This really turned me off to my neighborhood synagogue, would you feel the same?
I'm of Jewish heritage on my father's side, but I've never been raised with the religion. I've been studying Judaism for the past few months, and actually felt I was really starting to connect with it.
I went to an open house the synagogue in my neighborhood had (one I've gone to a few times for shabby services, Torah study, etc) And discovered that to become a member of the congregation, it costs a minimum of over $2000 a year.
It's really left a bad taste in my mouth, and I can't seem to get past it. I knew there would be a yearly due to join a synagogue, but I thought it would be a little more reasonable. Is this standard? And if so, are poor people simply ineligible to become members of a synagogue?
It's not surprising, really, that members support the financial needs of the institution. It cost money to run to support the property, the building, the utilities, and so on.
The Mosaic tradition required a tenth of all agricultural increase to be given to God.
I would talk to the people in charge, they may not require you to contribute that much. If you talk to them about your financial situation they may understand.
Most religions like you to tithe 10% of what you make.
I know someone who's struggling with that right now. The temple dues have simply gotten too high to be affordable. I understand, though, that many congregations are willing to help those who honestly can't afford the dues. It might be worth a private conversation with the rabbi. Personally speaking, I'm against charging fees for religious membership and services of any sort, but that's just my own opinion.
I would probably take it as a sign that it is not the right place for me to practice my faith. If the congregation was one that instantly made you feel as if you've found your spiritual home, and were able to part with the money, it would be one thing. If it just doesn't feel right, it may not be right. You could always ask if they have some sort of payment plan, sliding scale, or if they have a "trial period" so that you could check it out and see.
I don't know much about synagogues, but I'm familiar with how certain churches handle tithing. It just sounds like an upfront way of asking for it.
It does seem fairly steep. However most Christians will put at least that much in the collection plate throughout the year, whereas synagogues ask for the help with the utilities, rent, etc. up front and don't pass around a plate every week.
I don't know of ANY synagogue that will refuse someone entrance if they can't pay the fee. (BTW, in most cases it also includes your burial charges when you die.)
No matter what house of which god you worship at, somebody still has to pay the light and heating bill (unless your Amish, I suppose)
"And what better way to show your love than to dig deep into your pockets? Dig real deep, and give until it hurts"--Bad Religion, "The Voice of God is Government"
Yes, it would turn me off. I would never belong to a religion where you have to pay. I don't think there is anything wrong with asking for a little help here and there to take care of the church, mosque or synagogue(etc..) but flat out requiring a membership fee is just ludicrous and would make me question what on earth could I possibly get out of that place spiritually?
i go ogled it and the average dues seems to be a little over $1000. maybe you could find a synagogue that has less for dues. and for all the Christians out there who think it's crazy, you pay about the same if you give $20. a week to your church.
This is really unjust of the management of the synagogue. Contributions should be voluntary and willing. What you are being asked to pay is plain extortion.
No religious bias here, I respect Judaism, but I want to compare a similar situation in a Hindu temple. There are large boxes called 'Hindi's', into which people throw in money. But almost everyone who visits the temple almost always puts in just a one rupee coin, the smallest denomination, like a dollar. Even the poorest man might or might not offer any money.
I don't understand, why you have to become a "member". Isn't it supposed to be open to all without restrictions and conditions? At least it is so in almost all Hindu temples.
Wow. So they're not asking you to give what you can (like most Christian churches do, when passing around the offering plate)-- they're flat-out REQUIRING payment? Scary. I'd pass.
I know of NO synagogue that is unwilling to make arrangements for poor members. I know of a few that have no membership fees. Most have membership fees and these usually cover just the basics, the mortgage and utilities. Other donations cover the majority of the synagogue's costs.
If you can't afford the basic membership, request a meeting with the rabbi or synagogue president to determine if you may join at a membership fee that is within your budget.
Many synagogues will not permit you to join until your conversion. They will, however, have no problems with your attendance (usually including classes), as long as the rabbi is aware and approves.
I'd be angry. I thought religious sanctuaries were supposed to be open to all, regardless of income level, but I guess not. We're a one-income family right now and we could not afford to pay 2K yearly in church, temple etc. membership fees.
For those who say the fee is reasonable because the church has bills too:
I was raised Catholic and there were not any membership fees. Yes, you were supposed to give money when the basket was passed during mass, but no one held a gun to your head. My church also did bingo nights, held carnivals, did bake sales, etc. to raise money.
