Re-JEWvination#11 Re-Thinking Again
(The Distribution of Judaism – Bundled & Unbundling)
By Yaakov Schwartz of Judaism On Purpose™
In the annual series for corporate planning sessions I facilitated, the very first step was the Myopia Martian Exercise.
Assuming the participants were from Mars and were to create the corporation from scratch again – with no sunk costs, no vested interests, no traditions etc – why would the corporation exist (for what benefits & to whom)) and how would the entity deliver/distribute these benefits?
Why this first Martian Myopia Exercise?
The insulation of the failure of success.
The success in one era can and has become the failure of success in another era – due to insulation focusing instead of on effectiveness (doing the right thing) concentrating on efficiency (which instead of doing the right thing right becomes doing the wrong thing right).
For example, in residential real estate of the 50/50 commission split companies gave way to the higher splits and eventually even extinction due to the 100% concept of ReMax. And now, today, even the 100% concept and it’s 6% commission split between buyer and selling brokers is losing significant market share to the 2% commission.
In the 60’s, it was not usual for a stock trade to cost even for 10 shares of Union Pacific $45 to $70 for the trade and yet this gave way to the $7.95 commission to even buying $100,000+++ of Union Pacific Railroad etc. And now we have zero commission trades – as the stock brokerage houses of old Bache, E.F Hutton (who wasn’t listening) are no more – replaced by the likes of zero commission Vanguard, Fidelity, Schwab etc.
In the past, the primary delivery system of Judaism started evolved with the portable Mishkah (atonement, at-one-ment, praise/thanks), to The Temple, evolving to the small and numerous shtiebels to the small, larger and largest Synagogues becoming the primary distribution system of Judaism. But now affiliation is but 30% and take out High Holiday Jews some would say effective affiliation is 5%-10%.
Thus the primary distribution method of Judaism is and has been declining and is being accelerated by COVID and its residual mindset of concern about gathering. Hastening this acceleration of decline (increasing at a increasing rate) is the acceptance and convenience of gathering tools like Zoom (without the fuss and muss of High Holiday seating arrangements etc.)
Furthermore, by example, one can go to the web and see Steve Spielberg type production values of Kol-Nidre services on one’s computer – and probably next will be Cantor’s Rosenblatt and Jan Pierce redigitized for Rosh Hashanah on the web by subscription – so why go to Synagogue High Holidays etc etc.
The tectonic changes in delivery systems – as the Martian corporate planning participants would say – has changed forever – distribution. The only questions now is in delivery/distribution what will be the approach to accommodate this reality: evolution, revolution, or paralysis of analysis (constipation planning inhibiting action).
The content delivered (not in terms of Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Renewal, Reconstructionist, Jew It Yourself-ing) isn’t the question. Rather, the change is how services are to be distributed, provided, and to whom be it: life cycle events, Judaic education – be it Bar Mitzvah to continued learning, services themselves – and now by what mediums – and in total & or unbundled ala carte?
Like the Martian exercise it is now time to re-think again – how Judaism is delivered and distributed be it high holiday services, life cycle events, Judaic learning, etc.
Judaism On Purpose™ is an ‘ala carte’ unbundled service – specializing in meaning targeting the age 50+ seeking thirsting for meaning – which usually presents itself as ‘making a difference, the next chapter, what next’ whereby the participant yearly will effectively have 18 hours interface with a Rabbi/Cantor – 13 of which face to face – and the other 5 hours coming from their proportionate time meeting weekly in groups on 7 either in person or via Zoom like platforms.
Judaism On Purpose™ delivers but 1 thing: the re-igniting of personalized individualized meaning to matter INside out thru Judaic connection- again as a stepping stone, bridge, corridor for return. The Jews of Meaning module is delivered in person in groups of seven or through programs like Zoom (there isn’t a geographic limitation). Judaism On Purpose™ does not offer life cycle events or services – offering – again – but 1 Thing – meaning.
For Further Information (What Have You Got To Lose?)
On Judaism On Purpose™
Contact Mordecai Levinson — levinsonmordechai@gmail.com
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