BI Certified a Synaplex™ Synagogue

(reprinted from BI Matters, July 2006)

B'nai Israel Congregation is delighted to have been accepted as a part of the national Synaplex™ Initiative, a program of STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal). As part of our participation in this unique program, we will be developing exciting new programming centered on prayer, study, and social and cultural programs during the celebration of Shabbat once a month in the synagogue.

What is Synaplex™? Synaplex™ is a way to celebrate simultaneously the many authentic expressions of Judaism — learning, culture, and gathering, as well as prayer. People have a multitude of ways to participate in Judaism and Jewish life; Synaplex™ brings them together in Jewish "prime time," that is, in the synagogue on Shabbat™.

Synaplex™ was developed by STAR, a Minneapolis-based philanthropic partnership of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation and the Samuel Bronfman Foundation with the goal of enriching American Jewish life in the 21st Century. Key supporters are businessman Charles Schusterman, and Jewish philanthropists Edgar Bronfman Sr. and Michael Steinhardt.

The name Synaplex™ was chosen akin to the multiple-theater movie going "Cineplex" experience where a menu of different offerings is presented; Synaplex™ congregations provide congregants with a variety of offerings on Shabbat from which they may choose.

Synaplex™ is designed to transform the contemporary American synagogue from an institution that speaks to an increasingly limited segment of the Jewish community to one that is relevant, inspirational and significant. The vision of Synaplex™ is for synagogues to grow with people as they evolve over time, instead of allowing people to grow out of them. Synagogues provide lifelong opportunities for Jewish living, learning and celebration and place a premium on being part of a pluralistic, multi-generational community.

Synaplex™ started in 2003 with a pilot project involving 11 synagogues; initially grants were offered but these are no longer available. Currently, about 50 congregations across the country representing all denominations and non-denominational synagogues are participating in Synaplex™, spanning the country from Connecticut to California and Minnesota to Florida. Nine synagogues in the Philadelphia area — the largest number in any metropolitan area — offer Synaplex™ Shabbat programming.

In affiliating with this program, B'nai Israel becomes the first synagogue in the Baltimore-Washington area to do so and the third Synaplex™ Orthodox synagogue—the others being Baron Hirsch Synagogue of Memphis and Congregation Beth Israel Abraham & Voliner of Overland Park, KS.

For several years B'nai Israel Congregation has wrestled with the problem of attracting new people to religious services as well as to its cultural and social programming--especially young adults and empty nesters.

And so when the opportunity to apply for membership as a Synaplex™ congregation arose, we responded eagerly since Synaplex™ congregations are known for innovative programs that deepen the participation of members and attract the unaffiliated. They use their volunteer talent more creatively than most and therefore bring in new energy into their community. As a result, participating congregations have seen sustained increases in Shabbat attendance of about 50% on Shabbat morning and 80% on Shabbat evening.

While Synaplex™ will provide us with training modules and other help in marketing, volunteer engagement, programming, fund development, assessment, and other critical areas, the success of this collaboration will depend heavily on our ability to attract volunteers willing to serve on our Steering Committee and Action Team. If you have an enhanced love for being Jewish, excitement and meaning in getting folks involved, satisfaction in opening new doors to Jewish experiences for members of the community, and enjoyment in working with a group of like-minded individuals, then we solicit your service as a volunteer. Please call our congregation office, 410-732-5454, to make your volunteer commitment.

Finally, Synaplex™ offers us the advantage of tapping into a network of some 50 creative and vibrant synagogues with which we can share experiences and exchange ideas and programming concepts. We are also hopeful that Synaplex™ will enable us to bring in new sources of funding.

Rabbi Alan Yuter has enthusiastically endorsed our participation and took part in a Synaplex™ Orientation Conference Call on Tuesday, May 9, together with B'nai Israel Board members Frank Boches and Howard Cohn.

Please note that we will be gradually integrating the Synaplex™ logo into our various print and web-based materials. Look for more about Synaplex™ in B'nai Israel's newsletter and on our web site. Further information about STAR Synaplex™ is available at their web site—www.starsynagogue.org.

B'nai Israel's Synaplex™ Shabbatot

Come to Pray, Come to Listen and Learn, Come to Stay

B'nai Israel Congregation brings you Synaplex™, an innovative approach to Shabbat celebration. We are in our first full year of an exciting affiliation with STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal) to implement "Synaplex™ programming" on Shabbat at BI. Like a multi-screen movie theatre, Synaplex™ offers a variety of Shabbat experiences to meet the needs and respond to the varied interests of our Jewish community. Synaplex™ programs supplement traditional prayer services by providing more ways to connect with Judaism and the Jewish community during Shabbat. By activating all three traditional roles of the synagogue - House of Learning, House of Study, and House of Prayer – Synaplex™ makes Jewish "prime time" richer and more exciting for all.

Join us for traditional prayer, learners' services, life-enhancing spirituality and healing sessions, innovative study, political discussions, walking tours, children's programming, interfaith discussions, congregational dinners, musical offerings, community service opportunities, comedy performances, exciting speakers, film screenings (on Saturday nights), wine tasting, communal havdallah, and much, much more. Members and non-members are welcome to attend some or all of the events during a Synaplex™ Shabbat.

Check this site for information on upcoming programs.

Synaplex™ is an initiative of STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal). Synaplex™ is made possible by grants from UJA-Federation of New York and STAR.

B'nai Israel Congregation  • 27 Lloyd Street • Baltimore, MD 21202 • 410-732-5454 • Fax 410-732-4850