SYNAGOGUES INSPIRING PASSIONATE ARCHITECTS OF THE JEWISH FUTURE

Synagogues at the forefront of Jewish life have rightly become concerned about the changeover from the baby-boomers to their children, the twenty- and thirty-year olds whom sociologists call Gen X and Gen Y. At stake is Jewish continuity, particularly in the liberal sector, that 90% or so of Jews are not necessarily committed to significant Jewish identity. Coordinating a sustained and successful engagement strategy to the next generation is the next frontier in synagogue life.

S3K’s overall plan is to begin establishing a synagogue-based network to engage the Next Dor (generation) in every major city of the United States and Canada. What distinguishes Next Dor from other similar efforts is that it recognizes the centrality of synagogues in North American Jewish life. It therefore connects young people not just to stand-alone social or cultural events (as important as they are), but to the institution of the synagogue; and it does so in ways that research has shown to be effective.

from An Invitation to the Next Synagogue Frontier by Larry Hoffman