Generated by All in One SEO Pro v5.0.1.1, this is an llms-full.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Synagogue-Websites.com Website design and build for synagogues and Jewish non-profits ## Posts ### [Synagogue Website Design Blog](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/blog/) **Published:** July 30, 2012 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** --- ### [The Best Conservative Synagogue Websites in 2023](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2023/06/the-best-conservative-synagogue-websites-in-2023/) **Published:** June 14, 2023 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** A great synagogue website inspires visitors to imagine themselves becoming a part of your congregation. It has the power to help your Jewish community grow and thrive. See who made this years list. **Content:** ## Back and Better Than Ever! It’s been a few since years since we last did one of these lists, so we’re happy to be back with our showcase of what we think are some of the best Conservative synagogue websites out there. We scoured the Internet to find these, some of which are our own work, and were delighted to find the great synagogue websites that we did. They all feature compelling photos and imagery, dynamic layouts, and a strong, modern design sensibility. A great synagogue website both inspires potential members to imagine themselves becoming a part of your congregation, as well as gives your current member something to be proud of and enjoy going to. It has the power to help your Jewish community grow and thrive. Our hope is that this list of the best Conservative synagogue websites will serve as a source of inspiration for your congregation, if you were to consider [redesigning your website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/website-design/). Scroll through our list below to check out how other Conservative synagogues showcase their communities online, and see what might be possible for your synagogue’s website! --- ### [Shaare Torah](https://www.shaaretorah.org/) – Gaithersburg, MD ![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/shaare-torah-gaithersburg-md-1024x819.jpg "shaare-torah-gaithersburg-md | Synagogue-Websites.com") --- ### [Agudas Achim](https://agudas-achim.org/) – San Antonio, TX ![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/best-2023-agudas-achim-san-antonio-tx-1024x819.jpg "best-2023-agudas-achim-san-antonio-tx | Synagogue-Websites.com") --- ### [Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus](https://btbrc.org/) – North Miami Beach, FL ![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/best-2023-beth-torah-north-miami-beach-fl-1024x819.jpg "best-2023-beth-torah-north-miami-beach-fl | Synagogue-Websites.com") --- ### [Highland Park Conservative Temple](https://www.hpct-cae.org/) – Highland Park, NJ ![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/highland-park-conservative-temple-1024x819.jpg "highland-park-conservative-temple | Synagogue-Websites.com") --- ### [Melville Jewish Center](https://www.melvillejc.org/) – Melville, NY ![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/melville-jewish-center-1024x819.jpg "melville-jewish-center | Synagogue-Websites.com") --- ### [Tifereth Israel Synagogue](https://tiferethisrael.com/) – San Diego, CA ![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/best-2023-tifereth-israel-san-diego-ca-1024x819.jpg "best-2023-tifereth-israel-san-diego-ca | Synagogue-Websites.com") --- ### [Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County](https://www.bethelmc.org/) – Bethesda, MD ![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/best-2023-beth-el-montgomery-county-md-1024x819.jpg "best-2023-beth-el-montgomery-county-md | Synagogue-Websites.com") --- ### [Beth El Congregation](https://www.bethelakron.com/) – Akron, OH ![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/beth-el-akron-oh-1024x819.jpg "beth-el-akron-oh | Synagogue-Websites.com") --- ### [Sutton Place Synagogue](https://www.spsnyc.org/) – New York, NY ![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/best-2023-sutton-place-synagogue-new-york-ny-1024x819.jpg "best-2023-sutton-place-synagogue-new-york-ny | Synagogue-Websites.com") --- ### [Or Hadash](https://www.or-hadash.org/) – Sandy Springs, GA ![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/best-2023-or-hadash-sandy-springs-ga-1024x819.jpg "best-2023-or-hadash-sandy-springs-ga | Synagogue-Websites.com") --- ## Dreaming of a new website for your congregation? We specialize in [designing professional and modern websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/website-design/) that are as vibrant as your congregation. Together, let’s make your community thrive online! ## We’d love to connect! We are here to answer any questions you may have about Addicott Web, our [services](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/overview/), or how we can design and build a new website for your synagogue. Please complete the form below to get the conversation started. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Best Synagogue Websites, Website Design --- ### [4 Easy Ways to Get Your Synagogue Website in Tip-Top Shape](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/02/4-easy-ways-to-get-your-synagogue-website-in-tip-top-form/) **Published:** February 7, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** If you are thinking that your synagogue website is more is more meh, than magnificent, we’ve put together a list of 5 easy ways to get your website back on track. Check them out below, and get inspired to tackle your website woes. **Content:** Your synagogue website is the hub for all online activity. It’s the place your members go to learn about upcoming events, make donations, stream services, and so much more. It’s also the very first introduction a prospective member has to your congregation. First impressions matter and you want your community to shine. It’s impossible to imagine that any shul wants to poorly showcase themselves online, but it’s clear that many struggle. **If you are thinking that your synagogue website might be more meh, than magnificent, we’ve put together a list of 4 easy ways to get your website back on track.** Check them out below, and get inspired to tackle your online woes. ## 1. Make Your Synagogue Website Mobile-Friendly Almost half or more of traffic that a website receives is from people viewing the website on a mobile device. If your synagogue’s website template isn’t optimized for mobile, it’s failing your congregants and other visitors more than half of the time. Aside from a complete redesign, there are still plenty of easy ways to create a better mobile experience. Some simple changes include enlarging the font size to 14 or 16 pixels, using clickable buttons instead of linking individual words, and breaking up dense paragraphs into bulleted lists. ## 2. Remove all Past Events on Your Homepage Hanukkah last year may have been absolutely amazing, but your celebrations have come and gone. It’s time to take down all information related to the Festival of Lights. It’s okay to tuck those pages away or archive them, but if they are on the homepage – they’ve got to go. **Keep your homepage forward-looking, and remove all out-of-date information.** The focus instead should be on actively spotlighting upcoming events. ## 3. Don’t Treat Your Homepage Like an Online Bulletin Board This one is a little tricky. **It’s a fine line between keeping your congregation in-the-know and having your homepage feel messy, disjointed and simply overloaded with just too much stuff.** Things like the minutes from your last board meetings or info that’s only relevant to a specific group – like a flyer about a religious school field trip need to go. Your goal is to strike a balance the needs of current and prospective members. **By working with a website designer who understands the needs of synagogues, the end result is a homepage where it is easy to promote upcoming events and let prospective members know what makes your organization special.** ## 4. Replace all Blurry or Out-of-Focus Images Yes, we know it’s hard to source great photos, but, trust us, it’s worth it. **A great synagogue website begins with great images.** These photographs serve as the foundation and a strong foundation equals a strong website. If you are struggling to find the right kind of images, ask your members for help. You may also want to consider hiring a professional photographer for assistance – this may be especially useful if you are unable to photograph on Shabbat or during other religious celebrations. --- If your website is guilty of any of the above, try not to feel overwhelmed and frustrated. **Start by making small changes** – removing blurry images or stop auto-playing videos – before moving to bigger and more strategic updates – like the content on your homepage. We encourage you to try these suggestions and breathe some fresh air into your website. You might be pleasantly surprised with the results. ## Thinking that you may need a new synagogue website? [Contact us](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/) and see how we can help. When we build a new synagogue website, we build it with these things in mind. Let’s get started on building your community a new, useful, and engaging website that your synagogue’s members will actually want to visit! ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Website Best Practices, Website Design --- ### [Just Say No to Empty Sanctuary Pics on Synagogue Websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/04/no-more-empty-sanctuary-pics/) **Published:** April 13, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** We are issuing a call, actually more like a plea, to all synagogues. It’s a simple request. Please remove all photos of empty sanctuaries from your website. Images of desolate sanctuaries feel lonely and well, empty - definitely not the image (no pun intended) that you are trying to convey. **Content:** This is serious people. The time to take action is now. We are issuing a call, actually more like a plea, to all synagogues. It’s a simple request, really. **Please remove all pics of empty sanctuaries from your website.** A photo of the exterior of your building is fine. Pictures of Torahs and stained glass – also good, but any image showing row after row of empty pews – please take it down. We’ve even seen one synagogue featuring an empty sanctuary pic (or ESP) on EVERY single webpage. How is this possible? Well, the ESP is included in the website header, so along with the Temple logo and main menu, the ESP, for better or worse, is displayed over and over again. Oy… ### The photographs used on your website are powerful. Think about what a photo of an empty sanctuary is saying. Such an image certainly doesn’t give off a warm, welcoming, or even interesting vibe. In fact, the opposite is true. **Images of desolate sanctuaries feel lonely and well, empty – definitely not the image (no pun intended) that you are trying to convey.** Your synagogue is dynamic, youthful, spiritual, family-oriented and so much more. Let all of the positive adjectives that you use to describe your synagogue guide the website photo selection. ### Think of the photos on your website as an opportunity to bring the vibrancy of your community to life. Show off the wonderful community you’ve created to the world. Use photos to tell your story and to entice new members to take a fresh look at your synagogue. Encourage existing members to get more involved in synagogue life. **Empty sanctuary pics don’t inspire. They don’t delight.** You could even argue that they are hurting your synagogue website and by default your synagogue’s marketing, membership, and outreach goals. Simply put, it’s time for them to go. **Other examples of images that have run their course include deserted social halls, lonely bimas, desolate classrooms, vacant libraries, dark-lit atriums, and gift shops free of customers.** Exceptions include engaging photographs showing your social hall with Pinterest-worthy decorated tables and floral arrangements or artfully staged images of your bima. **So, what kind of pics do belong on your synagogue website?** - Photos of people in your community celebrating Judaism or just being together - Zoom in on snapshots of religious school programs, participants gathered for lunch and learn or lecture, events geared towards seniors, Tot Shabbat, kids playing outside, and so on. Take a look at how these [Conservative synagogues](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/denominations/conservative-synagogue-websites/) – all of whom are unable to photograph during the Sabbath or other services, still have dynamic community oriented images displayed on their websites. After all, there are people in your building or events happening every day of the week – not just Friday – Saturday evening. ### A modern and welcoming website is one of the most powerful and effective ways for your synagogue to grow and better market themselves to new members – especially young families. Updating your website with vibrant pics is one of the best ways to help your Jewish community thrive online. Please, share this advice with your friends and fellow congregants… just say no to ESPs. ## Dreaming of a new website for your congregation? We specialize in designing professional and modern websites that are as vibrant as your congregation. [Get in touch](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/ "Contact Us") and learn more about how we can help your Jewish community thrive online. