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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Well, by Orthodox shuls, members do not carry money on Shabbos. This means they can't pass an offering plate or set up a table for a pledge drive in the lobby. So they have to do funding differently. Also, Christians are trying to be welcoming to all in hopes of converting some of them whereas this is not a priority for an Orthodox shul. [/quote]

To note, in theory at least, Conservative Jews are also forbidden from carrying money on shabbos.   While few C lay people follow the halacha strictly, it would not be possible for a C shul to pass a collection plate.  Even for a Reform shul it would awkward, and go against the culture.

In eastern europe at one time, there were auctions in shul for various "honors" (with the money to be paid after shabbos).  This was as offensive to American sensibilities as plate passing was to Jewish sensibilities and so was dropped almost everywhere (a remnant of the custom is followed once a year in some Chabad shuls, IIUC).  So we were left with annual memberships, plus other fund raising campaigns, similar to other non profits.

As noted elsewhere, almost all shuls will accommodate cases of financial hardship.  And most only check membership at high holidays and for religious school, not for weekly services.  A few do not even check membership for those things.[/quote]

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