August 27, 2004/Elul 10 5763, Vol. 55, No. 49
Community connection
LEISAH NAMM
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 Rabbi Jordan Goldson, the new rabbi at Temple Kol Ami in Scottsdale, right, welcomes Lara Linn to the Kol Ami booth at the Aug. 15 Synagogue Showcase at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center. Hannah Kessler, left center, and Lynn Kahn watch in the background. Photo by Leisah Namm |
Almost every denomination was represented, from Reform, Conservative and Orthodox to Humanistic, Sephardic and Traditional Egalitarian.
Volunteers from across the Valley manned the booths. Sara House, a volunteer for Beth Ami Temple who has lived in the Valley since 1967, commented, "It's amazing to see how this community is growing."
In addition to collecting brochures on classes and High Holiday services from the different congregations, visitors could also learn about Jewish education options in the Valley at the Greater Phoenix Jewish Day Schools booth.
Nearly two dozen visitors to the showcase stopped by the Jewish News booth to complete a multiple choice survey about choosing a synagogue. Many were new in town and expressed interest in becoming involved with the local Jewish community. Respondents indicated that the most important considerations when determining which synagogue to join are affiliation with a particular denomination and location. Besides involvement with the Jewish community, bar and bat mitzvah preparation was the most frequent response to the question, "Why do you want to be involved with a synagogue?"
In conjunction with the synagogue showcase, the JCC held an open house where members and potential members sampled JCC fall programming. Activities included water basketball, a current events discussion and karate. Children worked on art projects and took swim lessons. Fitness trainers answered questions and presented exercise demonstrations. Jane Fendelman, author of "Raising Humane Beings," signed copies of her book.
Approximately 1,500 people visited the JCC during the showcase and open house, says Katie Fox, JCC membership director. Seven new families became JCC members.
The B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO) also hosted an open house, welcoming teens to a "beach" party at the pool.
Fox notes the importance of the event in reaching out to unaffiliated Jews in the Valley.
"It's definitely something we should do every year," she says. "The community needs it, (the JCC needs) it. It's nice for the temples to come together under one roof and show the community that we're all here for the (same reason)."