The deeper we delved and the further we peeled back the layers, the more we began to understand that the issues facing synagogues at this time were more complex than financial sustainability – including, critically, the downward trend in congregational affiliation and membership. by Dr. Beth Cousens and Cantor Adina Frydman Questions about synagogue dues have been in the Jewish press for several years now. Perhaps this came to light with the start of the economic downturn in 2008, when discretionary dollars began to decrease, discretionary spending began to decrease, and synagogue membership was revealed to be discretionary to many. Perhaps this is because synagogue membership in its current form is counter to the “non-joiner” trend. Rabbi Dan Judson, author of "Scrapping Synagogue Dues" … [Read more...]