2008 to 2009, a team of professional and lay leaders
from the synagogue attended five sessions dedicated to
teaching congregations the tools to successfully handle
fundraising initiatives and historic preservation of
their sacred places.
For an experienced congregation like Temple Beth
Zion-Beth Israel, certain aspects of the training were
basic review. It knew, for example, how to work with
architects and write case statements for large capital
campaigns.
But the BZBI New Dollars/New Partners team was
inspired by asset mapping, an exercise that asks a
congregation to list all of its resources, gifts, and
talents. No matter the religious or denominational
affiliation, it is often all too common for members of
sacred places to take their congregational initiatives
for granted, and not fully understand their scope or
significance. Asset mapping can play an integral role
in helping a congregation recognize its capacity as a
community resource, as well as the economic value of
the services and programs it offers.
Consequently, the BZBI representatives took a closer
look at the services their congregation provides, and
were impressed with the results. While many of the
synagogue’s programs primarily serve congregation
members, such as the early education and Hebrew
school programs, they were still very valuable for
anchoring the synagogue in the community – if BZBI
did not run an early childhood education center, for
example, people would have to look elsewhere for the
service. Similarly, the building’s space was frequently
used by outside organizations for meetings, concerts,
and even job fairs for the homeless. “All of these things
have dollar values,” notes Rosenthal. The congregation
realized the scope of its effect on the greater community
and rallied around it as a tool for fundraising.
Rosenthal believes that the training has left an
important impression on the congregation, adding,
“It’s given us a renewed sense of purpose. In faithbased work, that’s important for momentum.” By truly
recognizing the synagogue’s role as an asset to Center
City Philadelphia, BZBI has galvanized its volunteer
base. The same core group of volunteers that attended
the New Dollars/New Partners training has continued to
work together for the good of the congregation – and by
extension, that of the wider community as well.
Congregants of Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel in Philadelphia, PA, gather at the fun-filled, costume-bedecked
celebration of Purim for the reading of the Book of Esther.
Sacred Places • Summer 2012 • 6