Denver, CO – An Evergreen rabbi is just saying no to “pay to pray” at high-holiday services.
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Rosh Hashanah, which is the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, are occasions of peak attendance at synagogues. Many congregations allow only dues-paying members to attend, or they charge for tickets.
Orthodox Rabbi Levi Brackman of Judaism in the Foothills, an outreach and cultural center, said many Jewish families must come up with a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars this time of year to attend. Or they miss out.
“Being Jewish in America can be very expensive,” Brackman said.
The rabbi said he has always held services that are open and free. This year, with all its economic stresses, he is publicizing that he will make no appeal whatsoever for donations.
Everyone is welcome, he said, including those who attend only twice a year.
“People can keep their checkbooks at home this year and instead focus on the inspirational and interactive service,” Brackman said. “This is a time for people to connect to God, their families and community.”
This year, Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown Sept. 18. Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, begins at sundown Sept. 27.
wow what a kidush hashem maybe some chasidus can follow after such a hard year
I just might fly out there for R.H. instead of paying here in NY.
“tichleh shana v’kililoseha”, the year and its curses should come to completion.
my wife and I have stayed home from rosh hashana shul for 4 years now, we simply cannot afford the seats, and although the rabbis have told us to come anyway, there is litterally not a seat available for us to sit., ever chair has a reserved name tag on it
in our shul we charge $35 for a ticket. if. we do not have a guard to check and all are welcome. however we have to ask for donations in order to cover some of our expenses, electricity and heat are very expensive.
The rav should be immediately investigated for undermining the financial stability of hundreds, if not thousands, of shuls in the U.S. who rely on schneuring from their olams to pay the bills….its Unamerican not to have to “pay to pray”…what next, we will eliminate “shendars” for aliyahs as well??? what a chilul hashem!!!!
I hope everyone leaves their checkbooks at home on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Do people still use checkbooks?
I’m sure this rabbi means well, but talking to the Denver Post about how shuls charge membership fees and sell tickets for seats really makes jews look bad. Churches generally do not charge for seats or membership fees, although donations are expected, so gentiles reading this article will not understand. Unfortunately, shuls need money for rabbis, heat, buildings, etc. so either you charge fees or pressure people to make “donations.” It just looks bad to some when its called fees.
This must be assur
To # 7, our shul eliminated “shendars” for aliyahs 10 years ago. The Rav Shlit’a felt it will eliminate talking betenn aliyos. And believe me, the shul can use the $$$.
It’s very nice for an outreach Rabbi of a small shul in Colorado, who has a miniscule budget and is trying every which way to attract members who would not otherwise come, to offer free seats to newcomers.
It is far more difficult for an established shul, with a large budget to meet, and with a smaller chance of attracting the unaffiliated to a regular, not beginner friendly service, to offer free seats and no appeals to its attendees.
While it is good and worthy to do whatever he can to outreach to people and attract them, I wish he would not implicitly criticize the established minhag to buy seats in those shuls in a different situation.
Many shuls, certainly including ours, make allowances for (a) those for whom the cost is truly difficult and (b) for newcomers who we are trying to attract. But as long as the charges are not exorbitant, there is nothing wrong with charging for established members, or especially for people who do not support the shul year round by becoming members, but want to use it when it suits them without contributing.
Khal Mevakshe Hahem Flatbush, all seats are free, and an added insentive, the Rav is Baal Shachris
In our shul, we have to pay to pray, no money, no ticket. Sure, we can mooch our way in. My husband is unemployed and we cannot afford the tickets but I do not believe in mooching, never have. I withdrew $$ from my IRA to pay for the seats which are $100.each overpriced. If you are a member $75, but can’t afford the membership too and they could not give a crap about anybody– All they want is MONEY!!
the shul I went to when I was growing up would charge different amounts based on where you wanted to sit (the main shul would be the highest, the folding chairs would be next, and in the back, there were free seats for students & anyone else who couldn’t afford to pay. Of course, with the bimah all the way in the front of the main shul, those of us in the back had to struggle to hear.
Our shul gives 2 tickets per paid-up family membership. But most families have more than 2 people. So we end up paying for additional seats every year.
I’m don’t think any chabad house charges or has appeals for money (more often, the rabbi will ask shulgoers to take on mitzvos for aliyos etc.). Or, you could do what I do: daven in Lubavitch at 770, where it’s free to stand!
I wonder what his motive is, are they looking for a Minyan to attend?
#18 …my shul gives us 2 free tickets too…..the annual dues of $2,500 gives them incentive
like any functioning “buisness” a shul needs to pay it’s utilities,slaries etc. if you feel your shul charges too much ,why not try another one?
levi keep up the good work ,
how much does it cost to daven in uman?
nebach! as if he doesn’t have a budget to cover!! it’s not about attracting a minyan–it’s about making it possible for each and every Jew to connect with Hashem on Rosh Hashana! Apparently, many unaffiliated Jews would rather not spend the money, especially now, and he is merely reminding them that there’s a place where they can come to pray anyway!