern of each.” This quote comes from his 1948 book, The Future of the American Jew. If you want to explore more quotes by Kaplan, we suggest you take a look at The Kaplan Listening Center.
FY21 Calls
Leadership Check-in 2021 – 8.18.21
Recording
The vast majority of the call was conducted in breakout rooms, which were not recorded. However, we are sharing the written form of our introduction and framing below in our resources section, which was read in the first 10 minutes of the call.
Meeting Resources
High Holidays 2021 – 7.14.21
Recording
Meeting Resources
Leadership Development for Presidents pt. 2 – 6.16.21
Recording
Meeting Resources
Leadership Development for Presidents pt. 1 – 5.19.21
Recording
Meeting Resources
- Thriving Communities’ Favorite Tips for New(ish) Presidents – 5781 edition
- Reflections of a President by Michael Cornell – Oseh Shalom, Md.
- The Rabbi-Congregation Relationship (Purple Book) – PDF
- Jewish Communal Leadership and Congregational Governance by Rabbi Shawn Zevit and Rabbi Shira Stutman – PDF
- A Little Text Study for Board Meetings by Rabbi Maurice Harris
- A Guide to Jewish Practice (Parts 1,2,3) by Rabbi David Teutsch
- Making A Difference by Rabbi David Teutsch
Reopening: When and How? – 4.29.21
Recording
Meeting Resources
- Summarized Breakout Room Notes
- Questions and Answers from Public Chat
- Temple Emek Shalom Reopening Overview
- Temple Emek Shalom Outdoor Event Guidelines
- Bet Am Shalom COVID Capacity Guidance Rubric
- Bet Am Shalom Engagement Survey Sample
- Or Hadash Reopening Survey Sample
- Community Reopening Guidelines – Chicago Rabbinic Council
- Center for Jewish Ethics: Jewish Values and the Coronavirus
- Guide to the Considerations About Re-opening Synagogue Buildings, published 7.16.20 by a Cross-Movement Working Group from the Reconstructionist, Reform, and Conservative Movements
- CDC Events and Gatherings: Readiness and Planning Tool
Reimagining Membership during the Pandemic and Beyond – 3.17.21
Recording
Meeting Resources
What Comes Next?: Hybrid Engagement Modes, Membership and Beyond – 2.17.21
Recording
Meeting Resources
- Summarized Breakout Room Notes
- Slides from Rabbi Micah’s framing and drash
- Slides from Rabbi Maurice’s Presentation
- Reopening Guide (Version 2)
Values-Based Budgeting and Decision Making in Uncertain and Challenging Times – 1.13.21
Recording
Meeting Resources
Key Tips for Talking to News Professionals – 10.28.20
Recording
Meeting Resources
- Key Tips for Talking to News Professionals
- Slides from the call, updated to include most of Bryan Schwartzman’s talking points
- Congregation Dor Hadash (PA) Messaging Guide for Second Year Commemoration, with social justice talking points
Election Season Preparation – 10.25.20
Recording
Meeting Resources
FY20 Calls
High Holiday Messaging – 8.12.20
Recording
Meeting Resources
Onboarding New Presidents – 7.12.20
Recording
Meeting Resources
- Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations
- Resources for Communities
- Affiliation and Dues
- Community Communicators: This webpage houses a “ready to cut-and-paste” list of upcoming events and programming to share in your community newsletters. We highly suggest sharing this page with the person who edits your newsletter and suggest they bookmark it and check for ready-to-go content from the movement.
- Reconstructionist Press
- Listservs: please email Jacob Weinberg at jweinberg@reconstructingjudaism.org to request to be added or removed from the Presidents’ list. All new presidents are automatically added. This list is open to both current presidents and immediate past presidents. If you are an outgoing president, please let Jacob know if you’d like to keep your email subscribed, or if you prefer to use a different email address.
Alternative High Holiday Plans – 6.10.20
Recording
Meeting Resources
- Notes from Breakout Groups
- Video and NYT Article referenced in Rabbi Micah’s D’var Torah
- Recording of session on High Holiday Family Services with Eliana Light
- Synergy- Reopening Scenario Planning Guide
- Chat from the call
- SAJ: Judaism that Stands for All announcement of online High Holidays from Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Hermann
- Kehillath Shalom, NY High Holiday Communication from President Howard Globus and Rabbi Lina Zerbarini
- Click here to open a full list of additional resources
High Holiday Planning – 5.20.20
Recording
Meeting Resources
- Reconstructing Judaism statement on reopening our institutions
- Rabbinical Assembly – Jewish Values Regarding Physical Reopening of Our Institutions
- Congregation Bet Haverim (Atlanta, GA) Guidelines for Gatherings
- Oliver Wyman Primer on Responding to COVID-19
Budgeting in Uncertain Times – 5.6.20
Recording
Meeting Resources
- Rabbi Maurice Harris’ write-up of the call
- “Obligations of Employers” from Rabbi David Teutsch’s Guide to Jewish Practice, vol. 1
- Foundational Values for Navigating Organizational Financial Crisis
- “Attitudes, Beliefs and Values” from Rabbi David Teutsch’s Guide to Jewish Practice
- Simple Worksheet for Values Based Decision Making
Moving forward in a “New Normal” – 4.21.20
Recording
Meeting Resources
- Rabbi Maurice’s slides: Virtual Board & Congregational Meetings, Electronic Voting, and By-Laws.pptx
- Link to Rabbi Maurice’s D’var Torah
- Board Effect
- National Council of Non-Profits
- Jurassic Parliament on COVID-19
Congregational Responses to COVID-19 – 3.22.20
Recording
Meeting Resources
- FY21 Aviv Loan
- Congregational Responses to COVID 19
- Kol Tzedek Task Force Document
- Public Chat from Meeting
Tikkun Olam Collaborations: The Value of Engaging with Others Beyond the Walls of the Synagogue – 1.5.20
Recording
Meeting Resources
FY19 Calls
Cultivating Civil Discourse – 9.8.19 and 8.27.19
Recording
No recording was shared for this call.
Meeting Resources
- JRC Covenant of Honorable Discourse
- JRC Covenant for Board Members
- JRC Covenant – foundation for the two documents above
- Table Tent with 10 Commandments for Board Members. For an editable Microsoft Publisher File, click here.
- Adat Shalom Covenant for Board Members
- Adat Shalom Listserv Guidelines
- Debra Linick’s Presentation on Civility from Kol Ami NVRC
- Kol Ami Northern Virginia Code of Civility
- Torah of Reconciliation
- Drash on Psalm 19 by Rabbi Maurice Harris
- Jewish Council for Public Affairs
- Presentation on Behavioral Covenants by Rabbi Elyse Wechterman
- 9Adar: Jewish Week of Constructive Conflict
Alternative Dues – 6.23.19
Recording
Meeting Resources
First Rabbi and Spiritual Leader Zoom Call – 5.29.19
Recording
