Creating Sacred Communities

Leading Practitioners Share Lessons Learned

Dr. Ron Wolfson Fingerhut Professor of Education,
American Jewish University
Author of Relational Judaism

Rabbi Brett Kopin

With a foreword by Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl,
Senior Rabbi, Central Synagogue, New York City

Afterword by Rabbi Sara Himeles

Your Invitation to a Master Class in Creating Sacred Communities
of

Meaning, Purpose, Belonging, and Blessing

Creating a sacred community is one of the most important tasks facing congregational leaders—rabbis, cantors, educators, executive directors, and lay leaders—in the twenty-first century. This unique book presents a master class by frontline practitioners who share cutting-edge lessons learned from their success in shaping sacred communities.

Renowned educator and congregational innovator Dr. Ron Wolfson, with his student and colleague Rabbi Brett Kopin, invites the reader into his senior seminar, teaching rabbinical school students the art of leading a relational sacred community in settings ranging from synagogues to independent minyanim to Hillels. Each chapter features actual transcripts of the conversations between the outstanding Master Class contributors and the students.

Master Class Contributors:
Rabbi Nicole Auerbach
Melissa Balaban
Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard
Rabbi Sharon Brous
Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl
Rabbi Ed Feinstein
Rabbi Sara Himeles
Janice Kamenir-Reznik
Norman Levine, Esq.
Rabbi Lydia Medwin
Rabbi Dan Moskovitz
Dr. Bruce Powell
Rabbi Motti Seligson
Rabbi Mike Uram
Rabbi Josh Warshawsky
And
Special Guest Master Class Contributor
Rick Warren, Senior Pastor, Saddleback Church

This is one class that won’t put you to sleep, but rather will wake you up to what sacred communities of tomorrow could be.”

RABBI RICK JACOBS

President, Union for Reform Judaism

Here is Ron Wolfson’s master class on the art of building relational community, taught by our generation’s master artists. This book invites you into the conversation about creating and becoming engaged and connected in communities of study, worship, and action. Grab a cup of coffee and join in!”

RABBI JACOB BLUMENTHAL

CEO, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Rabbinical Assembly

Ron Wolfson, predictably inspirational, draws out from the honored rabbinic and synagogue leaders invited to his class the delicious elements that create the kind of connections and relationships vital to congregational life.”

RABBI ELAINE ZECHER

Senior Rabbi, Temple Israel, Boston

Should be of great value to rabbis of all denominations, lay leaders of synagogues, and all concerned with invigorating twenty-first century Jewish practice.”

DR. JEFFREY HERBST

President, American Jewish University

Contact us

Reach out with questions or to bring one or more of the co-authors to your community.