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Congregation Consulting and Resources

Welcome to the Department of Congregational Consulting and Resources. Our mission is to provide programs, consultation and resources rooted in a Reconstructionist, Jewish values-based approach for member communities of JRF, and to help our member communities share resources and build relationships with each other.

The Congregational relations team, under the leadership of Rabbi Nancy Epstein, is also pleased to offer:

  • Board training or in-person visits around particular issues
  • Consulting with Presidents, Rabbis, staff and lay leaders
  • Gathering information from other JRF affiliates and distributing it to you
  • Leadership Workshops, Resource books and Curricula see http://63.115.67.94/cong/resources.html
  • PEARL tele-conference learning sessions for congregational leaders at http://jrf.org/PEARL
  • Providing community development and programming ideas
  • On-line audio resources and cassettes on a variety of issues at http://jrf.org/heart-mind-spirit
  • E-mail discussion groups that give JRF affiliates a way to discuss common issues and share innovative solutions at http://jrf.org/listserves
  • Fundraising and Planned Giving support through our Development Department at http://jrf.org/development
  • Regional support for congregations (e.g. Regional councils, Shabbatonim)

For a full listing of available resources, please visit
http://63.115.67.94/cong/congmain.html and http://jrf.org/resources-library

(Note: For communities in the New York-New Jersey, Midwest, Western and Chesapeake regions, please contact your regional directors through the regional websites on the home page.)

"You may have noticed that 'values-based decision making' has been the theme throughout all of the JRF workshops, whether talking about growth, the role of money, or congregational leadership and governance. If we are clear about who we are and what we stand for and communicate these values between and among each other, then the decisions we make - no matter how big or small - will be based upon mutually agreed upon and shared values." --Susan L., Dor Hadash, San Diego, CA

We look forward to providing you with the support you need. Please look at the links above for details. Feel free to contact us directly if you need.

Rabbi Nancy Epstein
Director of Congregational Relations
215-885-5601, ext. 11
Nepstein@jrf.org

Rabbi Shawn Zevit
Senior Consultant
215-885-5601, ext. 24
SZevit@jrf.org