Before the reader gets past the book's introduction, Dr. Wolfson, "puts (his) cards on the table," by simply stating:
"It's not about programs.
It's not about marketing.
It's not about branding, labels, logos, clever titles, websites or
smartphone apps.
It's not even about institutions.
It's about relationships."
In discussing his book, Dr. Wolfson emphasizes that, "Judaism itself is a relational, covenantal religion." Relational Judaism begins by making the case that, "People will come to synagogues, Jewish Community Centers, Federations and other Jewish organizations for programs, but they will stay for relationships."
Relational Judaism: Using the Power of Relationships to Transform the Jewish Community, is organized in a manner that makes it easy to navigate and easy to build upon principles and examples provided in previous chapters. The first couple of chapters make the case for Relational Judaism. Then, the Nine Levels of Relationship are introduced and defined, followed by a number of relevant case studies. The reader is then presented with Twelve Principles of Relational Engagement, offered as a toolbox of specific strategies for those who choose to adopt Dr. Wolfson's relationship-centered approach.
Dr. Wolfson offers much more than a book of theories and advice. He offers real-world examples of Jewish institutions who have acknowledged that which isn't working, and have already taken steps to engage in a meaningful way with their constituencies. In addition to detailed case studies, his book contains interviews with a large number of forward-thinking Jewish leaders deeply involved in building those Jewish organizations that are very likely to remain relevant today and in the future.
Jewish organizations everywhere are experiencing declining membership numbers, greater difficulty in fundraising, and other indicators that what has worked in the past will not work in the future. Dr. Ron Wolfson's book, Relational Judaism: Using the Power of Relationships to Transform the Jewish Community, should be required reading among those community leaders who are committed to turning this unfortunate trend around.
Order Relational Judaism: Using the Power of Relationships to Transform
the Jewish Community from amazon.com here!
LBJL March 2014 | www.lbjewishlife.com