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Photography, Website Best Practices, Website Design --- ### [The Pros and Cons of Using a Synagogue Website Template](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/04/the-pros-and-cons-of-using-a-synagogue-website-template/) **Published:** April 24, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** As the trend towards website templates grows, one question - will the use of a template help or hurt a synagogue - keeps popping up. Are templates a good idea? **Content:** ## Should I use a template for my synagogue’s website? The good, the bad, and the ugly. Here’s what we think. As the trend towards website templates continues to grow, one question – will the use of a template help or potentially hurt a synagogue – keeps popping up. Much of this surge is propelled by the use of free templates that come with a synagogue’s membership management system or movement affiliation. Many synagogues are drawn to using a template by the perceived savings in time, expense, and effort. And, when a website is being offered to you at no cost, the temptation grows even stronger. What could go wrong? But, the old adage – there is no such thing as a free lunch – holds true and whether a template is actually good for a synagogue remains debatable. ## The pro’s and con’s of using a synagogue website template. ## Pros **You can’t beat free.** It’s true. You don’t have to spend a dime when using a template provided to you by a service that you are already paying for. **You fill in the blanks.** Templates come with pre-determined layouts and all you have to do is enter your information. This simplicity makes a templated website an appealing option to a synagogue with limited resources and personnel. **You work at your own pace.** Templates allow you to work at your own speed and are in full control of the process. Such a set up may be especially useful if you are under a tight deadline. ## Cons **The design is unoriginal** Your synagogue is unique. Why should you have the same website as a hundred other congregations? **Your website will never look as good as the example template.** Let’s be honest. Your website will not look as professional as the sample template shown on the developer’s website. Those examples always look so perfect and enticing, but we’ve yet to come across a site that looks as sharp as the sample. An exception to this scenario is when a volunteer or staff member with a background in marketing or website design takes the lead on updating the template. **Using a template is often like trying to fit a round peg into a square hole.** The flip side to filling in the blanks is that you are trying to cram your information into predetermined spaces. It’s very easy for the integrity of the original design to fall apart under such a scenario. **You are on your own.** When using a template, there is no one with professional experience to give your congregation guidance. It’s nice to work with someone who understands you, your needs, and how best to present your synagogue in an online environment. You have a great deal of information to share with their readers. Organizing this content can be a challenge. A website agency is there to guide you. **Templates present a weak first impression of your synagogue.** Here’s probably the biggest reason why templates are a bad idea for synagogues. Your website plays a critical role in your synagogue’s communication and marketing strategy. A great synagogue website inspires visitors to imagine themselves becoming a part of your congregation. It has the power to help your Jewish community grow and thrive. The opposite is also true. A subpar website turns off prospective members. Counteracting such a negative first impression is a big hurdle to overcome. Templated websites generally provide synagogues with an inferior look. The savings isn’t worth it. On the other hand, when you work with a website designer, you are paying for your congregation to look good online. This makes the investment in a custom website worth every penny. Your membership committee may be absolutely amazing, but a strong website is needed to help them achieve results. **Conclusion** By now, it’s probably obvious where we stand on whether or not a synagogue should use a template for their website. We firmly believe that all synagogues should have a strong website. In this day and age, a good website is no longer a luxury, it’s a must. We understand the reasoning behind using a website template, but we urge you to reconsider. And, there isn’t a need to worry about losing the benefits of a cloud-based database by not using the provided template. It’s possible to have a custom website and use ShulCloud at the same time – [see how it’s done.](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/wordpress-and-shulcloud-websites/) All synagogues deserve a great website and such a result cannot be achieved with a template. Your congregation deserves better. ### Thinking of a new website for your synagogue? We can help. Give us a call at 914-214-1032 or send an email to You can also fill out this form and we will be in touch right away. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Website Design --- ### [3 Cost-Effective Ways to Find Photos for Your Synagogue Website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/05/strong-photos-make-for-a-strong-synagogue-website/) **Published:** May 9, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** Let your website’s photos tell your story and support your mission. Getting high-quality photos can be a big challenge, but our three cost-effective strategies are here to make the question "how do I find photos for my synagogue website?" a bit easier to answer. **Content:** One of the strengths of your synagogue website lies in the quality of its photos. Take a look at our list of the best [Reform,](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/02/22-of-the-best-reform-synagogue-websites/) [Conservative](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/02/the-22-best-conservative-synagogue-websites-2018/), and [Reconstructionist ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/02/the-best-reconstructionist-synagogue-websites/)websites. These congregations are diverse in size, location, and denomination, but they all showcase powerful visuals. ## Let your website’s photos tell your story and support your mission. It’s not enough to simply state that you are a warm and welcoming congregation. ### By displaying photos of a cross-section of your synagogue’s members, your website brings your words to life. Explore [Congregation Shaare Emeth](http://www.sestl.org/) and [Adath Shalom](http://www.adathshalom.net/) and you’ll see what we mean. At this point, you may be rolling your eyes and saying to yourself “easier said than done.” And, we agree. Finding high-quality photos can be a big challenge for all synagogues, but this is especially true for Conservative and Orthodox shuls who are unable to photograph during Shabbat and other holidays. You can always head to [Getty Images](https://www.gettyimages.com/) or [Adobe Stock](https://stock.adobe.com) to purchase images, but after a while, the costs start to add up. Besides, the overly staged nature of stock photos sometimes lends an inauthentic and impersonal feel to a website. Hiring a professional photographer is an even better option, but this is a financially prohibitive suggestion for many synagogues. So, what’s a congregation to do? ### Our three cost-effective strategies are here to make the question *“how do I find photos for my synagogue website?”* a bit easier to answer. ## 1. Ask Your Community for Help Your members are already attending your events and snapping away pics on their iPhones. After the event, why not send out an email to attendees asking for photos? **You can even experiment with putting out your request via text.** With all the photo-taking tools that come on mobile phones nowadays, people are used to taking high-quality photos – i.e., they have enough knowledge of photography to know what it takes to compose a good photograph. ## 2. Reach Out to a Photographer in Your Congregation Chances are you already have a great photographer in your community. Send your congregation an email to make your needs known. **You’ll be surprised at how many congregants are eager to show off their photography skills to help their synagogue.** Ask if he or she is willing to photograph your next big event or to even visit your congregation on a quiet day to photograph the building, stained glass in the sanctuary, or other ritual objects – just avoid taking too many pictures of [empty sanctuaries.](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/04/no-more-empty-sanctuary-pics/) ## 3. Use the Creative Commons Photos that are designated as being a part of the creative commons are pics that you can safely download and use on your website. These photos are free, but you may have to credit the original owner of the image. Learn more about the [Creative Commons](https://creativecommons.org/)> > Websites like [Flickr,](https://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/) [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/), and [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/) offer a treasure trove of high-quality photographs. Check out this [Stock Photo Secrets blog post](https://www.stockphotosecrets.com/best-free-stock-photo-sites) for a comprehensive list of top-notch free stock sites. Also, one of our favorite resource’s, [Canva](https://www.canva.com/), offers tools. You can even make your [own professional infographics](https://www.canva.com/create/infographics/). ### Great photographs are the foundation of a great website. Gathering high-quality photos is not an easy task, but it’s a must. Your community (and especially your membership committee) will thank you. ## Dreaming of a new website for your congregation? We specialize in designing professional and modern websites that are as vibrant as your congregation. [Get in touch](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/ "Contact Us") and learn more about how we can help your Jewish community thrive online. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Photography, Website Best Practices, Website Design --- ### [Why Your Synagogue Gift Shop Needs an Online Store](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/05/why-your-synagogue-gift-shop-needs-an-online-store/) **Published:** May 18, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** Unrestricted by location or time of day, an online store helps you generate additional revenue. As modern shopping habits increasingly value convenience over loyalty to a location, your synagogue store risks losing business and support. Getting started may feel daunting, but it’s easier than you think. **Content:** Starting an online store is easier than ever. Yet, many synagogues have not jumped onboard the eCommerce revolution. Is it time rethink that strategy? The revenue raised by your gift shop supports critical programming, but most stores are only open for a few hours a week. ### Unrestricted by location or time of day, an online store helps you generate revenue even when your in-person store is closed. **The idea that an item can only be purchased during a set time or location is out of line with the expectations of modern customers.** And, as our shopping habits increasingly value convenience over loyalty to a specific location, your synagogue store risks losing business and support. Consider how key the revenue generated by your gift shop is to your congregation. Why should your members head to another online marketplace to purchase a mezuzah, when they can go to your website? **No matter how much your congregants patronize your in-house gift shop, an online store raises revenue and offers more access to your merchandise.** ### Getting started may feel daunting, but it’s easier than you think. The technology powering eCommerce has radically improved in recent years. **If you can edit a website using a CMS like WordPress, then you can definitely run an online store.** No technology background required. We use [WooCommerce](https://woocommerce.com/), one of the most popular eCommerce solutions. By providing a seamless integration with WordPress, it simply becomes another feature on your website. Check out [Design a Mezuzah](https://www.designamezuzah.com/) to see WooCommerce in action. ### Expand Your Reach It’s easy to envision your members heading to your website to purchase items, but an online gift shop also holds great promise for those unaffiliated with your congregation – or really any Jewish community. Not everyone is comfortable entering an unfamiliar building for the first time. In an area with a small Jewish population, your website can become the go-to Judaica provider. ### An online store isn’t meant to be a replacement for your in-house gift shop. Much like how your website is a virtual extension of your congregation, an online store serves the same purpose. And, considering how limited synagogue gift store hours can be, it’s surprising how few congregations allow customers to purchase goods online. The days of asking your members to “send you an email to set up an appointment” or “calling the office for more information” are over. ### By supplementing your in-house store with a virtual storefront, you are providing your members with a level of comfort and shopping convenience that they have come to expect. eCommerce is booming. It’s time for synagogues to jump onboard. You always encourage your members to check out your gift store before purchasing Judaica else. Opening online marketplace makes it much easier for your members to follow your advice. ## Considering starting an online store, but don’t know where to begin? Be in touch and let us guide you through the process. We understand the needs of Jewish organizations and are here to help your community thrive online. ## [Contact us to learn more >](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** E-commerce, Website Best Practices, Wordpress --- ### [Can a Synagogue Run an Online Store on Shabbat?](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/05/can-a-synagogue-run-an-online-store-during-shabbat/) **Published:** May 30, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** Imagine selling your Judaica round-the-clock. Day and night! 