Yeah, you know I’ve been laid off in a specialty field, one where the market for such practitioners is nearly nonexistent in Northeast Ohio. You know that when I was working, my salary was far below the national average in the field, and that I’m not a doctor, lawyer, other highly-paid professional or part of a two-income household. Yes, I’ve explained this every time when I get the dues invoice from the synagogue, where you claim that you’re flexible with special situations. Apparently not, because I keep on getting the same bill for $3,000. It’s the same flat amount you charge for households with several kids, only in this case it’s just me.
Listen, I do not have $3,000 a year to pay for dues and the building fund. Not now, when I was unemployed, and not even when I was working and living a frugal lifestyle as it was. I’m half-tempted to say “screw it” and become unaffiliated.
“Go to another synagogue”, you might say. Yeah, right. All the Reform synagogues in the area have the same dues and building fund fees; I won’t be getting a break by going a few blocks over. Also, Cleveland’s Jewish community is almost uniformly, stereotypically very wealthy, and synagogue dues reflect that.
I don’t know your field, Elmwood, and I don’t know how the dues structure works, but is there any kind of in-kind service you can perform for them to lessen the dues?
Some of the Cleveland synagogues offer (or have offered, at least. You’ll have to check if they’re still available) a “voluntary dues” program for the first year, where for the first year of membership, you pay what you want. The ones that have participated are Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, Suburban Temple-Kol Ami, Temple Emanu El and The Temple-Tifereth Israel. Try those, and see if that can help, temporarily.
Switch to a second synagogue so you’re eligible for the voluntary dues again?
Or, alternatively, how many conversations have you had with the synagogue to see if you can get a discount? I know you say you’ve explained this to them, but has it been in person or in writing? I don’t have any advice other than to just keep talking to them.
I’ve never heard of a synagogue that charges to attend regular Shabbat services. But most require membership to participate in other activities (have kids in religious school, get married in the synagogue, get tickets to services on major holidays, etc.) But it’s not like anyone checks membership cards at the sanctuary door on Saturday morning.
Yeah, don’t start me on what I think of this practice. And they wonder why so many people, especially young people, don’t bother affiliating anywhere.
(One friend of mine was heavily involved in her synagogue, leading youth groups on a volunteer basis, etc. When she got divorced and her ex stopped paying child support, she was pretty strapped for cash. Did they cut her a break on dues? No.)
Dues are not required in anyway to go to services. Services are open to everyone in the community. Paying your dues gives you the options for religious school, hosting life cycle events, reserving plots in the cemetery, getting to vote on Board issues etc.
Also- for families having economic hardship there are waivers for paying full membership-- we have a membership committee that discreetly handles such matters.
Perhaps you can be a non-member and just go to services as you wish or find out of there is a membership committee person you can talk to.
In person twice (first when I joined, to explain my finances and that I’m single, my income is quite low low compared to other Jews in the Cleveland area, I have limited disposable income, I’d be willing to volunteer in the office, yadda yadda yadda), a second time with my rabbi (who really doesn’t have any control over it); and once over the phone with a membership committee member who called me.
I want to stay at that temple. Its membership is diverse and generally liberal, the rabbis are phenomenal, I’ve met a lot of people through there, and I converted to Judaism there. I feel guilty that I can’t financially support them to the extent they want me to, though.
While I’m not religious - what exactly are the alternatives, assuming you wish to employ a Rabbi, have a synagogue, hold functions? They all cost money, which has to come from somewhere.
Now, I can understand having flexible dues, so that the actual burden is the same on rich or poor alike. But there are obvious free rider problems with making the whole thing voluntary.
How do other religions handle it? Many do voluntary collections, no? And I don’t have a problem with the concept of flexible dues, either, but what elmwood is dealing with (and what my friend dealt with) is ridiculous.
If there’s a membership committee, find out the chairperson’s name and call him. Or call the Temple Brotherhood President. Do not be shy – lay out both your desire to assist the organization with some in-kind work and your current tight financial situation.
In Judaism, the synagogue is run by the members. They in effect employ the rabbi, run the building, pay for functions, etc. If they want to attract a good rabbi, have a nice building, etc. they have to find the cash themselves somehow. If you like these facilities, you “volunteer” by asking to join the congregation.
Think of it more as a club than a Church - a “Church” in other religions is, as I understand it, its own organization, in essence run by the priesthood.
I dunno, but other religions often have a ‘top-down’ structure - think Catholicism - meaning there is a big powerful organization able to send cash to where it is needed.
Judaism has a ‘bottom-up’ organization, which has lots of benefits (such as no Pope ro lay down the law, choosing your own Rabbi, etc.) - the downside being, of course, that the members must find their own resources.
In no case does money magically appear from nowhere to pay for everything, though. If it did, I’d join in a shot, since obviously that is the one, true religion.
The problem is that the temple is an organization. It hires a rabbi – maybe more than one, for a large congregation – a cantor, a maintenance man. It pays for landscaping services and building utilities. It’s got to be able to count on a steady revenue stream.
And for some of the temples here in the DC area? Believe me, $3,000? It’s a motza.
