Congregational Life

Building Vibrant Congregations and Strong Communities

The Union for Reform Judaism helps congregations and communities stay adept and agile, which enables them to proactively meet members' needs and expand the ways in which people live Jewishly. 

We develop leaders to face today’s adaptive challenges and nurture innovation to be responsive to changing needs. We also connect leaders to each other so they can learn from each other’s experience, and we provide services that lower the cost of congregational operations. When needed, we provide personalized support for congregations in transition and crisis.

Through the URJ's work with congregations, we further our other priorities of investing in the Jewish future, deepening Jewish learning and experiences, repairing the world, welcoming all, and connecting with Israel.

Amy Asin, URJ Vice President, Strengthening Congregations, speaking at URJ Biennial 2019.

What's New

Education

Young girl wearing googles while watching a Zoom screen surrounded by materials for conducting a science experiment

Creators, Thinkers, and Inventors: STEM in our Synagogue Learning Community

April 2, 2021

As the STEM educator and director of education, respectively, at Temple Shir Tikva in Wayland, MA, we’re sharing reflections on introducing STEM to Jewish learners in our building pre-COVID and in our online learning community.

COVID-19

Pandemic Passover, Take Two: The Long Journey through the Wilderness

March 2, 2021

Last Passover began the urgent quest to reinvent much of Jewish life, highlighting that some of the ways we “do” Judaism needed to be updated. This year has been a powerful catalyst to shifts in how we perform our holy work.

Congregational Life

Line of wooden pegs shaped like people against a blue background with one peg moving upward against a yellow arrow as if to signify leadership

This is the Very Best Way to Start Your Term as Congregational President

March 1, 2021

This year's conference will cover topics that address the need to balance maintaining a strong congregation for today while leading change for the future, plus the dilemma of dealing with the urgency of the pandemic and long-term challenges to congregations.

Moving to the Leading Edge: A Resource & Discussion Guide to Move Congregations Forward

Written by experts, URJ staff, and congregational leaders who are doing innovative work, this series of guides provides inspiration for innovation, featuring articles and prompts for reflective conversations Available in three volumes:

New Fall 2019: Volume 1: Principles That Drive Strong Congregations
New Fall 2019: Volume 2: Leadership and Governance
Volume 3: Engaging Congregants

Congregational Engagement and Support Team

The primary URJ contact for congregational leaders is the Congregational Engagement and Support team. They are the hub for information and connections to help you navigate all aspects of congregational life, providing direct answers, guidance, resources from the URJ, and expertise from URJ staff, affiliate organizations and movement partners, and congregational leaders across North America and around the world.