24/7! Sounds good, right? However, one question remains - what happens on Shabbat? Can a synagogue’s online store remain open on Shabbos? **Content:** ### Online shopping is booming and it’s time synagogues joined the eCommerce revolution. Nearly all synagogues have a gift shop, yet we couldn’t find one example of a synagogue selling their merchandise online. Unrestricted by location or time of day, an online store allows your gift shop to generate revenue even when your in-person store is closed. Imagine selling your Judaica round-the-clock. Day and night! 24/7! ## Sounds good, right? However, one question remains – what happens on Shabbat? Should a synagogue’s online store remain open? [B&H](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/), a major photo and video supplier based in NYC, famously turns their online store off every Friday at sundown. ![bandh-shabbat-closing](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_0074-1.png "IMG_0074 (1) | Synagogue-Websites.com") While items may be placed in the customer’s shopping cart, if he or she tries to submit the order a message appears indicating when sales may once again be processed. ![synagogue gift shop- shabbat closing - b and h shabbat message](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_0075-1.png "IMG_0075 (1) | Synagogue-Websites.com") As a Hasidic owned and operated company, B & H’s decision to hold sales aligns with the Orthodox interpretation of foregoing all business transactions during Shabbos. But, Jews observe the Sabbath in a multitude of ways. What’s right for B&H may not be for your congregation. Tradition and practice vary, but restricting the exchange of money on Shabbat crosses all denominational lines. Although adherence may vary on the individual level, all synagogue offices are officially closed for business. ### The online realm raises many new questions and offers great opportunities for discussion. Should your online gift shop close on Shabbat? Ultimately, it’s a decision that must be reached by the congregation and its clergy. ## For those congregations who would like to close their online store on Shabbat and other holidays, the technology is there to facilitate this choice. Our online stores run on [WooCommerce](https://woocommerce.com/), one of the most popular eCommerce platforms for WordPress websites. There is also a fantastic add-on available called [WooStore Vacation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/woo-store-vacation/). This tool allows you to turn your online store off for a certain period of time – a perfect solution for closing sales on Shabbat and other holidays. Our goal at Addicott Web is to help you modernize your synagogue in a way that works best for your congregation. --- ## Considering starting an online store, but don’t know where to begin? Be in touch and let us guide you through the process. We understand the needs of Jewish organizations and are here to help your community thrive online. ## [Contact us to learn more >](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** E-commerce, Wordpress --- ### [Best Practices for Promoting Events on Your Synagogue Website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/09/best-practices-for-promoting-events-on-your-synagogue-website/) **Published:** September 25, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** Think of your homepage as akin to the cover of a book. Much like how an appealing cover entices a reader to start reading, your homepage serves to encourage website visitors to dive in for more information. **Content:** Think of your homepage as akin to the cover of a book. Much like how an appealing cover entices a reader to start reading, your homepage serves to encourage website visitors to dive in for more information. Events on your homepage act as a notification – hey! check out this great program. **The goal is to get your readers to take action by clicking into the website to learn more. Don’t give away all details on the homepage**. It takes up too much space and clutters the homepage with excessive and unnecessary information. Promoting events is a big deal and many synagogues support them by creating individual flyers. These flyers often feature bright text and engaging images. As individual hand-outs, something for members to take home with them after services, these flyers are fine. But, the trouble begins when they are added to a synagogue’s homepage in mass. This tendency to reduce the size of these flyers, convert them into images and add them to the homepage is something that we’d like to see synagogues abandon. Learn more about [why](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/09/why-event-flyers-and-synagogue-homepages-dont-mix/) [event flyers and synagogue homepages don’t mix](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/09/why-event-flyers-and-synagogue-homepages-dont-mix/). ## Instead of decorating your homepage with pint-sized event flyers, here’s what we recommend. ### 1. Select a designated spot on your homepage for promoting upcoming events and programming. If you are feeling stuck, reach out to your website designer (or us) for help in determining the best place for events. It’s important to have consistency – both for your visitors and for the overall aesthetic of your website. ### 2. Draw attention to the event by using H2 or H3 font for the event title. This ensures a nice contrast between the title and event details. ### 3. \[Optional\] Add an engaging image to grab your reader’s attention **Please don’t add a thumbnail size flyer in support of the event.** You can use an image from the original flyer, but be wary of graphics that are totally off-brand and different from the fonts and colors used on your website. **Ideally, all marketing materials (including your website, printed flyers, emails, etc.) should be designed around a compatible look and a similar theme.** ### 4. Write a sentence or two of supporting text to entice readers to learn more. It’s ok to include the event date, time and location, but resist the urge to go further. **Be selective and concise with the event information you choose to share on your homepage.** Adding tons of details takes up too much room and is not necessary. ### 5. Position a bold C.T.A. (call to action) button or link under the body text. Use text that directly speaks to the reader. Words like “Join Us,” “Discover,” or “Participate” are much stronger than “click here for more info.” Another option is to use the title text as a link. ### 6. Connect the C.T.A or link to a calendar event, webpage, or online registration form. **Resist the temptation to take a shortcut by linking to a full-size version of the flyer!** Instead, transfer flyer info a web page or calendar event. Now is the time for details that go beyond the basics of event time and location- things like contact information, the day’s schedule, info on the speaker, and so on. ### 7. Ensure that your members can add events to their personal calendar. This is no longer a luxury or a nice, wishlist item. It’s a must for every synagogue. If your website designer is telling you that they don’t have such a feature, or it will cost a lot of money to add, you may want to think about a new website. ### One final idea… automate calendar events to your homepage. Work with your website developer or designer to directly feed events to your homepage. **An automated set up pushes the event title, the date/time, and image to a designated spot on your homepage.** Events always link to the main calendar. Best of all, calendar events are sent to your homepage and to your website calendar at the same time – a welcome time-saving set-up. ## Curious to see how all of this looks in action? Here are some examples of synagogues doing it right: ### [Adath Shalom – Morris Plains, NJ](https://www.adathshalom.net/) [![Adath Shalom homepage](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-25-at-11.41.50-AM.png "Screen Shot 2018-09-25 at 11.41.50 AM | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.adathshalom.net/)### [Temple Emanu-El – Palm Beach, FL](https://www.tepb.org/) [![Temple Emanu-el of Palm Beach homepage](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-24-at-4.42.27-PM-1024x570.png "Temple Emanu-el of Palm Beach | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.tepb.org/) . ### [Congregation Shaare Emeth – St. Louis, MO](http://www.sestl.org/) [![Homepage of Congregation Shaare Emeth](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-25-at-11.42.05-AM.png "Homepage of Congregation Shaare Emeth | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.sestl.org/)## Final Thoughts Our simple strategy is based on industry best practices and ensures that your synagogue’s website meets modern-day web standards. It also makes for a more professional homepage and helps with SEO – an all-around win. ## Get in Touch We are here to answer any questions you may have about Addicott Web, our services, or how we can design and build an affordable new website for your synagogue. Let’s talk. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Content, Events, Website Best Practices --- ### [10 Common Synagogue Website Mistakes](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/10/10-common-synagogue-website-mistakes/) **Published:** October 4, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** Within seconds of landing on your homepage, visitors are making snap-judgment decisions about your congregation. Let's make that first impression a good one by avoiding these 10 synagogue website mistakes. **Content:** Trust us, we understand. Maintaining a website is hard work, but it’s critical for the success of your congregation. **All organizations, synagogues included, are evaluated in part by the appearance of their website.** This may sound harsh, but it’s true. #### Within seconds of landing on your homepage, visitors are making snap-judgment decisions about your synagogue. It’s unfair, but an [outdated design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2013/01/what-makes-a-synagogue-website-outdated/) or a poor user experience can negatively impact a prospective member’s decision to get to know your congregation. First impressions matter. ## By avoiding these 10 synagogue website mistakes, you’ll be on the road to making your community shine online ### 1. Tiny Font Outdated synagogue website designs tend to share a common characteristic – teeny, tiny font. No one should have to strain their eyes to read your website. Body text should be at least a size 12. Anything less guarantees a lousy experience for your readers. ### 2. Social Media Icons at the Top of the Homepage Think about it. A visitor comes to your website and you are immediately inviting them to go somewhere else? This makes no sense. Connecting your synagogue website to social media is a great thing, but save it for the bottom of your homepage. Give prospective members an opportunity to explore your website *before* directing them to your Facebook page. ### 3. Outdated Information Keeping your synagogue website up-to-date is important. As soon as the High Holidays end that information needs to come down. It’s ok to continue to share sermons, but service times or the link to view the Rosh Hashanah live stream – not so much. **A current homepage establishes your website as a reliable source of information – which is exactly what you want.** ### 4. Posting Event Flyers on the Homepage Event flyers are beautiful, but they lose their impact when reduced in size and placed on your homepage. They are impossible to read, the design often doesn’t match your website, and there is no functionality. It’s a common practice and one that we encourage synagogues to phase out. [Event flyers and your homepage just don’t mix.](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/09/why-event-flyers-and-synagogue-homepages-dont-mix/) ### 5. Content Overload Be selective when it comes to your homepage. Set rules and parameters for what content will appear. Your homepage is not an online bulletin board- it’s the virtual front door to your community. **Cluttering your homepage with every upcoming event makes it hard for your readers to focus on what you actually want them to read.** Less is more when it comes to website design. ### 6. Uneven Design If you’ve updated your synagogue website within the past five years, chances are it’s responsive in design. This means that your website adjusts in relation to the size of the screen being used to view the site. This also means that the blocks on your homepage change according to the amount of content you add. More text and larger images result in a bigger block. This is mostly a good thing, but it can be tricky for synagogues to manage. Try not to think of blocks in isolation. When adding content to a particular block, consider how it will impact the blocks to the left or right. Otherwise, you end up with a really long block next to a tiny block. The end result is extra white space and a disjointed design. ### 7. Focusing Too Much on Current Members Always remember that your website is a shared space. Balancing the needs of current and prospective members isn’t easy, but it’s a must. Nearly half of your visitors are viewing your website for the very first time. **If your homepage is overly focused on topics that primarily appeal to members then you aren’t reaching those checking you out for the first time.