Small but Mighty: Empowering Our Congregations to Thrive

2022: From Listening to Action

In fall 2022, the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) convened a dedicated task force around one big question: How can we better support small congregations?

The spark came after the announcement of the planned sunset of the residential rabbinic program at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion’s Cincinnati campus, but we quickly realized the question was more intense and important. The question led us to think about understanding and strengthening the unique role small congregations play across our Movement in new and diverse ways.

December 2022 – January 2023: Listening First

For our task force, “small” initially meant congregations with fewer than 150 households, though the CCAR category of small congregations is up to 300 households. For this focus, the URJ is now defining smaller congregations more precisely: under 250 households, with no more than one full-time clergy person and limited, if any, professional staff. We then:

• Reached out to 60 small congregations
• Conducted 15 in-depth interviews with lay and professional leaders
• Hosted two focus groups with rabbis of small congregations, publicized through the CCAR Small Congregations Rabbis Facebook group

These candid, heartfelt conversations revealed both the strengths and the hurdles of small congregational life.

2024: Refining the Work

In 2024, we returned to the community through a listening campaign that shared our initial findings and invited feedback. Those conversations gave us clear, actionable steps to bring ideas to life.

2025 and Beyond: From Ideas to Action

Many recommendations from the task force are already underway:

• Small Congregations Hub — This new online space, launched August 2025, connects people with resources, toolkits, and peer connections tailored for small congregations. Whether you need governance templates, worship ideas, or engagement strategies, you will find them here, ready to use and adapt.
• Leadership Bootcamp and Workshops for Small Congregations — Our programs speak directly to the realities of leadership in smaller communities, from dedicated tracks in URJ Leadership Bootcamp to skill-building workshops.
• URJ Marketplace Resources — Allows leaders of small congregations to search for essential toolkits and more by selecting “Small Congregations Hub” under the “Engagement,” “Operations,” “Governance,” or “Leadership Development” categories. You will find resources with suggestions for using them in smaller settings.
• Hadrachah Seminar — This seminar trains lay leaders to officiate worship and life-cycle moments when clergy are not available. Our next session will be in Spring 2026.
• Clergy Cohort Support —The Clergy Cohort connects and supports our smaller congregations’ clergy so that they can collaborate, share holiday ideas, and find year-round educational programming.
• Join the Conversation in the Tent —The Small Congregations Hub in the Tent is a place to ask questions, crowdsource solutions, and connect with peers who understand your opportunities and challenges.
• Small Congregations Advisory Committee — This committee is a team of lay and professional leaders that guides the creation of tools and strategies for addressing real needs in small congregational life.

Why This Matters

Small congregations are the beating heart of the URJ and of Jewish life throughout North America. In so many communities, our small congregations are places where connection is personal, leadership is shared, and every person matters. In these spaces, everyone’s name is known, every contribution is felt, and every story adds to the tapestry of Jewish life.

These initiatives are about ensuring small congregations have the tools, training, and support to not just survive, but thrive ...  and this is only the beginning.

We extend our gratitude to the lay leaders, clergy, and staff of the URJ, CCAR, and HUC-JIR who took part in our task force and listening campaign. Special thanks to Amy Asin, who led this project prior to her retirement from the URJ.

Have a question? Our team is here to help you, and your congregation thrive! Reach out to our Congregational Services Team:

• If your congregation has 80 households or fewer, connect with Emma Osborn.
• If you have 81–200 households Gabby Kozak is your go-to.
• If you have 201–250 households, you will want to connect with Corinne Krepel.

If you prefer to email us, reach out to URJ1800@URJ.org, and someone from our Knowledge Network will get back to you soon.

We cannot wait to connect with you!