Temple Solel offers buffet of Judaism to unaffiliated

By Donald H. Harrison

CARDIFF BY THE SEA, California—The leadership of Temple Solel is helping to evolve the concept of Judaism as a spiritual buffet. First, the Reform congregation announced its Synaplex program in which on several Shabbat evenings throughout the year, congregants could go temple and find a number of simultaneous offerings – much like a multiple screened movie house in a shopping mall.

One might go to a traditional Friday night service, or perhaps to an alternative service, or maybe even to no service at all, but go instead to a discussion group in the congregational coffee house.

Now, the buffet concept is being elaborated upon in an effort to attract new members to the congregation. Sherwin Chasen, a congregant active on the temple’s marketing committee, said that not long after it was proposed that unaffiliated Jews in the area be offered an opportunity to take a “taste of Solel,” a “menu” of spiritual dining possibilities was created.

To be distributed online and  through congregants’ friendship networks, the menu offers unaffiliated Jews the opportunity to sample for free some of the congregation’s offerings.

“We have traditional Reform services offered every Shabbat but in addition to that there is a wide range of programming that starts with preschool and doesn’t end,” said Chasen, a now retired marketing executive with the French chemical company Total.

“Offerings go through every age group, so what we want to do is to reach people who are not affiliated with any congregation and give them an opportunity to taste it.”

One indication of how successful the outreach program is will come on February 26 when Temple Solel holds a special Shabbat service to welcome the “Taste” families.

Chasen said as a marketer he would consider the program successful “if we could get 50 families to try this out and join the congregation.” However, he said, Rabbi David Frank has a far different—and more spiritual—concept of success.

“The rabbi says that if anyone participates in this thing, it is a good thing” because it brings Judaism into that person’s life.

Temple Solel currently has a membership of over 870 families and Chasen said it could comfortably grow by another 200 families without straining its facilities. Increased membership would bring in more revenues to engage in social action projects, which are a priority for the Reform congregation, Chasen said. “There are a lot of families that need help because of the economy,” he noted. The menu, which can be found online, is thematically divided into such categories as  Starter Course, Kids’ Meal, Lighter Fare, Main Course and Dessert.

Anyone who decides to sample the menu before the end of January will be eligible to taste those offerings any time for the ensuing six months.

Starter Course: From the Early Childhood Center, offerings include “My Family and Me Classes,” “Shabbat Sing-A-Long,” “Rockin Havdalah,” “Model Seder” and “End of Year Picnic.”

Kids Fare: “Wings of Witness Program,” “Tu B’Shvat Tree Planting for all families,” “Mishpachah Means Family Program,” “Megillah Reading & Purim Carnival” and “Model Seder for Grades K-3.

Lighter Fare: Youth Group possibilities include “Comedy Theater,” “Rock Climbing,” “Chocoloate Party,” “Sea World Outing” and “Dance Party.”

Main Course: Worship opportunities include services every Friday evening and Saturday mornings, family services and birthday greetings, a Freilich Friday musical service, and the aforementioned Shabbat Synaplex.

Adult education opportunities include Temple Solel’s “Distinguished Speaker Series,” “Online Study with Rabbi (Jeff) Brown,” “Study with the Rabbi (David Frank)” and “Dor L’Dor Senior Speaker Series.”

Dessert: “Hineynu (Outreach to congregants),” “Social Action,” “Book Clubs,” “Havurah,” and “Volunteer Opportunities.”

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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World.  He may be contacted at editor@sandiegojewishworld.com