Synaplex ™

 

 

The Village Temple Joins National Synaplex Shabbat Initiative

The Village Temple was selected by UJA-Federation of New York to join 160 other congregations around the US and Canada in a synagogue transformation initiative in 2007. This program was designed to help synagogues reach out to and serve a changing Jewish population. Synaplex was created by the STAR Foundation with funding from some of the top Jewish foundations in the world, including Bronfman, Shusterman and Steinhardt.

Read what Reform Judaism Magazine has to say about The Village Temple's Synaplex Shabbat services!

Synaplex Goals
We will experiment with various approaches to prayer, learning and gathering. Our efforts will be guided by certain core beliefs that draw on the results of demographic and market research on the Jewish community.

• Jewish identity is created within a community of shared meaning and intimate groups, in which participants engage in high-quality experiences.
• Synagogues should facilitate community building by offering flexible programming to match the diversity of spiritual, cultural and educational interests of congregants and potential congregants.
• Synagogue involvement is a process, and people may first need to experience the value of belonging before they are ready to join in.

Our goal is to make the Temple a center of worship, community building and learning for members and guests alike by offering innovative programming at the Synaplex Shabbat service. In addition to our Friday night services, we have experimented with other activities on Fridays and Saturdays. Some are learning opportunities for adults and children. Some are opportunities for gathering, connecting, having fun, dancing, singing and, of course, eating.

Synaplex at The Village Temple, 2011 - 2012
In year five, we again focus some of the Synaplex Shabbat experiences on different cultures and ethnic groups, as well as American music and our annual Jazz Shabbat. Synaplex Friday programs begin at 6:30 pm and include community Shabbat dinners or special Onegs that reflect the theme of the service, for a modest fee. All Synaplex Shabbat experiences include youth activities so that parents can join in the worship service: Junior Congregation, for 8 to 12 year olds, and Shabbat KinderCare for 3 to 7 year olds, with pizza dinner.

Leave the work-week behind and join us for a learning, relaxing and delicious Synaplex Shabbat.

Friday, November 4, 2011: Jews of Persia 

Friday, December 2, 2011: American Jewish Songbook and New Member Shabbat

Friday, March 2, 2012: Jazz/Kurt Weill Synaplex Shabbat

Friday, May 6, 2011: Jews of Shanghai

For more information, please contact our Synaplex Co-Chairs Barbara Leopold and Mimi Abrams via The Village Temple Office at 212-674-2340 or visit the national Synaplex website www.starsynagogue.org.