My stepfather is ELCA Lutheran and I have been to ELCA services. There are no membership fees at the church my stepfather attends, but you are supposed to give money when the basket is passed during services.
You need to speak with the person in charge of the membership committee and have them work out a fee that you can manage.
A synagogue doesn't pass the plate at services, ever. The membership dues are the major source of income for how a synagogue obtains the money to pay for the services of a rabbi, pay the utilities and all other operating expenses.
Some synagogues set a certain percentage of annual income as their fee, others allow you to pay in monthly or twice a month installments.
I find the system of promising to give a set amount and then being able to donate more throughout the year if I am able ( for memorials, to the education fund, etc) better than what I've seen in some churches that I've visited with friends. I remember taking a five dollar bill with me to put in the collection plate when I was a teen visiting a church with a female classmate, it was all the cash I had on hand. They passed that plate FIVE times during the service. It felt embarrassing to have to pass that plate with money around like that and people staring at you if you didn't put money in. I guess it is what you're used to doing. I prefer the Jewish way that doesn't embarrass people in front of others and that also does not expect or ask visitors to pay.
If the synagogue membership committee is insensitive to your financial situation then it just may be something you need to address with their Board
I assume you've been attending all this time as you said for Shabbat and Torah study and have noticed that there is no collection going on at any services. How did you think the light bill gets paid? The Insurance for the building? The prayer books get purchased?
The members at my synagogue agree to a certain amount ( based on income and individual circumstances ) and pay it according to their own choice of an annual donation, a quarterly or bi-monthly or even a weekly donation. However they choose to fulfill their promise.
Poor people aren't turned away. Were YOU turned away when you've attended? Visitors and guests aren't asked or expected to pay. When YOU make the obligation to join the community, you are expected to do your part to help maintain the community and the service of the synagogue for others if you are able to do so.
We simply do not carry or handle or deal with money during services, we are there to pray not to be asking for hand outs, so in order for the synagogue to be able to function for the Jewish community, there are things that actually cost money in order to do them.
Good luck
Shalom
EDIT: This q and the answers are real eye openers to me in a very odd way. I grew up and live in an area with very few Jews. AS a child and teen and even a few times as an adult ( as recently as two years ago) I have had reason to attend some form of service or function at a church ( I live in the Bible Belt, we have more churches than Walgreens and Liquor stores together)
I have attended Baptist, Lutheran, Episcopal, AME, Catholic and others..and each time, the most off putting part of the service or function was passing the plate. It did not feel right to have to pay to pray there and in some churches when they pass the plate more than once and you put it all in the first time and don't have any more money..and then they STARE at you as if you've committed a Fax pas, that is embarrassing! The worst was when at one time, I simply forgot that there was a plate passing it had been that long since I'd visited a friend's church ..and when I passed the plate without putting anything in. Another man came over from the other side and handed me an envelope and whispered in my ear..If you have your checkbook you can place a check in here and I'll be back to get it! This happened at the church that helped to sponsor my son's Cub Scout troop and the whole "pack" was invited to attend. I thought it would be a good idea for my son to see what others believed.
I was FLABBERGASTED! I'm a Jew..I don't even pray to or through Jesus and they're expecting me to pay them??? It certainly didn't seem like a VOLUNTARY thing to do if they pass it more than once and then give you an envelope ( without asking if you want it) and say they'll be back to get it.
So..while many of the Christians here may be thinking that the Jewish way of asking for a voluntary yearly donation is inappropriate..this Jewish person thinks that expecting and intimidating visitors not of your faith to pay to go there also left a bitter taste to me. It felt like you had to pay admission to attend. I have always been interested in learning what people believe, and observing services at various churches has taught me much about them. I have also had many Christian guests at my synagogue and they have never been asked to give money when they attended.
Yes, I much prefer the Jewish way that allows you to pledge an annual amount of what you can afford to help your own community and not embarrass visitors or guests by asking them to give money .
If you were told the Wealth of the This World and the World to Come was available to you by following Torah & Mitzvoh, would any amount of money seem too much?
One by "Phoenix M JPA" seems implausible:
"(BTW, in most cases it also includes your burial charges when you die.)"
If this were true don't you think there's be a "rush" to join by huge numbers of very elderly and terminally ill people?
This really turned me off to my neighborhood synagogue, would you feel the same?