** It’s not enough to have a link on your website directing people to complete a membership application. That comes later. First, use your website to let people get to know you. Give them a preview of how your community can enhance and enrich their lives. ### 8. Photos of Empty Sanctuaries The photographs used on your synagogue website are powerful. Think about what a photo of an empty sanctuary is saying. Such an image certainly doesn’t give off a warm, welcoming, or even interesting vibe. In fact, the opposite is true. **Images of desolate sanctuaries feel lonely and well, empty – definitely not the image (no pun intended) that you are trying to convey.** Read on for more information on why [you should just say no to empty sanctuary pics on your synagogue website -> ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/04/no-more-empty-sanctuary-pics/) ### 9. Not Actively Updating Your Synagogue Website If you haven’t updated your website for weeks or even months, are displaying the same stale photos from events that took place years ago or are still promoting events that already took, you are asking for trouble. Don’t be surprised if your members stop using your site and don’t consider your website as the most relevant place to find out what’s happening at the synagogue. Basically, if you aren’t using your website, why should your members? [Make your synagogue website something people will want to visit. ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2017/07/make-your-synagogues-website-something-people-will-want-to-visit/) ### 10. Blurry or Low-Quality Images What’s the difference between a great synagogue website and one that’s only mediocre? The answer lies in the quality of its images. Take a look at our list of the best [Reform,](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/02/22-of-the-best-reform-synagogue-websites/) [Conservative](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/02/the-22-best-conservative-synagogue-websites-2018/), and [Reconstructionist](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/02/the-best-reconstructionist-synagogue-websites/) websites. These congregations are diverse in size, location, and denomination, but they all showcase powerful visuals. #### Let your website’s photos tell your story and support your mission. It’s not enough to simply state that you are a warm and welcoming congregation. **By displaying photos of a cross-section of your synagogue’s members, your website brings your words to life.** Struggling to find images for your synagogue website? Here are [three cost-effective ways to find photos](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/05/strong-photos-make-for-a-strong-synagogue-website/). ## Final Thoughts Your synagogue website is powerful. When done well, it can grow membership, build revenue, enhance communication, and attract prospective members. The opposite is also true. Let your synagogue website tell an inviting story of your community. You only get one chance to make a positive first impression. ## Get in Touch We are here to answer any questions you may have about Addicott Web, our services, or how we can design and build an affordable new website for your synagogue. Let’s talk. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Uncategorized, Website Best Practices, Website Design --- ### [Great Synagogue Websites Inspire and Delight](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/03/great-synagogue-websites-inspire-and-delight/) **Published:** March 21, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** Think of your website as akin to the role curbside appeal plays in selling a home. It doesn’t directly sell the house, but it encourages people to give the house a chance. **Content:** *Cross-posted on the [USCJ Blog](https://uscj.org/blog/great-synagogue-websites)* Most congregations don’t think of their website as their most influential marketing tool, but those that do are onto something big. Within seconds of landing on a website, snap-judgment decisions are made. Interest in an organization is either solidified or dismissed. **Think of your website as akin to the role curbside appeal plays in selling a home. It doesn’t directly sell the house, but it encourages people to give the house a chance.** A great synagogue website inspires visitors to imagine themselves becoming a part of your congregation. It has the power to help your Jewish community grow and thrive. Consider the following two scenarios. Picture a family with young children – recent arrivals in your area. Curious to learn more about local opportunities for Jewish engagement, they head online and stumble across your synagogue’s website. The design is fresh and bright. The site is easy to navigate and it’s simple for the family to discover your different programs and opportunities for participation. Attractive images showcase members of all ages actively participating in Jewish life. The family likes what they see and as they continue to explore your site, they start to envision themselves as a part of your congregation. Eager to learn more, they plan a visit, give you a call, or decide to attend the next *Shabbat* service. Now, let’s imagine another scenario. The same family comes across your synagogue online. The design feels uninviting. The site isn’t current (Purim is around the corner, but the homepage is still promoting Hanukkah). Even worse, the photos are blurry and show empty sanctuaries or lonely buildings. Once again, action is taken. But, this time, it’s a response no congregation wants. The family clicks the back button on the browser and moves on. The first scenario illustrates the role a great website plays in new member outreach, and the second shows how a lousy website turns off prospective members. The family doesn’t make that call or visit. It’s a missed opportunity, and counteracting their negative first impression will be a big hurdle to overcome. **So, how can you ensure your website presents visitors with a positive impression? Here are four ways to get started.** ### **1. Update and Improve the Quality of Website Images.** It’s important to note that Conservative synagogues often feel stymied by this suggestion because they cannot photograph during *Shabbat* or other holidays, but this should not stop you from including compelling images on your website. In fact, the kind of images that you want aren’t those of packed sanctuaries or other religious moments. **Photographs that communicate feelings of warmth, family, friendship, and community are perfect.** For example, a photo showing a small group of students actively engaged in class, a picture of the Rabbi smiling while chatting with a congregant, or one of a few cheerful kids upside down on the playground are just right. **Be cognizant to select photos that reflect the ages, genders, races, and ethnicities of your congregants. Celebrating different stages of life and experiences are also important.** Too many images of young kids may turn off those without children. An abundance of photos featuring older adults may give the impression that your congregation isn’t right for a young family. ### 2. Keep Your Website Up-to-Date. Old information does more than make your website feel stale. **An out-of-date website diminishes the likelihood of your members using it as their go-to source for information**. The best way to keep your website current is to ensure that someone is actively updating the site consistently. Determining whose responsibility it is to maintain the site is a solid first step in improvement. ### 3. Don’t Let Upcoming Events Take Over Your Homepage. Repeat after me: your website is more than an online bulletin board. It’s very easy for events to monopolize your homepage. However, your website must balance the needs of current and prospective congregants. Some events only appeal to a small audience; they simply aren’t relevant to the bulk of website visitors. Upcoming events still have a place on your homepage, but the focus should shift to celebrating your congregation. **Center your homepage on community building, education, and Judaism.** ### 4. Reduce Text on the Homepage. **Understanding how visitors interact in an online environment is critical in building a great synagogue website.** Readers are skimming for key information. They are not interested in reading lengthy paragraphs. Instead, they are using your headlines and images to guide them. Think of your homepage as a jumping off place for people to learn more. It’s there to generate interest and excitement. Visitors see something that interests them or speaks to them and then they click to learn more. **The connection between member growth and a great synagogue website is proportional and direct. Synagogues ignore this link at their peril.** Websites get people interacting with you. And sometimes, that’s all that is needed for new member growth. A great synagogue website is not only something that your congregation deserves, but it’s also something that you can easily achieve --- ### Dreaming of a new website for your congregation? We specialize in designing professional and modern websites that are as vibrant as your congregation. Together, let’s make your community thrive online. ### We’d love to connect! We are here to answer any questions you may have about Addicott Web, our services, or how we can design and build a new website for your synagogue. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Website Best Practices, Website Design --- ### [6 Ways to Prepare Your Synagogue Website for the High Holidays](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/09/6-ways-to-prepare-your-synagogue-website-for-the-high-holidays/) **Published:** September 6, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** Flyers get lost, emails can be overlooked, and print mailings get recycled, but your website remains an accessible resource. Here's how to get your website ready for the High Holidays.  **Content:** It’s hard to believe, but the High Holidays are just around the corner. Not only is it a busy time at your shul, but it’s also a busy time for your website. Without question, your website will experience a surge in visitors over the next few weeks. Traffic to your site will soar as prospective and current members stop by to learn about services, purchase tickets and get a sense of how your congregation observes the holidays. ### Here are 6 things you can do right now to get your synagogue website ready for the High Holidays. **1.Build a Designated High Holiday Section on Your Website:** Your website should serve as a hub for all things High Holiday. Include details on service times, volunteer opportunities, children’s events, and other special gatherings. This section should be easily accessible and simple to find via the homepage or menu navigation. **2. Go Beyond Service Times and Location:** People need to know the basics of an event- where it’s happening and what time – but they also want to know what to expect. A concise summary supplementing each event helps to generate interest and enthusiasm. **3. Encourage Online Registration:** Online registration makes it easy for your members to participate. The days of people printing and completing forms by hand are rapidly coming to a close. Online forms bring a level of modern convenience that many of your members have come to expect. You can build out forms for babysitting, Yahrzeit plaques, memorial books, youth programming and more. And, if your synagogue requires tickets for services, you can create those too. **4. Welcome Non-Members:** By having a dedicated page devoted to non-members, the congregation excels at detailing how non-members can get involved. **5. Share Information About Accommodations and Other Accessibility Needs:** Let your members know how your congregation facilitates an inclusive High Holiday experience. **6. High Holiday Videos:** An exciting trend that we’ve been seeing more of is the creation of videos inviting viewers to join the congregation in celebrating the upcoming holy days. Often these short videos are led by the Rabbi and are a dynamic way to engage prospective members. The High Holy Days are nearly here and we encourage you to use your website as a key communication tool. After all, flyers get lost, emails can be overlooked, and print mailings get recycled, but your website remains an easily accessible resource. In the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah, we encourage you to continue to build out High Holiday content and to direct your members to visit your website. ### Thinking of a new website for your synagogue? We can help. Give us a call at 914-214-1032 or send an email to You can also fill out this form and we will be in touch right away. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Content, Jewish Holidays --- ### [Why Event Flyers and Synagogue Homepages Don't Mix](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/09/why-event-flyers-and-synagogue-homepages-dont-mix/) **Published:** September 20, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** In their original printed form, these flyers were perfect. Bright text artfully positioned on top of engaging images that grab your congregants attention. But, when the same flyers are added to your homepage problems abound. **Content:** ### Raise your hand if this scenario sounds familiar. You go to your synagogue’s website and prominently featured on the homepage are little shrinky-dink versions of paper flyers. Reduced from their original 8.5 by 11′ inch size, these thumbnails are everywhere. They are announcing upcoming events, reminding you to register your children for religious school, and so on. In their original printed form, these flyers were perfect. Bright text artfully positioned on top of engaging images that grab your congregants attention. But, when the same flyers are added to your homepage problems abound. ## **Here are 6 reasons why you should** avoid **adding flyers to your synagogue homepage.