Rabbi Victor Appell is the Congregational Marketing Director
for the URJ. He provides support
to congregations that are developing marketing plans and seeking to better
communicate with both current and potential members. Some of the areas in which Victor consults
with congregations are developing a coordinated approach to communication;
designing websites; updating and coordinating printed materials; creating
electronic newsletters; and using social media.
Rabbi
Appell, a native New Yorker, grew up in the Reform Movement. In high school, he served as a regional NFTY
president and spent three summers on the staff of Eisner Camp in Great
Barrington, MA.
As an
adult, Rabbi Appell enjoyed a decade long career in sales and marketing. Specializing in licensed apparel, Victor
worked in the areas of product design and merchandising, marketing and sales
training. After deciding to pursue a life-long dream of becoming a rabbi, Rabbi
Appell was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in
1999. For four years he served as
Assistant and then Associate Rabbi of Temple
Jeremiah in Northfield, IL. For two years, he served Temple Emanu-El in Edison, New
Jersey. In July of 2005 Rabbi Appell joined the staff
of the Union for Reform Judaism and served as
the Director of Small Congregations and Co-Director of the Joint Commission on
Synagogue Management.
Rabbi
Appell is the author of the "Think Small" sections in the Union's
materials designed for synagogue leaders.
His writings have appeared in Achim Magazine, Torat Chayim,
Ten Minutes of Torah, Kulanu Handbook, The Gender Gap, and The
Still Small Voice - Reflections on Being a Jewish Man.
Rabbi Appell, his partner
and their two children live in Metuchen,
NJ.
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