If We Had to Start Over: Reimagining Jewish Communal Life from the Ground Up

In the weeks following October 7, a fundamental question emerged throughout Jewish communities around the globe: “How do we bring people back to communal life?” At first glance, this question appears practical and pressing. However, given the backdrop of unprecedented existential vulnerability facing the Jewish people, the question reveals a deeper crisis. It indicates an institutional disconnect—a profound misalignment between organizational concerns and the deeper, existential needs of contemporary Jews. The foundations of Jewish identity have shifted dramatically, and yet institutional discussions often remain fixed on logistics rather than addressing essential meaning.

This disconnect is evident throughout many contemporary Jewish institutions, as highlighted by Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll in her critique of American Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) published in The Forward. She argues compellingly that American JCCs, in attempting to serve as many functions as possible, have lost their essential purpose and relevance. In contrast, European JCCs have regained strength by explicitly focusing on Jewish identity-building and substantive content. Jaskoll’s critique underscores a vital need: the strategic rethinking and fundamental reevaluation of Jewish communal institutions.

Imagine briefly setting aside existing frameworks—buildings, boards, legacy donors, traditional programming—to consider anew what communal Jewish life might become. If we evaluated communal initiatives solely by their capacity to strengthen and deepen Jewish identity, what would we retain, and what might we let go? Any organization or program must justify its existence by demonstrating a genuine ability to connect individuals meaningfully to their heritage, community, and collective Jewish future. Those institutions unable to meet this fundamental requirement, regardless of their historical significance or financial strength, must be thoughtfully and courageously reimagined or respectfully phased out.

Today’s Jewish communal landscape is crowded, even fragmented. Synagogues, Federations, day schools, JCCs, advocacy groups, and philanthropic entities often compete for limited resources and overlapping audiences. While these organizations frequently provide comfort, education, and communal pride, many have developed concerning patterns: initiatives outliving their relevance, buildings sustained largely for symbolic reasons rather than actual community benefit, and innovative professionals restricted by conservative governance models. Too often, activity is mistaken for effectiveness, and superficial engagement is prioritized over genuinely impactful communal experiences.

The existential challenge we face demands strategic prioritization—depth over breadth, authenticity over institutional survival. Embracing strategic minimalism may involve fewer traditional synagogues but more vibrant and personal communal spaces—informal groups gathering in homes, communal meals becoming central anchors of identity, and Hebrew education moving from traditional classrooms into immersive, relational environments. Existing infrastructure could be reimagined creatively, with underutilized spaces converted into affordable housing, community centers, or resources supporting deeply transformative experiences, such as immersive connections with Israel.

In essence, this shift requires moving away from maintaining institutional inertia towards a clear, mission-driven purpose. Envision Jewish life flourishing organically—Hebrew learned naturally through cultural immersion and artistic expression, nuanced education on Israel emphasizing complexity rather than advocacy, and Jewish texts studied authentically in contemporary digital spaces, free from institutional anxiety.

Yet, significant obstacles remain, particularly the entrenched model of donor-driven governance. Too often, communal priorities reflect donor preferences rather than genuine community needs. This approach restricts creativity, stifles necessary innovation, and maintains outdated practices simply out of familiarity or financial convenience. Jewish continuity and vibrancy depend not on catering to donors’ comfort but on cultivating a community of deeply committed individuals connected authentically to their heritage and identity.

Achieving meaningful communal transformation demands courageous conversations, honest evaluations, and bold decisions about resource allocation. Nostalgia and tradition, while powerful, cannot guide strategic planning; fear of change should never dictate communal priorities. Institutional preservation at the expense of genuine community relevance ultimately undermines the very purpose of these structures.

Rebuilding with existential clarity requires focusing squarely on a few foundational priorities:

1. Profound and transformative Jewish learning.
2. Accessible and meaningful communal experiences and rituals.
3. Authentic, honest, and nuanced connections to Israel.

Initiatives that do not fulfill these core priorities must either demonstrate clear value or gracefully step aside.

The urgency lies in recognizing that while institutions may rise and fall, the Jewish longing for meaning remains strong and deeply felt. This yearning is visible everywhere—from informal gatherings where traditions are spontaneously embraced, to passionate advocacy among secular Jews, and families actively seeking a meaningful Jewish life. Our communal structures must evolve to authentically meet and sustain these profound existential desires.

We possess significant human and financial resources; what we critically lack is existential clarity and moral courage—the willingness to genuinely prioritize authenticity, dismantle obsolete structures, and build anew from principles rooted deeply in identity and purpose.

Our communal strength emerges not from ceaseless activity or institutional preservation but from our collective willingness to pause, reflect deeply, and realign ourselves with what genuinely matters. The existential question facing every Jewish community today is profoundly simple yet deeply challenging: “What does it mean to be Jewish right now?” Let this question guide our strategic decisions, rooted not in fear or comfort, but clarity, authenticity, and purpose.

Only by facing this existential challenge honestly can we build a communal Jewish life genuinely reflective of our deepest values, resilient enough to meet contemporary realities, and compelling enough to sustain future generations. The alternative—avoiding this existential clarity—promises consequences that we simply cannot afford.