Ron Wolfson

Straightforward and common-sense advice for Jewish professionals seeking to build community. The book's beginning gets a little repetitive, as Wolfson spends more time than needed to justify why relationships are the key to saving synagogues, etc. (He also uses the mantra "meaning and purpose, belonging and blessing" way too often in the first chunk of pages.) But he does a great job at explaining the different levels of relationships and detailing the innovative approaches various people show more and institutions are taking to help create, maintain and grow connections. My own job doesn't make me solely or even mainly responsible for the health of an institution (thank heavens!), but this definitely encourages me to spend less time stuck on the computer and interact more with the families that come through the preschool. show less

Useful and understandable beginner's guide to the Friday night Shabbat service at home. This is definitely geared towards novices, but does have some interesting quotes and facts, and the interviews with several families are warm and funny (if too short).

This book is quite inviting, with lots of great photographs on synagogues in action. I notice this book is part of a series, which includes looks at a mosque, a catholic church (both an English and a Spanish version) and a hindu temple.

I appreciate how the book is organized, with sections on the Jewish people, how they worship, the holy book the Torah, the different holidays and traditions, and photographs of synagogues around the world. This looks to be one volume in a series that would be show more useful in any library, public or school. show less

A short introduction to the Jewish religion precedes many photographs that show what goes on in Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist synagogues in North America, such as prayer, life cycle events, and holidays.