** ### 1. Issues with Legibility ![synagogue website with flyers](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/sinai-flyer-updated-768x1047.png "sinai-flyer-updated | Synagogue-Websites.com") Shrinking event flyers may save time, but it’s not user-friendly. Minimizing the document’s size results in text that is hard to read. **Fine details like the event time and location are lost to the constraints of the now too small font.** Sure you can click on the thumbnail to view the full-sized version, but first impressions matter. **Tiny flyers just don’t have the same ‘curb appeal’ as they do when they are printed and displayed in their normal size.** ### 2. Images Become Stretched or Distorted Pics used on a flyer may be rectangular in nature. It’s easy for these images to lose their clarity when the flyer is reduced in size to fit into the desired space on the homepage. ### 3. All Flyer Links are Dead-Ends Flyers are designed for people to take home and hang up on their fridge. Printed forms are meant to be filled out by hand and dropped in the mail. The email address directing you to contact the event organizer to RSVP is only helpful when you have the flyer next to you as you send an email from your computer or phone. It’s frustrating to see an email address on a website that doesn’t allow you to automatically send an email. The URL redirecting you to register online also doesn’t work. The links are not active. Sometimes and somewhat comically the synagogue’s URL even appears directing you go visit the website for more info, which seems a bit redundant as you are already on their synagogue’s website…. ### 4. Off-Brand Design ![event flyers synagogue website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/TBD-eventflyers-1024x1024.png "TBD-eventflyers | Synagogue-Websites.com") These event flyers are beautiful, but they are designed around the events and not the synagogue’s branding. Notice the different colors and fonts found in each flyer. Your website is your best communication and marketing tool. It’s the public face of your synagogue and you want it to look good. **By using consistent fonts and colors throughout the website, it gives your site a professional feel.** And when you extend the design aesthetic of your website to all marketing materials, including emails and printed flyers, it further reinforces your brand. The end result is a tailored and polished look – a worthy goal for all synagogues. **However, many synagogues who add flyers to their homepages often end up with a messy and disjointed feel.** This is because flyers are often designed around the nature of the event and not the synagogue’s branding. Big mistake. Just because you are having a luau themed Shabbat dinner doesn’t mean that you should abandon your branding in favor of bright pinks and flashy yellows. Always try to stay on brand – no matter the event. ### 5. Limited User Engagement ![flyer found on synagogue website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/TempleEtz-Chaim.png "TempleEtz-Chaim | Synagogue-Websites.com") Why not use an image of a lulav and etrog on the homepage instead of a small version of the flyer? **The web is a visual world and it’s also one where users are able to interact with their surroundings.** This technology invites people to do things – take action- and not just passively digest information – like they do when reading a flyer. Many of your congregants have come to expect a level of convenience by submitting info via the website instead of mailing in a printed document. Some congregants may print out the full-size version flyer, but we are willing to bet that the submissions will come in faster and in greater abundance when you invite congregants to register online. ### **6. Flyers are bad for SEO** **Search engines like Google can’t scan an image and tease out the individual words and phrases.** Your flyers are bursting with keywords that are fantastic for SEO (search engine optimization). Keywords like your synagogue’s name, address, religious school, or early childhood programs are lost. It’s a missed opportunity and one that’s easy to correct by adding those words directly to your site instead of relying on the image. ## Final Thoughts Websites are a radically different medium than print. **What works beautifully in print fails to properly translate to an online environment.** Aesthetic challenges like itsy-bitsy font and stretched images impact the clarity and appearance of a once stylish flyer. **Posting event flyers as images on a synagogue’s website is an outdated practice.** It’s one that tends to do more harm than good. In the short run, you may save time by posting a thumbnail version of an event flyer, but the convenience is not worth the price. ## Get in Touch We are here to answer any questions you may have about Addicott Web, our services, or how we help synagogues thrive online. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Content, Events, Website Best Practices --- ### [What Makes a Synagogue Website Outdated?](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2013/01/what-makes-a-synagogue-website-outdated/) **Published:** January 18, 2013 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** I don't believe that the need for a website and what it contains are dependent on the size of the synagogue. Synagogues need to view themselves as professional organizations running a professional website presence, and as such need to have a better way of assigning responsibility for it. **Content:** When the Internet first developed in the late 1990’s, synagogue members acting as volunteers were often the driving force behind synagogues’ first websites. The development of website technology has been vast in the ensuing 10-15 years, but unfortunately as a collective body, synagogue websites have largely lagged behind. From my observations while preparing my posts on the [best Conservative synagogue websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2012/08/22-of-the-best-conservative-synagogue-websites/ "22 of the Best Conservative Synagogue Websites") and [best Reform temple websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2012/10/22-of-the-best-reform-temple-websites/ "22 of the Best Reform Temple Websites"), the majority of synagogue websites are still using outdated technology to run their sites. In fact, many websites look like they haven’t changed at all in the past 10 years, despite having outlived their useful life cycle. ## What do I consider “outdated”? You can tell a website is outdated with just a quick glance – the “eye test”. More specifically though, here are some of the technological aspects that determine how modern a website is: - **HTML files** – Is the website still a series of HTML files edited manually using an HTML editing program? - **No CSS** – Is the look of the website coded directly into the HTML and not contained in a separate CSS style sheet? - **Depends on Flash** – Does the website use a lot of Flash elements, which is rapidly becoming a deprecated technology in today’s web? - **No coherent organization** – Is the content of the homepage unorganized, with most content posted wherever it fits? - **No content management system** – Systems such as WordPress offer so many advantages in terms of management and functionality that it’s a gimme to use them. ## Are all synagogue websites outdated? Not at all. There are lots of synagogue website out there that are well-designed, well-organized, and take advantage of modern web technologies such as a WordPress content management system. Major synagogue movements such as the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism are even working to move members’ websites into modern times by offering free (to affiliates) WordPress websites that take advantage of modern web technologies. And certainly the growth in the number of professional website firms and designers catering to synagogues speaks to the fact that there is demand on the part of synagogues as they recognize the need to improve their websites. When I criticize synagogue websites for being outdated, I understand that there is a big, big difference in resources (time, money, and people) between large, well-funded synagogues and smaller- to medium-sized synagogues, and that one area this difference is manifested is the website. However, I don’t believe that the need for a website and what it contains are dependent on the size of the synagogue. Synagogues need to view themselves as professional organizations running a professional website presence, and as such need to have a better way of assigning responsibility for it. ## Get started on a new website for your synagogue The website is too important a means of communication for a synagogue not to prioritize it accordingly. If your synagogue has an outdated website that badly needs updating with more modern technologies, we can work with you on an affordable website solution. [Contact us today](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/ "Contact Us") to get started. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Content, Website Design --- ### [22 of the Best Reform Temple Websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2012/10/22-of-the-best-reform-temple-websites/) **Published:** October 2, 2012 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** Reform temples no doubt face the same challenges as any movement temple does when it comes to websites - that the smaller temple don't necessarily have the resources to help with their websites that the larger ones do. Here is my list of 22 of the best Reform temple websites that I came across, listed alphabetically by state. **Content:** ## Check out our updated list of the Best Reform Synagogue Websites of 2019. [See this year’s list ->](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/04/best-reform-temple-websites-of-2019/) [![best-reform-synagogue-websites-2019 (1)](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/best-reform-websites-2019-1-300x300.png "best-reform-websites-2019 (1) | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/04/best-reform-temple-websites-of-2019/) With almost 900 affiliated congregations across the United States and Canada, Reform Judaism is one of the largest synagogue movements in North America. With such numbers, I looked through a ton of websites while putting together this list. Surprisingly, there weren’t a lot of “great” websites that I found – i.e., ones that combined unique designs with an emphasis on usability. There were a lot of “nice” and “average” looking websites in the middle of the spectrum, much like the Conservative movement. (To me a great synagogue website isn’t just about the design – it’s about the content as well, and incorporates many of my [18 successful elements of synagogue websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2012/07/18-elements-of-successful-synagogue-websites/ "18 Elements of Successful Synagogue Websites").) One thing I did notice when looking through all the Reform temple websites is that a large percentage of them share some kind of template, either through a content management system or just as HTML. This isn’t surprising though, as the Union of Reform Judaism offers a website builder tool to their affiliated temples. But the large number of older, HTML templates in use indicates that there is still a lot of room to grow in terms of the overall state of websites in the Reform movement – again, much as is in the Conservative movement. Reform temples no doubt face the same challenges as any movement temple does when it comes to websites – that the smaller temple don’t necessarily have the resources to help with their websites that the larger ones do. But, that’s not necessarily an ironclad rule, as some of the websites in the list below can attest to. Without further ado, here is my list of 22 of the best Reform temple websites that I came across, listed alphabetically by state. ## Our updated list for 2019 is [here ->](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/04/best-reform-temple-websites-of-2019/) [![best-reform-synagogue-websites-2019 (1)](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/best-reform-websites-2019-1-300x300.png "best-reform-websites-2019 (1) | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/04/best-reform-temple-websites-of-2019/) **Congregation B’nai Tzedek – Fountain Valley, CA** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/bnai_tzedek_fountain_valley.png "bnai_tzedek_fountain_valley | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://cbtfv.org/) **Temple Isaiah – Lafayette, CA** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/temple_isaiah_lafayette.png "temple_isaiah_lafayette | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.temple-isaiah.org/) **Congregation Emanu-El – San Francisco, CA** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/emanu_el_sanfran.png "emanu_el_sanfran | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.emanuelsf.org/) ## Still looking at a list from 7 years ago? Check out our updated list for 2019 [here ->](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/04/best-reform-temple-websites-of-2019/) **Temple Judea – Tarzana, CA** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/temple_judea_tarzana.png "temple_judea_tarzana | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.templejudea.com/) **Temple Adat Elohim – Thousand Oaks, CA** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/adat_elohim_thousand_oaks.png "adat_elohim_thousand_oaks | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.adatelohim.org/) **Temple Beth El – St. Petersburg, FL** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/beth_el_stpete.png "beth_el_stpete | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.templebeth-el.com) **Congregation Mickve Israel – Savannah, GA** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/mickve_israel_savannah.png "mickve_israel_savannah | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.mickveisrael.org/) **Congregation Beth El – Sudbury, MA** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/beth_el_sudbury.png "beth_el_sudbury | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.bethelsudbury.org/) **Temple Shir Tikva – Wayland, MA** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/shir_tikva_wayland.png "shir_tikva_wayland | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.shirtikva.org/) ## Looking for the updated list of Best Reform Synagogue Websites from 2019? – [check it out here ->](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/04/best-reform-temple-websites-of-2019/) [![best-reform-synagogue-websites-2019 (1)](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/best-reform-websites-2019-1-300x300.png "best-reform-websites-2019 (1) | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/04/best-reform-temple-websites-of-2019/) **Temple Beth El – Closter, NJ** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/beth_el_closter.png "beth_el_closter | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.tbenv.org) **Brooklyn Heights Synagogue – Brooklyn, NY** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/brooklyn_heights_syn.png "brooklyn_heights_syn | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.bhsbrooklyn.org/) **Temple Am Echad – Lynbrook, NY** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/am_echad_lynbrook.png "am_echad_lynbrook | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.am-echad.org/) **Temple Emanu-El – New York, NY** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/emanu_el_nyc.png "emanu_el_nyc | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.emanuelnyc.org/) **The Village Temple – New York, NY** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/village_temple_nyc.png "village_temple_nyc | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.villagetemple.org/) **Temple Beth Or – Raleigh, NC** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/beth_or_raleigh.png "beth_or_raleigh | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.tboraleigh.org/) **Temple David – Monroeville, PA** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/temple_david_monroeville.png "temple_david_monroeville | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://templedavid.org/) ## Hey there! Still looking for the updated list of Best Reform Synagogue Websites of 2019 – [check it out here ->](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/04/best-reform-temple-websites-of-2019/) [![best-reform-synagogue-websites-2019 (1)](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/best-reform-websites-2019-1-300x300.png "best-reform-websites-2019 (1) | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/04/best-reform-temple-websites-of-2019/) **Temple Israel – Memphis, TN** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/temple_israel_memphis.png "temple_israel_memphis | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.timemphis.org/) **Temple Emanu-El – Dallas, TX** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/emanu_el_dallas.png "emanu_el_dallas | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.tedallas.org/) **Temple Mount Sinai – El Paso, TX** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/mount_sinai_elpaso.png "mount_sinai_elpaso | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.templemountsinai.com/) **Temple B’nai Shalom – Fairfax, VA** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/bnai_shalom_fairfax.png "bnai_shalom_fairfax | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.tbs-online.org/) **Temple B’nai Torah – Bellevue, WA** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/bnai_torah_bellevue.png "bnai_torah_bellevue | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.templebnaitorah.org) **Congregation Shalom – Milwaukee, WI** [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/cong_shalom_milwaukee.png "cong_shalom_milwaukee | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.cong-shalom.org/) --- ## Dreaming of a new website for your congregation? We specialize in designing professional and modern websites that are as vibrant as your congregation. Together, let’s make your community thrive online. ## We’d love to connect! We are here to answer any questions you may have about Addicott Web, our services, or how we can design and build a new website for your synagogue. Please complete this form to get the conversation started. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Design Galleries --- ### [22 of the Best Conservative Synagogue Websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2012/08/22-of-the-best-conservative-synagogue-websites/) **Published:** August 28, 2012 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** There were plenty of websites to choose from when putting together this list. A lot of websites required a lot of work and showed it, but that's understandable considering a lot of smaller synagogues don't necessarily have the resources to help with websites that larger ones do. Here is my list of 22 of the best Conservative synagogue websites that I came across. **Content:** With over 600 affiliated synagogues across the United States and Canada, the Conservative movement is one of the largest synagogue movements in North America. With such numbers, there were plenty of websites to choose from when putting together this list. A significant portion of the Conservative synagogue websites that we looked through were in the “good” to “above average” range. There were also a lot of websites that required a lot of work and showed it, but that’s understandable considering a lot of smaller synagogues don’t necessarily have the resources to help with websites that larger ones do. (We should add that a great synagogue website isn’t just about the design – it’s about the content as well. Check out [18 successful elements of synagogue websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2012/07/18-elements-of-successful-synagogue-websites/ "18 Elements of Successful Synagogue Websites")). ### And, without further ado, here is our list of 22 of the best Conservative synagogue websites. Note: Synagogues are listed alphabetically first by country and then by state. ### Beth Israel Synagogue – Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada) [![Beth Israel Synagogue](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Beth-El-Synagogue.png "Beth Israel Synagogue | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.bethisraelvan.ca/) ### Congregation Beth Sholom – San Francisco, California [![Congregation Beth Sholom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Congregation-Beth-Sholom.png "Congregation Beth Sholom | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://bethsholomsf.org/) ### Sinai Temple – Los Angeles, California [![Sinai Temple](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Sinai-Temple.png "Sinai Temple | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.sinaitemple.org/) ### Surf City Synagogue – Costa Mesa, California [![Surf City Synagogue](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Surf-City-Synagogue.png "Surf City Synagogue | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.surfcitysynagogue.org/) ### Temple Beth Am – Los Angeles, California [![Temple Beth Am](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Temple-Beth-Am.png "Temple Beth Am | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.tbala.org/) ### Valley Beth Shalom – Encino, California [![Valley Beth Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Valley-Beth-Shalom.png "Valley Beth Shalom | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.vbs.org/) ### Congregation Bonai Shalom – Boulder, Colorado [![Congregation Bonai Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Congregation-Bonai-Shalom.png "Congregation Bonai Shalom | Synagogue-Websites.com")]() ### Beth El Temple – West Hartford, Connecticut [![Beth El Temple](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Beth-El-Temple.png "Beth El Temple | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.bethelwesthartford.org/) ### Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach – Palm Beach, Florida [![Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Temple-Emanu-El-of-Palm-Beach.png "Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.tepb.org/) ### Congregation Beth Shalom – Northbrook, Illinois [![Congregation Beth Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Congregation-Beth-Shalom.png "Congregation Beth Shalom | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://bethshalomnb.org/) ### North Suburban Synagogue Beth El – Highland Park, Illinois [![North Suburban Synagogue Beth El](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/North-Suburban-Synagogue-Beth-El.png "North Suburban Synagogue Beth El | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://nssbethel.org/) ### Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills – Milton, Massachusetts ### [![Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Copngregation-Beth-Shalom-of-the-Blue-Hills.png "Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.bethshalombluehills.org/) ### Adath Shalom – Morris Plains, New Jersey [![Adath Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Adath-Shalom.png "Adath Shalom | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.adathshalom.net/) ### Beth El Synagogue – East Windsor, New Jersey [![Beth El Synagogue](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Beth-El-Synagogue-1.png "Beth El Synagogue | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.bethel.net/) ### Congregation Sons of Israel – Briarcliff Manor, New York [![Congregation Sons of Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Congregation-Sons-of-Israel.png "Congregation Sons of Israel | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.csibriarcliff.org/) ### Westchester Jewish Center – Mamaroneck, New York [![Westchester Jewish Center](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Westchester-Jewish-Center.png "Westchester Jewish Center | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.wjcenter.org/) ### Chizuk Amuno Congregation – Baltimore, Maryland [![Chizuk Amuno Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Chizuk-Amuno-Congregation.png "Chizuk Amuno Congregation | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.chizukamuno.org/) ### Adath Israel – Merion Station, Pennsylvania ### [![Adath Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Adath-Israel.png "Adath Israel | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.adathisrael.org/) ### Beth El Congregation of the South Hills – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania [![Beth El Congregation of the South Hills](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Beth-El-Congregation-of-the-South-Hills.png "Beth El Congregation of the South Hills | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://bethelcong.org/) ### Har Zion Temple – Penn Valley, Pennsylvania [![Har Zion Temple](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Har-Zion-Temple.png "Har Zion Temple | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.harziontemple.org/) ### Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [![Temple Beth Zion Beth Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Temple-Beth-Zion-Beth-Israel.png "Temple Beth Zion Beth Israel | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://bzbi.org) ### Agudas Achim Congregation – Alexandria, Virginia [![Agudas Achim Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Agudas-Achim-Congregation.png "Agudas Achim Congregation | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.agudasachim-va.org/) ## Dreaming of a new website for your congregation? We specialize in designing professional and modern websites that are as vibrant as your congregation. [Get in touch](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/ "Contact Us") and learn more about how we can help your Jewish community thrive online. [![contact us to learn more about synagogue website design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Contact-Us.png "Contact Us | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Design Galleries --- ### [Best Reform Synagogue Websites of 2019](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/04/best-reform-temple-websites-of-2019/) **Published:** April 3, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** We are pleased to present you with our list of the best Reform temple websites of 2019. See what’s possible and check out how others celebrate their communities online. **Content:** ![best-reform-synagogue-website-design-2019](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/best-reform-websites-2019-1-300x300.png "best-reform-websites-2019 (1) | Synagogue-Websites.com")We’ve been spending a lot of time scouring the web in search of the best Reform synagogue websites. And, with nearly 900 congregations affiliated with the [Union of Reform Judaism](https://urj.org/), we certainly didn’t have a shortage of options. But, despite the abundance of Reform temples, putting this list together wasn’t easy. **Similar to [Conservative synagogues, the growing reliance on free website templates](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/03/the-best-conservative-synagogue-websites-2019/) represents an unfortunate trend.