Rethinking Synagogues

Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD, has served for more than three decades as professor of liturgy at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. He is a world-renowned liturgist and holder of the Stephen and Barbara Friedman Chair in Liturgy, Worship and Ritual. His work combines research in Jewish ritual, worship and spirituality with a passion for the spiritual renewal of contemporary Judaism.His many books, written and edited, include seven volumes in the Prayers of Awe series: Who by Fire, Who by Water—Un'taneh Tokef; All These Vows—Kol Nidre; We Have Sinned: Sin and Confession in Judaism—Ashamnu and Al Chet; May God Remember: Memory and Memorializing in Judaism—Yizkor; All the World: Universalism, Particularism and the High Holy Days; Naming God: Avinu Malkeinu—Our Father, Our King; and Encountering God: El Rachum V'chanun—God Merciful and Gracious. Hoffman also edited the ten-volume series My People’s Prayer Book: Traditional Prayers, Modern Commentaries, winner of the National Jewish Book Award; and coedited My People’s Passover Haggadah: Traditional Texts, Modern Commentaries, a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award (all Jewish Lights).Rabbi Hoffman cofounded and developed Synagogue 2/3000, a transdenominational project to envision and implement the ideal synagogue of the spirit for the twenty-first century. In that capacity, he wrote Rethinking Synagogues: A New Vocabulary for Congregational Life (Jewish Lights).

"No one involved in synagogue life should miss the privilege of using these new, creative and imaginative tools to re-create their synagogue as a sacred community, and a place that is welcoming, accepting and alive with excitement."—Jewish Media Review“A must read for lay leaders, professionals, congregants—anyone truly interested in doing synagogue in a new way.… Synthesizes powerful ideas from sociology, economics, history, physics and other disciplines … gives us a distinctively Jewish take on synagogue life. If you want to change the conversation about synagogue transformation and have something radically meaningful to say, this is the book for you.”—Lee M. Hendler, author, The Year Mom Got Religion: One Woman's Mid-Life Journey into Judaism; past president, Chizuk Amuno Congregation, Baltimore“Challenges lay leaders as well as Jewish professionals.... Provides a creative and fresh approach to 'doing synagogue’.... A wonderful resource.”—Shofar“An important study.... A powerful and persuasive case for rethinking synagogues as sacred communities, above all else.”—Prof. Jack Wertheimer, provost, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America“Daring.... A passionate call to reawaken core beliefs ... and reexamine the meaning of living and passing on the Jewish faith.”—Midwest Book Review“Challenges many of our assumptions about synagogue and Jewish communal life, and offers a new lens through which we can examine those changes that may be necessary…. When the glorious history of American synagogues in the twenty-first century is written, there is no doubt that Hoffman will be acknowledged as one of the primary architects of its transformation, revitalization and health.”—Rabbi Daniel Freelander, vice president, Union for Reform Judaism“The first book to address the practical issues of transformation for contemporary American synagogues. A must read not just for synagogues but for all congregations…. Uniquely balances the academic with the practical. Those looking for ‘how do I do it’ best practices will find plenty of nuts and bolts here.”—Rabbi Aaron Spiegel, Indianapolis Center for Congregations, Inc.

• 1. The Theory in Short2. Thinking Spiritually3. Telling the Story4. Crafting the Vision5. Sacred Community6. Sacred Culture, Sacred System7. Synagogues in Context: The Larger PictureAcknowledgmentsNotes