Sacred Places Summer 2012 | Page 7

2008 to 2009, a team of professional and lay leaders from the synagogue attended five sessions dedicated to teaching congregations the tools to successfully handle fundraising initiatives and historic preservation of their sacred places. For an experienced congregation like Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel, certain aspects of the training were basic review. It knew, for example, how to work with architects and write case statements for large capital campaigns. But the BZBI New Dollars/New Partners team was inspired by asset mapping, an exercise that asks a congregation to list all of its resources, gifts, and talents. No matter the religious or denominational affiliation, it is often all too common for members of sacred places to take their congregational initiatives for granted, and not fully understand their scope or significance. Asset mapping can play an integral role in helping a congregation recognize its capacity as a community resource, as well as the economic value of the services and programs it offers. Consequently, the BZBI representatives took a closer look at the services their congregation provides, and were impressed with the results. While many of the synagogue’s programs primarily serve congregation members, such as the early education and Hebrew school programs, they were still very valuable for anchoring the synagogue in the community – if BZBI did not run an early childhood education center, for example, people would have to look elsewhere for the service. Similarly, the building’s space was frequently used by outside organizations for meetings, concerts, and even job fairs for the homeless. “All of these things have dollar values,” notes Rosenthal. The congregation realized the scope of its effect on the greater community and rallied around it as a tool for fundraising. Rosenthal believes that the training has left an important impression on the congregation, adding, “It’s given us a renewed sense of purpose. In faithbased work, that’s important for momentum.” By truly recognizing the synagogue’s role as an asset to Center City Philadelphia, BZBI has galvanized its volunteer base. The same core group of volunteers that attended the New Dollars/New Partners training has continued to work together for the good of the congregation – and by extension, that of the wider community as well. Congregants of Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel in Philadelphia, PA, gather at the fun-filled, costume-bedecked celebration of Purim for the reading of the Book of Esther. Sacred Places • Summer 2012 • 6