** Whether the template is coming from the URJ or the synagogue’s [membership management software](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/wordpress-and-shulcloud-websites/), the end result is often the same. Preformatted templates can be hard to use. Unless the person updating them has design/development experience, the final look is often less than subpar. And then the synagogue is left with a website that doesn’t present the congregation in an appealing and exciting way. **Any perceived savings is potentially canceled out by the damage wrought by a messy website.** **Your synagogue’s website can inspire visitors to imagine themselves becoming a part of your** **congregation**. It is such a key part of your outbound communication and marketing strategy. **Your synagogue website has the power to help your Jewish community grow and thrive. Best of all, a** **fantastic website is more affordable than you may think** -> [Contact us for pricing details.](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/) ### And, now without further ado, we are pleased to present you with our list of the best Reform temple websites of 2019. See what’s possible and check out how others celebrate their communities online. *Synagogues are organized alphabetically.* ### [Congregation Beth Israel](https://cbicville.org/) – Charlottesville, Virginia[![congregation-beth-israel-virginia-best-synagogue-website-design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/congregation-beth-israel-virginia-best-synagogue-website-e1553879340699.png "congregation-beth-israel-virginia-best-synagogue-website | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://cbicville.org/) ### [Congregation Beth Israel](http://www.bethisrael-pdx.org/) – Portland, Oregon[![Congregation-Beth-Israel-Best-Synagogue-Website-design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Congregation-Beth-Israel-Best-Synagogue-Website-e1553879311341.png "Congregation-Beth-Israel-Best-Synagogue-Website | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.bethisrael-pdx.org/) ### [Congregation Beth Or](https://www.bethor.org/) – Maple Glen, Pennsylvania [![Congregation-Beth-Or-Best-Synagogue-Website-design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Congregation-Beth-Or-Best-Synagogue-Website-e1553879450532.png "Congregation-Beth-Or-Best-Synagogue-Website | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.bethor.org/) ### [Congregation B’nai David](https://www.congregationbnaidavid.com/) – Visalia, California [![Congregation-Bnai-David-best-synagogue-website-design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Congregation-Bnai-David-best-synagogue-website-e1553879620355.png "Congregation-Bnai-David-best-synagogue-website | Synagogue-Websites.com")]() ### [Congregation Micah](http://www.congregationmicah.org/) – Brentwood, Tennessee ### [![Congregation-Micah-Tennessee-best-reform-temple-website-design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Congregation-Micah-Tennessee-e1553879792944.png "Congregation-Micah-Tennessee | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.congregationmicah.org/)[Congregation Shaare Emeth](http://www.sestl.org/)– St. Louis, Missouri [![Congregation-Shaare-Emeth-Best-Synagogue-Website-Reform-design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Congregation-Shaare-Emeth-Best-Synagogue-Website-e1553879966970.png "Congregation-Shaare-Emeth-Best-Synagogue-Website | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.sestl.org/) ### [Congregation Temple Israel](http://www.ti-stl.org/) – St. Louis, Missouri [![Congregation-Temple-Israel-Best-Synagogue-Website-Reform](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Congregation-Temple-Israel-Best-Synagogue-Website-e1553880056460.png "Congregation-Temple-Israel-Best-Synagogue-Website | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.ti-stl.org/) ### [Jewish Center of the Hamptons](https://jcoh.org/) – East Hampton, New York [![Jewish-Center-of-the-Hamptons-best-synagogue-website-Reform Temples-design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Jewish-Center-of-the-Hamptons-best-synagogue-website-e1553880165970.png "Jewish-Center-of-the-Hamptons-best-synagogue-website | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://jcoh.org/) ### [Stephen Wise Temple](http://www.wisela.org/) – Los Angeles, California [![Stephen-Wise-Temple-Best-Synagogue-Website-Reform](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Stephen-Wise-Temple-Best-Synagogue-Website-e1553880355907.png "Stephen-Wise-Temple-Best-Synagogue-Website | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.wisela.org/) ### [Temple Ahavat Shalom](https://www.tasnorthridge.org/) – Northridge, California [![Temple-Ahavat-Shalom-Best-Synagogue-Website-Reform-Temple](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Temple-Ahavat-Shalom-Best-Synagogue-Website-e1553880278445.png "Temple-Ahavat-Shalom-Best-Synagogue-Website | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.tasnorthridge.org/) ### [Temple Beth El](http://ourbethel.org/) – Hillsborough, New Jersey [![Temple-Beth-El-Best-Synagogue-Website-Reform-design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Temple-Beth-El-Best-Synagogue-Website-e1553880443784.png "Temple-Beth-El-Best-Synagogue-Website | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://ourbethel.org/) ### [Temple Beth El](https://templebethelhollywood.org/) – Hollywood, Florida [![Temple-Beth-El-Hollywood-FL-Best-Synagogue-Website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Temple-Beth-El-Hollywood-FL-Best-Synagogue-Website-e1553880723878.png "Temple-Beth-El-Hollywood-FL-Best-Synagogue-Website | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://templebethelhollywood.org/) ### [Temple Beth El](https://bethelsp.org/) – San Pedro, California [![Temple-Beth-El-San-Pedro-Best-Synagogue-Website-Reform](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Temple-Beth-El-San-Pedro-Best-Synagogue-Website-e1553882079522.png "Temple-Beth-El-San-Pedro-Best-Synagogue-Website | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://bethelsp.org/) ### [Temple De Hirsch Sinai](https://templedehirschsinai.org/) – Seattle, Washington [![Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Seattle Washington - best Reform Temple website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Temple-De-Hirsch-Sinai-best-synagogue-website-e1553884152519.png "Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Seattle Washington | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://templedehirschsinai.org/) ### [Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills](https://tebh.org/) – Beverly Hills, California [![Temple-Emanuel-Beverly-Hills-Best-Synagogue-Website-Reform-Temples](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Temple-Emanuel-Beverly-Hills-Best-Synagogue-Website-e1553884265248.png "Temple-Emanuel-Beverly-Hills-Best-Synagogue-Website | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://tebh.org/) ### [Temple Emanuel](https://www.tegreensboro.org) – Greensboro, North Carolina [![Temple-Emanuel-Best-Reform-Synagogue-Website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Temple-Emanuel-Best-Synagogue-Website-e1553884386186.png "Temple-Emanuel-Best-Synagogue-Website | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.tegreensboro.org) ### [Temple Emanu-El](http://www.emanu-el.org/) – Marblehead, Massachusetts [![Temple-Emanu-El-Mass-Best-Reform-Synagogue-Website-design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Temple-Emanu-El-Mass-Best-Synagogue-Website-e1553884513381.png "Temple-Emanu-El-Mass-Best-Synagogue-Website | Synagogue-Websites.com")]() ### [Temple Israel](https://templeisrael.com/) – Minneapolis, Minnesota [![Temple-Israel-Minneapolis-best-Reform-synagogue-website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Temple-Israel-Minneapolis-best-synagogue-website-e1553884719281.png "Temple-Israel-Minneapolis-best-synagogue-website | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://templeisrael.com/) ### [Temple Israel of Boston](https://www.tisrael.org/) – Boston, Massachusetts[![Temple-Israel-Boston-Best-Reform-Synagogue-Website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Temple-Israel-Boston-Best-Synagogue-Website-e1553884590750.png "Temple-Israel-Boston-Best-Synagogue-Website | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.tisrael.org/) ### [Washington Hebrew Congregation](https://www.whctemple.org/) – Washington, DC [![Washington-Hebrew-Congregation-Best-Reform-Synagogue-Website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Washington-Hebrew-Congregation-Best-Synagogue-Website-e1553884849974.png "Washington-Hebrew-Congregation-Best-Synagogue-Website | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.whctemple.org/) --- ## Dreaming of a new website for your congregation? We specialize in designing professional and modern websites that are as vibrant as your congregation. Together, let’s make your community thrive online. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Best Synagogue Websites, Website Design --- ### [Our Top 5 New Year Resolutions for Your Synagogue Website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/01/our-top-5-new-year-resolutions-for-your-synagogue-website/) **Published:** January 8, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** While we may have officially celebrated the new year three months ago, another kind of new year is upon us. As you’re busy making (or already breaking) your personal New Year resolutions for 2019, now is a great time to extend a little self-care to your synagogue’s website. **Content:** ![new year resolutions for synagogue websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/new-years-resolutions-synagogues-version2-300x300.png "new-years-resolutions-synagogues-version2 | Synagogue-Websites.com")While we celebrated the New Year three months ago (let’s hear it for 5779!), another kind of new year is upon us. And, as you’re busy making (or already breaking) your personal New Year resolutions for 2019, now is a great time to extend a little self-care and love to your synagogue’s website. **Our New Year resolutions for synagogue websites are based on the simple idea that your website is the core of your marketing strategy.** Ask yourself – does your website present your synagogue in a positive light? Does your synagogue website effectively communicate the vibrancy of your community to a prospective member? Do current members actively use your site? Whatever your answers are today, by this time next year, make it a goal for the above questions to be answered with a resounding yes. ### Resolution #1: Seriously Consider a Website Redesign The Internet moves fast. A website designed as little as 5 years ago, may feel completely outdated by today’s standards. **If the last time you updated your site was 2013 or 2014, then you are due for a new look.** A website redesign doesn’t require you to remortgage your building, and it’s probably more affordable than you think. At Addicott Web, our specialty is working with synagogues and Jewish non-profits and are our prices are designed to meet the needs of our clients. [Get in touch ->](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/) ### Resolution #2: Keep Your Synagogue Website Up-to-Date By the time Purim rolls around, there should be no trace of the High Holidays on your homepage. Old information does more than make your website feel stale. **An out-of-date website diminishes the likelihood of your members using it as their go-to source for information.** The best way to keep your website current is to ensure that someone is actively updating the site consistently. Seems simple enough…. but figuring out whose responsibility it is to maintain the site may be a resolution in and of itself for your congregation. ### Resolution #3: Review Your Google Analytic Data Ever wonder how many people are visiting your website? Or, are you curious to see the pages they are viewing? By tracking your website with [Google Analytics](https://marketingplatform.google.com/about/analytics/), a free service, you can learn the answers to these questions. Work with your website provider, or us, to get started. Then, use this information to better meet the needs of your readers. If the Clergy page generates a lot of traffic, take a good look at that page. Think of how you can build upon it and make it more relevant to your readers. On the other hand, if you have a section not getting much attention, consider why. Perhaps it is not needed on your website, or maybe it’s hard for readers to find. **Don’t continue to blindly update your website with no knowledge of how your site is actually being used.** ### Resolution #4: Improve the quality of photographs and other website visuals You can’t have a great synagogue website without great images. There is no way around it. The web is a visual medium and what people see needs to look good. [Empty sanctuary pictures](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/04/no-more-empty-sanctuary-pics/) certainly have no place on your website, but if your pics featuring bright happy people are blurry or low-quality, they’ve got to go. Investing in high-quality photography makes a big difference and we encourage you to up the quality of your photographs this year. ### Resolution #5: Shift Your Website’s Focus from Events to Community Building Your website is more than an online bulletin board. It’s easy for events to dominate your homepage. After all, everything from services to programs fits into the category of an event. **By building a website focused on community, friendship, and developing a closer relationship to Judaism, your site will evoke the kind of feelings that encourage a person to get to know your congregation.