synagogues
On the eve of Rosh Hashana, fewer are paying for High Holy Day seats
By Yonat Shimron — September 26, 2019
(RNS) — Long a source of revenue for synagogues and a tool to manage the rush of holiday-time visitors, the ticket system is a victim of the times.
For synagogues, High Holidays welcome is complicated by security needs
By Holly Lebowitz Rossi — September 24, 2019
BOSTON (RNS) — At a time of year when people who rarely attend show up, or when people show up for the first time, balancing friendliness and safety becomes especially tricky.
In St. Louis, former houses of worship are retooled to meet the city’s needs
By Bill Motchan — June 6, 2019
ST. LOUIS (RNS) — Many retired but architecturally significant houses of worship are surviving by converting to new uses that benefit their neighborhoods or cities in ways their original congregants might approve but never imagined.
What is killing the American synagogue?
By Jeffrey Salkin — May 24, 2019
(RNS) — A synagogue on Long Island is now in ruins. It wasn't the antisemites. It was something even sadder.
Jewish lending groups step in to help their furloughed kin
By Yonat Shimron — January 9, 2019
(RNS) — The Hebrew Free Loan Association of Greater Washington is hoping its modest interest-free loans will help tide over some Jewish families, at least for a while.
Shuttered houses of worship get a reboot, find new life
By Mark A. Kellner — September 10, 2018
(RNS) — At a time when decommissioned houses of worship are converted into nightclubs, restaurants, or condominiums, a different kind of transformation is preserving churches and synagogues as sacred spaces.
Israel wants to fight BDS. Here’s how.
By Jeffrey Salkin — January 4, 2018
It is amazing what $72 million could do for American Jews. Just ask me.
Hurricane-damaged houses of worship can receive FEMA aid
By Adelle M. Banks — January 3, 2018
WASHINGTON (RNS) — President Trump tweeted last year that Texas churches should be 'entitled to reimbursement from FEMA' for aiding Hurricane Harvey victims. State officials followed up and asked him to change the policy.
Synagogues are not Kmart
By Jeffrey Salkin — August 10, 2017
Synagogues need money. Israel -- yes, Israel -- can help.
What will future houses of worship look like?
By Michael J. Crosbie — June 14, 2017
(RNS) Architecture students, reflecting on millennial spirituality, come up with new conceptions for a house of worship.
FBI probing wave of bomb threats to U.S. Jewish centers
By David Ingram — January 19, 2017
NEW YORK (Reuters) Twenty-seven Jewish community centers in 17 states received false threats, the second wave of hoax attacks to target U.S. Jewish facilities this month.
Women rabbis are forging a path outside denominational Judaism
By Lauren Markoe — April 8, 2015
(RNS) “Indie synagogues," known for their exuberant prayer, willingness to experiment and welcoming attitudes, share another similarity: Women lead most of them.
Latvia’s lost synagogues find new life in model form
By Reuters — March 5, 2015
RIGA, Latvia (Reuters) There were 210 synagogues in Latvia before World War II; today, there are only two synagogues operating.
Political and religious leaders denounce European anti-Jewish outbursts tied to Gaza
By Elizabeth Bryant — July 22, 2014
PARIS (RNS) French authorities warn that extremist groups are trying to capitalize on public anger over Gaza, at a time of growing alarm over French youths joining conflicts in Iraq and Syria.
Study: Most Jewish charitable giving goes to Jewish groups
By Lauren Markoe — January 16, 2014
(RNS) A new report finds that Jewish Americans give a much smaller proportion of their total giving to congregations (23 percent) than do Americans in general (41 percent).
