Anonymous wrote:I am Jewish and a litttle confused. We belong to a synagogue and pay to be a member. Do you not pay membership to belong to a church?
Not in the USA. In Germany and several European countries, you might pay a church tax which is either a flat 1-1.5% tax, or an extra 8-9% of your already-there tax bill. If you don't pay church tax, you don't get preferred seating for C&E, can't get a church wedding, etc.
Some countries like Finland, you are born a member of the church and have to actively drop out from membership.
In Iceland and Italy they have it set up so you can pay the tax to your church, or to the state.
FWIW, the congregation in Leesburg (Conservative) comes out to $50 a week between regular dues and building dues, the Reform synagogue comes out to $55 a week. Not sure if that's higher in MD/DC or if there's never-ending pleas for more money for this, that, or the other. Shul would be extra on top of that as well, the Reform synagogue charges $250-$750/kid depending on age.