Do you love your NWDC or NWDC-adjacent temple? Do you feel the dues are manageable?

[Anonymous]

We do not love our NWDC temple, and at nearly $5000 per year in dues + religious school tuition, we’re struggling with the payments. They use a sliding scale and we’re at the appropriate level for our income, but it still feels like a lot. It doesn’t help that we’re not taking to this particular temple, though we do really love the religious school. Given all that, we’re looking to maybe make a change. We’ve visited a few others we haven’t really felt were a good fit either, so we’re looking for more ideas.

[Anonymous]

Need more info- reform? Conservative?
Have you tried talking to the temple about dues? Ours will work with you- this year, we said we are paying X and they were fine.
What don’t you like/ what are you looking for? That will help.

We belong to temple Sinai - the clergy are great and services are low key; great social justice emphasis. I have friends who belong to Temple Micah, who also love it.

[Anonymous]

It depends on what you consider NW-adjacent. Over time, we have migrated from Adas, to Beth El (Bethesda), to Kol Shalom in Rockville. We found the first two too big and impersonal. Kol Shalom is significantly smaller and more personal. We have a new Rabbi, who actually used to be at Adas, who is very dynamic and I have high hopes for where he is going to lead the synagogue.

But, it is definitely more of a schlep than other options. On the weekends, it really isn't bad as there isn't usually much traffic. Getting to Friday night services, which we probably wouldn't do a ton anyway, can be a little more of a hassle. There is Wednesday Hebrew School for kids as they get close to Bar Mitzvah age, but they have been flexible with folks who can't make that work logistically. There is also talk of trying to arrange some sort of bus/group transport, but I am not sure that will ever work logistically.

[Anonymous]

Ideally Reform or Reconstructionist. And yes we have and they lowered the dues a little bit but it’s still a lot.

Anonymous wrote:Need more info- reform? Conservative?
Have you tried talking to the temple about dues? Ours will work with you- this year, we said we are paying X and they were fine.
What don’t you like/ what are you looking for? That will help.

We belong to temple Sinai - the clergy are great and services are low key; great social justice emphasis. I have friends who belong to Temple Micah, who also love it.

[Anonymous]

We want a temple that isn’t enormous, if possible, and that feels spiritual. We’ve been to Sinai and Micah and they seem more tuned in to social justice issues but not very spiritual. Plus the dues...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We want a temple that isn’t enormous, if possible, and that feels spiritual. We’ve been to Sinai and Micah and they seem more tuned in to social justice issues but not very spiritual. Plus the dues...

What makes it feel spiritual to you? I belong to Bnai Israel in Rockville which is huge. Big membership and big building. But to me, it’s warm and inviting. I am comfortable in every area of that building. No matter what time or day I walk in, people say hello. I can sit in any of the chapels and feel spiritual comfort. I find serenity in the main sanctuary on Shabbat and joy sharing kiddish with my friends after.

I could not tell you what makes it feel spiritual to me only that I feel a sense of community, welcomed, and know that people care about me.

[Anonymous]

Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase (near Silver Spring and NW DC off Beach) Dues are based on your income...fair share and there are always exceptions if it feels too high for you. It is also the honor system. The first year of membership is free through "Gift of Membership" program

[Anonymous]

Bethesda Jewish Congregation is unaffiliated and liberal leaning. I find the services very spiritual and comfortable. The religious school is warm and welcoming.

Family service on Wed at 1:30 if you want to check it out.

[Anonymous]

Tifereth Israel in Shepherd Park; Mishkan Torah in Greenbelt; Oseh Shalom in Laurel. All are smaller, less flashy, synagogues with sliding scales. TI is conservative, but very approachable. I personally find that you need to drive in this area if you want a less money-forward, BM factory feel, and more crunch/academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We do not love our NWDC temple, and at nearly $5000 per year in dues + religious school tuition, we’re struggling with the payments. They use a sliding scale and we’re at the appropriate level for our income, but it still feels like a lot. It doesn’t help that we’re not taking to this particular temple, though we do really love the religious school. Given all that, we’re looking to maybe make a change. We’ve visited a few others we haven’t really felt were a good fit either, so we’re looking for more ideas.

