Jewish Communities Worldwide

In Search of Authenticity: New Expressions of Jewish life in North America

A comprehensive overview of Jewish identity and cultural renewal initiatives underway in North America.

In Search of Authenticity: New Expressions of Jewish life in North America

Emergent Model 1 – Ikar, Mishkan, Kitchen, Romemu – new synagogue model. Non-denominational, radical inclusivity, lively services, thoughtful process to include newcomers while engaging with deeper Jewish content. Encourage highly engaged membership. Some experimental in their Jewish approach (Lab/Shul).

2. Emergent Model 2 – Sixth & I – multiple access and engagement points – focus on learning in non-judgmental space – services reflect variety of styles – no membership; pay per event.

3. Emergent Model 4 – Kavanah Cooperative – multiple access and engagement points – focus on highly committed membership in “cooperative” model; “Hillel for adults.”

4. Large establishment community Jewish institution (92nd St. Y) with emergent young-adult engagement program geared to marginalized Jews – based on education and non-typical experiences – less religious in nature.

5. Emergent from within an established denominational space (Riverway Project in Boston) – Shabbat, holiday, and religious services and meals, learning, go out to neighborhoods – host events in various spaces – Chabad-style outreach and connection building.

6. Established denominational synagogue that hosts various innovative communities under its roof – creates larger community with multiple engagement points – all independent – Kehillath Israel – partners with other communities that share vision of inclusion – ideological and pragmatic.

7. Community sponsored emergent outreach – number of synagogues jointly sponsor professional outreach independent of the synagogues (Den Collective – Conservative).

8. Large synagogues with thriving young-adult communities – young-adult engagement rabbi, young adult Shabbatot (Emanu-El in San Francisco, Anshei Emet in Chicago, Park Avenue in New York).

9. Independent minyanim – lay-led intimate communities, either egalitarian or “partnership” model, often meet 1-2 times a month and for occasional holidays – for urban young-adults, main community. For suburban families, bolster but not replace local synagogues – caters to highly engaged who seek “extra.”

10. Sustainability and environmental communities – Hazon – worldwide – Jewish sustainability, Eden Village summer camp in upstate New York.

11. Moishe House – peer-led grassroots communities – sponsored by large organization.

12. Base Hillel – pluralistic “Chabad” – outreach professionals – rabbinic couple – open home as outreach and engagement center in areas with large young Jewish communities.

13. Non-traditional frameworks for advanced Jewish text study – Svara, Hadar, etc.

14. Online Jewish text engagement – 929, Sefaria, Hadar Project Zug.

15. Incubators and Accelerators – Hakhel – intentional community innovator, Upstart – innovation accelerator, Sketchpad.

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