Jewish Synagogue dues discussion (idea from the tithe thread)

[cherylp3]

There is a thread about tithe - that got me thinking about Synagogue Dues.

How much are your synagogue dues each year?

Do you belong to the JCC ?

Do you attend Jewish federation events?

Do you give to other organizations? ( Such as Mazon, JNF, etc..)

Cheryl

 

[cherylp3]

My current synagogue is 1800 - 1300 membership and 500 building fund

The synagogue I am moving to is $1200 membership $100 building fund

I do not currently belong to the JCC
I really haven't been to any of the federation events, I did give to their campaign.

I give to Mazon, Hadassah , JWB Jewish Chaplains Council ( For supporting our soldiers )

 

[poptoone]

You actually have to pay to go to church at a Jewish synagogue?

 

[FreshTressa]

That is why we have never gone, lol

 

[debbi801]

My current synagogue is 1800 - 1300 membership and 500 building fund

This is about what ours is. Plus, they are trying to pay off the mortgage and looking for any add'l funds that can be put towards that. Add to that 1000 in religious school fees (one in twice a week classes with 1 1/2 yrs towards her bat mitzvah and the other in post bar mitzvah / confirmation classes).

We also belong to the JCC and that is close to 500.00 a year.

 

[debbi801]

You actually have to pay to go to church at a Jewish synagogue?

Anyone can attend Friday night or Saturday morning services. Dues enable you to attend high holy day services, have your child's bar mitzvah there, etc.

Synogogues do not pass the plate, tithe, ask for donations regularly, etc. Membership dues are what pays for the Rabbi, Cantor, mortgage, electricity, etc.

 

[cherylp3]

You do not have to join or be a member to attend services,
most synagogues are free to attend services.

One exception is Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, most synagogues issue "free" tickets to members in good standing or sometimes local synagogues will sell tickets.

 

[VioltePrincess]

as a single parent, I pay about $900 a year. that's a reduced rate. I also pay the single parent ate at the JCC, that's about $350 a year. I'm on the mailing list for UJA, etc, but I don't go to those events and I don't have time to join Hadassah.

the dues don't include Hebrew school...my girls are odne with that now. I think it's $800 per child this year.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Synogogues do not pass the plate, tithe, ask for donations regularly, etc. Membership dues are what pays for the Rabbi, Cantor, mortgage, electricity, etc.

As a Lutheran pastor, I think it's a very interesting system. I have heard about this system, but never fully understood how it operates.

Each year we agonize over the church budget. My church council meeting this evening dealt with this very subject. It costs my congregation over $350/day just to exist. That pays my salary and the salaries of 3-4 other part-time employees (nobody is getting rich by working at a Lutheran church), the utility bills, the worship supplies, educational material, cleaning supplies, etc., etc.

We have a membership list of approximately 400 people. There is no guarantee that anyone will give anything. There certainly is a wonderful aspect and example set by operating an institution based solely on the faith that our members will support the ministry of their congregation, but it doesn't release us from the agonizing over that budget.

There must be some incredible freedom gained that allows a congregation to vision for their future when they can assign the dues to the members. "This is the cost of operating this congregation for the year, and here is your share." I'm glad to see that there is an apparent flexibility built in for single parents.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I'm afraid that we still agonize over the budget, even with the dues and religious school tuition. And I don't know how much we pay--my DH pays it and I try not to pay attention. Still, there is a budget that the congregation has to balance and it's a constant struggle to make ends meet. I've always wondered how churches who don't have tithing do it.

 

[Cindy B]

You actually have to pay to go to church at a Jewish synagogue?

Yes! I'm not Jewish, but live in a very Jewish town. That suprised me at first as well, but its more dues than a "cover charge" .

 

[bicker]

Yes, with the exception of that one week in September/October, the vast majority of Jewish synagogues are open to the public. There is no charge to attend services -- you're actually not allowed to make a donation to the synagogue on the Sabbath, or pay for anything at all.

 

[punkin]

A misconseption: yes high holiday tickets are a major cost, BUT every synagogue will give out free tickets if you cannot afford them. It is never an issue.

Furthermore, we do not pay to go to the synagogue, we pay to belong there. It is an honor as well as an obligation to provide for a house of prayer in the community.

We pay $2300 per year for a family membership (that includes 2 holiday tickets and a reduced cost holiday ticket for DD14). Additionally, there is a $500 building fund. We also gave $360 for this year's Yom Kippur appeal.

We are currently members of the JCC, but I will probably not renew that (it's approximately $1000)

 

[punkin]

That is why we have never gone, lol

Were you not the poster who was looking for a church to go to some time ago? If you were, then it is hardly surprising that you don't attend a synagogue no matter what the dues are.

 

[auntpolly]

Here's something I never asked my friends - can it "sell out" for the high holidays? I'm not being a smart you know what, I was just wondered if the tickets are limited.

 

[bicker]

The synagogue in the community I grew up in definitely "sold out" for the High Holidays. Generally, every member received an appropriate number of tickets, and there were a limited number of additional tickets available for non-members who couldn't afford them.

 

[punkin]

My synagogue has never sold out, but it is very small and attended pretty much only by members and (sometimes) their extended families. I have lived in other communities where synagogues had special "community services" on the high holidays which were designed for non members.

 

[rigs32]

You actually have to pay to go to church at a Jewish synagogue?

Just a bit of clarification. You don't go to church in a synagogue. You go to synagogue or you go to temple or you go to services. Just like you wouldn't say that you're going to temple at a church.

I don't belong anywhere because I'm not exactly religious. I may join the JCC for the summer while I study for the bar exam. They have a nice outdoor pool complex which would be conducive to studying. JCC dues are 50% less than the YMCA near us and they have nicer facilities at the JCC.

 

[cherylp3]

My old synagogue could easily sell out as well.

Also does anyone know the afillation rates in your area? Example in Orlando only about 50% are a member in a Synagogue. ( That number may be off )

 

[debbi801]

Also does anyone know the afillation rates in your area? Example in Orlando only about 50% are a member in a Synagogue. ( That number may be off )

Most recent study I can find is from 1999. 64% affiliation rate. That actually surprised me, I would have expected it to be much higher. I live in Baltimore and there are areas of town where there is literally a shul on every corner.