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Congregation Shir Heharim, located in Southern Vermont
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November 2012
Reclaiming Membership

This month the Board of Trustees explored the topic of membership—we spoke about why people make a commitment to join and why perhaps people do not. We tackled hard questions such as what's the benefit of membership if people can participate in anything without making a commitment? Should we restrict participation in certain events to just members? Charge for High Holy Day participation? As you might imagine, this was a passionate conversation. We committed to a Board retreat to further discuss our vision for BAJC as well as to engage with our membership in exploring what it means to belong to BAJC.

Sharon, Paul, and Marty
Julie Strothman, BAJC President

Concrete benefits of membership include voting on our budget and other weighty matters, participation in our Hebrew School, ability to lead our sacred committees, having life cycle events facilitated by our spiritual leader in our synagogue, and reduced cost of plots in our cemetery. One board member offered that she is a member not because of what she gains, but because of what membership enables her to give to others.

Many of you have already stated your annual commitment to membership by submitting your membership form and dues. Thank you. Membership commitment means ensuring Jewish presence not just through your much-needed financial support but, equally as important, through your participation. It is a way of saying "I will help meet the needs of the community"—whether through attending services to ensure we can say communal prayers, voicing an opinion, attending a class, joining in social action, visiting those who are ill or home-bound, tending our building and grounds, or in some other way. Giving of ourselves—our time, our energy—brings personal gifts beyond measure.

For many of us, BAJC offers a Jewish experience very different from that of our youth, where perhaps we were put off by the favors showed to those able to give more financially—where aliyot, the best seats, dinner with the Rabbi, and other honors were given based on the amount of money a person contributed. BAJC strives to make everyone feel welcome. We hope our inclusiveness leads people to feel they belong here, to take on some aspect of tending the needs of our community. Is it possible we are inclusive to the point of making membership meaningless? I do not think so!

For some of us, there is no question of whether or not to belong: we feel responsible for having a Jewish congregation present to support Jews during the fragile times of birth, coming of age, loss, illness, marriage, and death; to educate ourselves, our children, and the larger community about Jewish customs and wisdom; to ensure maintenance of our Jewish cemetery; and to provide opportunities for prayer. Some of us hesitate to join because financial dues are weighed in the balance of other wonderful organizations to which we can donate the limited money we're able to give. When so many of us have interfaith families, it may be difficult to choose the Jewish community over endeavors in which we are involved with our non-Jewish spouses. The notion of 'dues' and a set amount we are asked to give can make this choice more difficult.

I have spoken with people as they struggle through a problem with the way BAJC has behaved or handled a decision, causing them to weigh whether they are able to make a commitment—to say unequivocally, "I am a member of this community." I am profoundly grateful for these discussions and for the wrestling that represents the deep concern people have about our mission. I hope that in these cases, BAJC has shown equal concern and a commitment to act with integrity.

In what ways do you wrestle when considering BAJC membership? What brings you joy at BAJC? What might you do that would increase your pride in BAJC? I'd love to talk with you about these things.

L'shalom,
Julie

 

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