Why Plan?A strategic plan serves several purposes: Why plan?
Ever since it was founded in 1948, the Village Temple has operated without a formal strategic plan. Why write one now? With this strategic plan, we hope to set a roadmap for the Village Temple for the next three years. We are an institution with a distinguished history and many strengths, but it also is clear that we must change if we are to grow. We must keep pace with a changing Jewish population in downtown Manhattan, generate sufficient financial resources, maintain strong and effective clerical and lay leadership, and serve the needs of our congregants. By defining our goals and the paths we will choose to achieve them, we can be intentional instead of improvisational, deliberate instead of reactive, and optimistic instead of worried.
These inputs were the building blocks for a six-person Strategic Planning Task Force that met regularly to shape this plan. We also looked at external trends driving the future for all Jewish organizations, compared the Village Temple to our peers in downtown Manhattan, analyzed data, and gathered ideas and context from a variety of sources. We also engaged in deep discussion with Rabbi Koster and gathered feedback through numerous conversations with members. In the coming weeks, we will use this draft document as a catalyst for even more dialogue within the Village Temple. Our earlier discussions were open-ended; now, with the framework of this draft, we can generate specific reaction to its ideas and priorities. We know this broad review process will produce an even stronger plan, one that is understood and endorsed by the Village Temple community. An important part of our process was to funnel and concentrate all of those inputs into a plan that is intentionally concise and focuses on three main goals and a total of 11 action plans, or “initiatives,” that will help us achieve our goals. We chose a manageable number of goals and initiatives that, if achieved, will produce needed and noticeable change in almost every aspect of the Village Temple. Of the many needs we have, these three rose above all others in their ability to transform the Village Temple:
As careful and thoughtful as we have tried to be in writing this plan, we do so with the humble understanding that is just a beginning. With this roadmap in hand, we look forward to the journey ahead. Bill Abrams, Craig Albert, Emily Hacker, Betsy Krebs, Deb Seidman, Jill Wilkinson Village Temple Strategic Planning Task Force |
Town Hall MeetingsPlease join us for at one of two Town Hall meetings to discuss the draft Village Temple Strategic Plan:
Both meetings will be held at the Village Temple, 33 East 12th St. Village Temple Strategic Planning Task Force Bill Abrams ([email protected]) Craig Albert ([email protected]) Emily Hacker ([email protected]) Betsy Krebs ([email protected]) Deb Seidman ([email protected]) Jill Wilkinson ([email protected]) |
The Mission of the Village Temple(The following is a draft mission statement from the strategic plan.)
The Village Temple is a place for kesher – connection. It is a home for contemporary Reform Jews who are seeking connections to Torah and the search for spiritual fulfillment, links between past and present and one generation to the next, a bridge between the downtown Reform community with Israel and the world, and the balance between our daily lives and the “turn off your cellphone” respite of Shabbat. We invite all who wish to join us to enter our doors: Jews by birth, Jews by choice, interfaith families. Inside you will find a community of people who are on a quest to reshape Shabbat and holiday worship, reinvigorate Jewish learning, and renew our commitment to tikkun olam through social action and justice. What do we ask of you? Add your voice to our songs and prayers, bring your doubts and questions, be an active member of our community, and join us in our shared journey of exploration for meaning and joy. |