Rethinking Synagogues

"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.