The temple we're looking to join (Shaare Torah in Gaithersburg) does not have a sliding scale and family dues are $4000/year (including the building fund and, I believe, religious school). They do have 50% off for your first year. However, the dues are a big reason we're waiting to join a temple until DD is old enough to start Hebrew school (5 years old, so we have 2 more years). Until then, we're doing informal holiday traditions at home.

We're not that religious and DH and I are seriously conflicted about it. We want DD to have some sort of exposure to Jewish traditions (go through her Bat Mitzvah) but these dues are insane.

[Anonymous]

I don't know where you are now but I love Temple Micah. I've belonged for 20 years. It is very warm and welcoming and not huge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do not love our NWDC temple, and at nearly $5000 per year in dues + religious school tuition, we’re struggling with the payments. They use a sliding scale and we’re at the appropriate level for our income, but it still feels like a lot. It doesn’t help that we’re not taking to this particular temple, though we do really love the religious school. Given all that, we’re looking to maybe make a change. We’ve visited a few others we haven’t really felt were a good fit either, so we’re looking for more ideas.

The temple we're looking to join (Shaare Torah in Gaithersburg) does not have a sliding scale and family dues are $4000/year (including the building fund and, I believe, religious school). They do have 50% off for your first year. However, the dues are a big reason we're waiting to join a temple until DD is old enough to start Hebrew school (5 years old, so we have 2 more years). Until then, we're doing informal holiday traditions at home.

We're not that religious and DH and I are seriously conflicted about it. We want DD to have some sort of exposure to Jewish traditions (go through her Bat Mitzvah) but these dues are insane.

Whoa - I’m on the board of my temple in another city and we never turn away anyone who cannot afford the dues. Many people just tell us what they can pay and that is fine (our dues are not income based). Of course, there are likely people who can afford the full dues and choose to pay a lower amount but we do not audit them (years ago, there was a humiliating form one had to complete to request an adjustment in dues but we no longer use that - it’s on the honor system - if you say you need an adjustment, we believe you). It’s also all done through our executive director so fellow members do not know who is on adjusted dues. I cannot imagine a synagogue turning anyone away who wants to join but who truly cannot pay full dues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do not love our NWDC temple, and at nearly $5000 per year in dues + religious school tuition, we’re struggling with the payments. They use a sliding scale and we’re at the appropriate level for our income, but it still feels like a lot. It doesn’t help that we’re not taking to this particular temple, though we do really love the religious school. Given all that, we’re looking to maybe make a change. We’ve visited a few others we haven’t really felt were a good fit either, so we’re looking for more ideas.

The temple we're looking to join (Shaare Torah in Gaithersburg) does not have a sliding scale and family dues are $4000/year (including the building fund and, I believe, religious school). They do have 50% off for your first year. However, the dues are a big reason we're waiting to join a temple until DD is old enough to start Hebrew school (5 years old, so we have 2 more years). Until then, we're doing informal holiday traditions at home.

We're not that religious and DH and I are seriously conflicted about it. We want DD to have some sort of exposure to Jewish traditions (go through her Bat Mitzvah) but these dues are insane.

Whoa - I’m on the board of my temple in another city and we never turn away anyone who cannot afford the dues. Many people just tell us what they can pay and that is fine (our dues are not income based). Of course, there are likely people who can afford the full dues and choose to pay a lower amount but we do not audit them (years ago, there was a humiliating form one had to complete to request an adjustment in dues but we no longer use that - it’s on the honor system - if you say you need an adjustment, we believe you). It’s also all done through our executive director so fellow members do not know who is on adjusted dues. I cannot imagine a synagogue turning anyone away who wants to join but who truly cannot pay full dues.

PP here. To be clear, Shaare Torah has not turned us away. We can afford the dues, but just feel they're extremely high. We will probably end up just gritting our teeth and paying, to be honest.

[Anonymous]

$5000 per year is not that much when you think of the actual cost of maintaining the whole thing
OP sounds like a wealthy complainer

[Anonymous]

Adat Shalom in Potomac?