Energizing a Small Congregation

by Ann Tettlebaum Temple Beth El of Jefferson City, Missouri, was founded in 1883. Twenty-two years later, in 1905, the once thriving congregation had only four members. By 1920, there were only three members. Yet this small Jewish congregation witnessed a growth in membership with the influx of eastern European immigrants. It was with this history of changing membership […]

Understanding Donative Intent

How to protect your community’s legacy  by Jackie Jacobs Cy Pres is a legal precedent governing the disposition of assets when a charity is dissolved, or if for some reason, donative intent can’t be honored. Perhaps the need no longer exists. In such cases, the next closest related use must be identified.   Authors Georgia Lockhart, Austin […]

Small Jewish Congregations & Small Jewish Communities Benefit From JCLP

New Fiscal Year Planning – Sam Bernstine, JCLP Board Chair The father of time management, Ben Franklin once said, “If You Fail to Plan, You Are Planning To Fail.” The Jewish Community Legacy Project continues to mature and grow in a highly successful manner because of our plan to be flexible, agile, and relevant to […]

Why it Matters: Planning Services for Small Jewish Communities

I was speaking at Shabbat services in Columbus, Mississippi – a small Jewish community. I prefaced my remarks about JCLP by telling the congregation that “I, too, am from the South. [pregnant pause] I’m from South Jersey.” I’d like to think that I received more than polite laughter. And while, Cape May County, New Jersey, […]