Welcome to the Rockland Jewish Initiative
The Rockland Jewish Initiative was created in July 2012 by Lisa Green in conjunction with the Jewish Federation of Rockland County.  Its mission is to energize synagogue life in Rockland through partnerships in synagogue transformation.  The Rockland Jewish Initiative works with synagogues through grants to engage members and new leadership, through showcasing models, projects and ideas for synagogue renewal, and by bringing speakers and workshops on synagogue transformation to Rockland.

2012-2013 Grants

$500 New Member Grant
Our $500 New Member Grant is available to new member families at synagogues on the Rockland County Board of Rabbis.  These synagogues are: 

Beth Am Temple in Pearl River, Congregation Shaarey Israel in Montebello, Congregation Sons of Israel in Upper Nyack, Congregation Sons of Jacob in Haverstraw, Montebello Jewish Center in Suffern, Nanuet Hebrew Center in New City, New City Jewish Center in New City, Orangetown Jewish Center in Orangeburg,  Temple Beth El in Spring Valley, Temple Beth Sholom in New City, Temple Beth Torah in Upper Nyack, West Clarkstown Jewish Center in New City

- The grant is a $500 per family one-time gift towards synagogue membership or Hebrew school tuition for the year 2012-13.

- Eligible families must have no synagogue affiliation within the past 3 years in Rockland County

- Families must participate in a synagogue committee, PTA, etc. to receive the grant.

- Funding for the grant ends June 30, 2013

Synagogue Enhancement Grant
The Synagogue Enhancement Grant is a one-time grant to synagogues participating in the Rockland Board of Rabbis for $1,000-$2,000 to be used for one of the following:

Mitzvah Programming- we will help you fund your mitzvah day, mitzvah project or mitzvah education

Shabbat Dinner- bring the joy of shabbos to the dinner table in a communal setting

Chag Celebration- what can you add to your holiday celebration that will excite the congregation?

Contact Information
We are part of the Jewish Federation of Rockland County.  Our office is in the Federation at Rockland’s Jewish Community Campus, 450 West Nyack Road, West Nyack NY 10994.  To reach us by phone or email, please contact:

Cantor Barry Kanarek, Director
845 362-4200 extension 170
845 635-4282 fax
Bkanarek@jewishrockland.org

RECOMMENDED READING

The Spirituality of Welcoming: How to Transform Your Congregation Into a Sacred Community by Dr. Ron Wolfson. Jewish Lights Publishing

Tomorrow's Synagogue Today: Creating Vibrant Centers of Jewish Life by Rabbi Hayim Herring. The Alban Institute

Sacred Strategies: Transforming Synagogues From Functional to Visionary by Isa Aron, Steven M. Cohen, Lawrence A. Hoffman and Ari Y. Kelman. The Alban Institute