In the Image

In the Image is a creative think tank specializing in developing the “brand position” for Jewish religious groups and projects, as well as for inter-religious and other non-profit organizations:

Gateways (Orthodox Jewish). The Association for Progressive Judaism (Reform). The Center for Inter-religious Understanding. United Religions Initiative (URI). The Charlotte Congregationalist Church. The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR). Communion & Liberation (Catholic). The Global Securities Institute (UN NGO), A Different Future, The Daisy Alliance, and many others.

In the Image is currently focusing on creating individual branding strategies and creative-campaigns to help revitalize contemporary synagogues, and drive up an enthusiastic membership.

Life Learning Partners

Life Learning Partners takes a unique approach toward helping synagogues. We set up “mini universities” which evolve the traditional Beit Knesset (House of Worship) model into a fun, exciting, educational-evocative Beit Midrash, a creative, contemporary House of Learning.

Life Learning Partners directly addresses educational challenges often faced by contemporary synagogues, especially in an era where well over 50% of congregants are inter-faith families.

Through Life Learning Partners, congregants can take courses that enhance their Jewish knowledge, as well as their scientific and general spiritual knowledge. These are taught through a unique “principle-based” method, more appropriate to contemporary minds. This method helps prevent Jews from living “two lives”, one secular, the other “religious” (i.e. two holidays a year)..

Currently, Life Learning Partners is working with a synagogue to create a unique program called Nights of Light. The Shabbat service has become transformed into an evening for intellectual engagement, arts and music. The Oneg Shabbat becomes even more “oneg”, pleasurable.

Through this innovative, educational “adjunct” to the synagogue, Life Learning Partners helps increase congregation participation, membership, and, consequently, funding. It also enables and energizes significant outreach to the community, especially to unaffiliated Jews and inter-faith couples, fostering inter-religious and community-action projects as well.

Creative Gatherings

Creative Gatherings gathers creative writers, musicians, and artists to develop new, inspired liturgy, as well as special synagogue events. Synagogues become gathering places (That’s what “synagogue” means in Greek) that are fun, exciting, and “talked about”.

While traditional worship and synagogue events still capture the hearts of many, especially during days of awesome meaning and purpose, such as Yom Kippur – it is a great sadness that synagogues are near-empty on other days. This puts a sizeable burden on membership and, of course, fundraising.

“If one cannot compete with going to a movie, the synagogue will not survive.” This is the simple benchmark of our success. Do people want to – not have to – come!

Creative Gatherings manages an extensive Speakers and Talent Bureau, available to all participating synagogues and organizations.

Yes, the synagogue can be alive! Yes, it can be joyful!! It can become a Creative Gathering!