University of Judaism
Los Angeles, CA

Synagogue 2000

Synagogue 2000 is a transdenominational project designed to restore the institution of the American synagogue to spiritual centrality in the lives of American Jews. NCF provided start-up funding for the project in 1995, along with the Righteous Persons Foundation and the Shirley and Arthur Whizin Trust, with the belief that helping synagogues become more spiritually, educationally and communally effective would be a significant means of ensuring Jewish continuity. Synagogue 2000 works on the national and local levels with Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist congregations that seek assistance in transforming their liturgy, building more effective boards, involving a wider spectrum of Jews, and improving their educational programs. They also coordinate research on effective synagogues, which in their view, are based on the following five attributes: 1) the fostering of a deep spiritual dimension; 2) a commitment to social action and to supporting others in need; 3) the encouragement of serious learning for adults and children; 4) the nurturing of a community that is both celebratory and supportive; and 5) the celebration of diversity.

The Project's success over the first two years has occasioned the need for stepped up activity beyond what the coordinators initially anticipated. NCF's recent support will allow the project to expand its communications capacity to meet the growing demand by supporting the maintenance of the Internet site, where congregations involved in the program interact with staff liaisons and with other congregations, and by establishing the video project, which will make demonstration tapes to show congregations how to adopt new liturgical practices.