Last week, Dr. Eric Gordon of Emerson College in Boston gave an unforgettable presentation at our most recent Synagogue Leadership Series workshop. And everyone in attendance had fun! As the Executive Director of the Engagement Lab, his research examines how games and social media can enhance both involvement and engagement – two issues which are highly important to our Jewish community and synagogues.
Using a playful approach to serious problems, Dr. Gordon had synagogue leaders, executive directors and rabbis attacking a variety of issues that they raised, from multiple perspectives, and winning (or losing) beans while doing so. Believe it or not, competiveness and the desire to win were prominent in many of the groups. And the chocolate bars that were given out as prizes were less important than having been declared the winner of an exercise.
This was Dr. Gordon’s second presentation to Los Angeles synagogue leaders. He was one of the keynote speakers last fall in a day-long conference that launched our Federation’s Synagogue Initiative. We eagerly invited him back at the request of many who had found his work tantalizing. With his latest presentation in our community, Dr. Gordon has provided a method that the participants said would be of great value as they return to their respective congregations to grapple with the issues that were discussed.
At our workshop, attendees were able to talk about common challenges with fellow participants from different movements and synagogues and, in doing so, break out of the silos that many indicated to be a major problem in a community our size.
The next Federation Synagogue Leadership Series workshop will be this summer. Stay tuned for details. You can also check out our previous post on the series, Building Connected Congregations. For information, please contact Dr. Beryl Geber at BGeber@JewishLA.org.
