Growing Congregation B’nai Israel

Periodically, the subject of the growth of Congregation B’nai Israel comes up at our Board meetings. Our membership has remained stable over the past few years. As we get new members, current members move away and the total numbers remain about the same. The Board continuously tries to come up with ideas to grow our community.
How about forgetting about the numbers and instead grow in our Judaism?
We are starting a new year. My suggestion for this coming year is for each of us to select one Jewish “thing” we are not currently doing and add it to our life for the upcoming year. Not necessarily anything difficult or time consuming, just one Jewish activity you can add to your life. The goal being that each of us grow in our Judaism.

For example;
* Come to a Sabbath Service once a month
* Light Sabbath candles in your home on Friday evening
* Have a Sabbath dinner with your family
* Read the weekly Torah portion* Observe Jewish Holidays
* Attend Rabbi White’s adult education classes
* Participate in B’nai Israel social events
* Talk about the Torah with your children or parents
* Have a bowl of Matzah Ball Soup

These are not difficult things to do, but adding a Jewish activity to our lives may enrich our lives.  My thought is that if each of us grow in our personal Judaism, we will affect those around us in a positive way. Such personal growth will benefit our community and can lead to the growth of Congregation B’nai Israel.

Fred