1. Why isn't Congregation Etz Chayim
affiliated with Reform, Conservative or other Jewish congregational movement?
Almost
all our members had previously been long-term members of congregations
affiliated with such movements. Many of
us became disenchanted with the high priority these institutions placed on
furthering their movement's agenda and growth - sometimes at the expense of
treating all their members with kindness and dignity.
Our Jewish
values that include mutual respect and caring for all our members, study,
worship, and deeds of lovingkindness in the greater community can be lived
without the need of affiliation with a movement. We focus on what is important to us without
the distractions that affiliation can present.
2. You don't have a Rabbi - doesn't this
disable your congregation from performing certain functions?
Rabbis
can perform excellent services for a synagogue and add great value to it. They can also create political and human
resource issues that dissipate time and energy, and usually dramatically
increase costs of membership.
Since
our synagogue was founded in 2004, we have consistently had dedicated
individuals to lead all our activities competently and in ways designed to
fulfill our members' needs. Along with
study, worship and deeds of lovingkindness these activities include life cycle
events such as a baby-naming or a funeral service.
The
fact that we have many people who lead different activities for the synagogue
has created opportunities for members to enhance their abilities and knowledge
in areas of highest interest to them. We
recognize that our leaders' assets have been acquired not only from leadership
experience; but also from study and interactions with rabbis of other
synagogues, and we are grateful for these valuable associations.
3. Does the fact that you don't have your
own building for activities create problems?
We
are fortunate that for worship services we are able to use excellent facilities
at Carolina Meadows and other locations in the Chapel Hill area.
Most other activities take place in members' homes, with food provided
and shared by all participants - we find this more welcoming than an
institutional setting.
Because
our facility needs are well met at reasonable cost, we are glad to avoid the
high costs and problematic, time-consuming issues that continually and
inevitably arise from ownership and maintenance of a building.
4. How would you describe the demographics
of your members?
Our
members are mostly couples, some singles; middle class; from diverse Jewish and
geographic backgrounds; mostly upper middle age and seniors, with few young
children.
Several
members are retired. Most members engage
vigorously in a variety of intellectual, social, physical and spiritual
activities.
Since
we have few young children, we do not have a religious school. We have a long-standing weekly adult study
group, and discussions at worship services and other occasions.
5. What is your financial picture?
Because
our synagogue's operations are in general member driven and led, without the
need for paid staff, and our facility expenses are small, we have a small
budget. We also have the benefit of use
of a Torah from another synagogue, and on High Holidays we additionally use a
Torah rescued from the Holocaust.
Our annual dues $125 for a family and $62.50 for a single membership and we have always run a
surplus. We are grateful that we are
able to fulfill our Jewish needs without the need to constantly fund-raise and
address financial issues.