** Think of your website as an introduction to your congregation and your synagogue is more than the sum of the next 10 events. ### In Conclusion The beauty of a new year is that it offers a chance for a fresh start. It’s a wonderful opportunity to reflect on what went well with your website and what you’d like to change in the upcoming months. Harness the energy of this time of year and improve your website – we promise – you’ll enter 2020 with no regrets. Curious to learn more about what’s involved with a website redesign? ## Get in Touch "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Content, Website Best Practices, Website Design --- ### [The Best Conservative Synagogue Websites of 2019](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/03/the-best-conservative-synagogue-websites-2019/) **Published:** March 19, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** A great synagogue website inspires visitors to imagine themselves becoming a part of your congregation. It has the power to help your Jewish community grow and thrive. See who made this years list. **Content:** ![best-synagogue-websites-2019](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/best-conservative-websites-2019-300x300.png "best-conservative-websites-2019 | Synagogue-Websites.com")Our list of the best Conservative Synagogue websites of 2019 celebrates congregations across the United States and Canada. We were delighted to find so many great synagogue websites – all featuring compelling imagery, dynamic layouts, and a strong design aesthetic. While synagogue websites overall are moving in a positive direction, one major trend that’s been growing over the past few years threatens to derail this progress. **The increasing reliance on pre-formulated templates that come with a synagogue’s online membership management software are a cause for concern.** *\[Note: Addicott Web partners with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism to provide their WordPress templates to affiliated synagogues. The USCJ offers free website hosting for their affiliated synagogues as well. To learn more about this offer, [please click here](http://uscjhost.org/).\]* We’ve seen synagogues who made our best-of list in years past go from having a great website to displaying an uninviting online presence. The benefits of a cloud-based database are real, but a step forward in membership management doesn’t need to equal a step-backward for your website. It’s possible to have a strong website and still use membership software like ShulCloud – [see how it’s done.](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/wordpress-and-shulcloud-websites/) **A great synagogue website inspires visitors to imagine themselves becoming a part of your congregation. It has the power to help your Jewish community grow and thrive**. Our hope is that our list of the best Conservative synagogue websites will serve as a source of inspiration for your congregation. See what’s possible and check out how other synagogues showcase their communities online. *Synagogues are organized alphabetically by name.* ### [Adas Israel Congregation](https://www.adasisrael.org/) – Washington, DC [![Adas Israel - best conservative synagogue website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Adas-Israel-Congregation-DC-1-e1553008745567.png "Adas-Israel-Congregation-DC | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.adasisrael.org/) ### [Adat Ari El](https://adatariel.org/) – Valley Village, California [![Adat Ari El- best conservative synagogue website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Adat-Ari-El-e1553008803742.png "Adat-Ari-El | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://adatariel.org/) ### [Anshe Chesed](https://www.anschechesed.org/) – New York, New York [![Anshe Chesed - best conservative synagogue website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Anshe-Chesed-e1553008916499.png "Anshe-Chesed | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.anschechesed.org/) ### [Beth Am Israel](https://www.bethamisrael.org/) – Penn Valley, Pennsylvania ### [![Beth-Am-Israel - conservative synagogue website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Beth-Am-Israel-e1553009182404.png "Beth-Am-Israel | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.bethamisrael.org/) ### [Beth Jacob Synagogue](http://www.bethjacobsynagogue.ca/) – Hamilton, Ontario ### [![Beth-Jacob-Synagogue-best synagogue websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Beth-Jacob-Synagogue-e1553009685884.png "Beth-Jacob-Synagogue | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.bethjacobsynagogue.ca/) ### [B’nai Torah Congregation](https://btcboca.org/) – Boca Raton, Florida ### [![Bnai-Torah-Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Bnai-Torah-Congregation-e1553009842584.png "Bnai-Torah-Congregation | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://btcboca.org/) ### [Chizuk Amuno Congregation](http://www.chizukamuno.org/) – Baltimore, Maryland [![Chizuk Amuno Congregation - synagogue website design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Chizuk-Amuno-Congregation.png "Chizuk Amuno Congregation | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.chizukamuno.org/) ### [Congregation Adath Israel](https://www.congadathisrael.org/) – Newtown, Connecticut ### [![Adath-Israel - synagogue website design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Adath-Israel-e1553009974825.png "Adath-Israel | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.congadathisrael.org/) ### [Congregation Beth El](https://bethelnorfolk.com/) – Norfolk, Virginia [![Beth El Norfolk](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Congregation-Beth-El-Norfolk-e1553022564386.png "Congregation-Beth-El-Norfolk | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://bethelnorfolk.com/) ### [Congregation Beth El](https://bethelsnj.org) – Voorhees, New Jersey [![Congregation Beth El - best synagogue website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Congregation-Beth-El-Voorhes-NJ-e1553269179827.png "Congregation-Beth-El-Voorhes-NJ | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://bethelsnj.org) ### [Congregation Neveh Shalom](https://nevehshalom.org/) – Portland, Oregon [![Neveh Shalom - best synagogue website - synagogue website design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Congregation-Neveh-Shalom-e1553022685660.png "Congregation-Neveh-Shalom | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://nevehshalom.org/) ### [Congregation Shaarie Torah](http://shaarietorah.org) – Portland, Oregon [![Shaarie-Torah- best synagogue website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Congregation-Shaarie-Torah-e1553022855156.png "Congregation-Shaarie-Torah | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://shaarietorah.org) ### [Keneseth Israel Congregation](https://www.kenesethisrael.com/) – Louisville, Kentucky [![Kenesth Israel synagogue website design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Kenesth-Israel-e1553022921596.png "Kenesth-Israel | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.kenesethisrael.com/) ### [Peninsula Sinai Congregation](https://www.peninsulasinai.org/) – Foster City, California [![Peninsula Sinai best synagogue website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Peninsula-Sinai-e1553022989845.png "Peninsula-Sinai | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.peninsulasinai.org/) ### [Sinai Synagogue](https://www.sinaisynagogue.org/) – South Bend, Indiana [![Sinai Synagogue website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Sinai-Synagogue-e1553023047281.png "Sinai-Synagogue | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.sinaisynagogue.org/) ### [Sinai Temple](https://www.sinaitemple.org/) – Los Angeles, California [![Sinai Temple best synagogue website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Sinai-Temple-e1553023112315.png "Sinai-Temple | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.sinaitemple.org/) ### [Temple Beth-El](https://tbeny.org/) – Poughkeepsie, New York [![Temple Beth El best website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Temple-Beth-El-Poughkeepsie-e1553023164550.png "Temple Beth El - Poughkeepsie | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://tbeny.org/) ### [Temple Beth Or](https://www.templebethorbrick.org/) – Brick, New Jersey [![Temple Beth Or best website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Temple-Beth-Or-e1553023220908.png "Temple-Beth-Or | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.templebethorbrick.org/) ### [Temple Beth Sholom](http://www.beth-sholom.org/) – Framingham, Massachusetts [![Temple Beth Sholom best website synagogue website design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Temple-Beth-Sholom-e1553023283639.png "Temple-Beth-Sholom | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.beth-sholom.org/) ### [Temple Sinai](https://www.tsinai.com/) – Dresher, Pennsylvania [![Temple Sinai best website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Temple-Sinai-PA-e1553023340348.png "Temple-Sinai-PA | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.tsinai.com/) --- ## Dreaming of a new website for your congregation? We specialize in designing professional and modern websites that are as vibrant as your congregation. Together, let’s make your community thrive online. ## We’d love to connect! We are here to answer any questions you may have about Addicott Web, our services, or how we can design and build a new website for your synagogue. Please complete the form to get the conversation started. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Best Synagogue Websites, Website Design --- ### [Keeping Your Synagogue Safe Online](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2020/02/keeping-your-synagogue-safe-online/) **Published:** February 12, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** Recently, we sat down Andrew J. Cohen, vice president for technology strategy and operations at Hillel International to discuss synagogue website security, why most passwords are not sufficient, and why hackers know more about you than you may think. **Content:** ![Andrew J. Cohen - Hillel - synagogue website security](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Interview-with-Andrew-J.Cohen_.png "Interview with Andrew J.Cohen | Synagogue-Websites.com") ## An Interview with Andrew J. Cohen- Tech VP at Hillel International At Addicott Web, our focus is helping Jewish non-profits, and in particular, supporting synagogues grow and thrive online. A key part of our work focuses on digital security. Recently, we sat down Andrew J. Cohen, vice president for technology strategy and operations at [Hillel International](https://hillel.org/) to discuss his take on the latest synagogue website security challenges — including why most passwords are not sufficient, why hackers know more about you than you may think, and why a password manager may be in your future. *This interview has been lightly condensed for clarity.* ### What are some simple security precautions that you recommend a synagogue take to keep their website secure? The number one thing synagogues need to do is ensure that users are using strong, randomly-generated passwords when logging into the synagogue’s website or any other online service. Also, enable two-factor authentication for every service — if it’s available. In combination with setting strong, randomly-generated passwords, my second major recommendation, is to use a password manager, like [LastPass](https://www.lastpass.com) or [1Password](https://1password.com). **We’ve all established certain online habits over the last 20 years that we’re fine at first, but are no longer sufficient because hackers are exploiting our habits.** Ten years ago, it was fine to create a password that was a dictionary word with a couple of characters added or create a password that replaced the vowels with like an @ sign for an “a” and a 3 for an “e,” but the hackers now know we do that. So, hackers can run those combinations very quickly. ### What are the biggest mistakes you see the average person make when creating a password? Reusing passwords is a huge problem. **It’s not uncommon for people to be using the same password on dozens, if not hundreds, of websites. So, if that one site’s password database is breached, those passwords get trafficked on the dark web.** Subsequently, those hackers try to log in using those breached passwords on other websites. Every website needs to have a unique password that is only used on that website. The only way to effectively and conveniently establish secure passwords is to use a password manager. ### How effective are online security questions that help to verify authenticity? Although websites commonly ask you secret questions as a second protection against a leaked password, this approach is often not sufficient. **The hackers often know the answers to your secret questions because they have already stolen them from another site.** They probably know your mother’s maiden name, your first dog’s name, the name of the first person you ever kissed. It’s just a matter of connecting all the dots. If it falls into the wrong hands they can use that information against you. The only approach is to use fake responses and store the false answers in your password manager. ### Do you think Jewish organizations need to take special precautions to keep their websites and member information safe online? Day-to-day, most of the online attacks that we’ve seen at Hillel haven’t been motivated by anti-Semitism. They are mostly financial schemes. It’s not typically anti-Semitism, although we do get our share of ugly emails. The attacks that we’ve seen against Hillel staffers, our websites, and our systems have mostly been seeking to steal money. But, that being said, we also know that anti-Semitism is on the rise. The [ADL has documented](https://www.adl.org/) this quite clearly, so we have to be vigilant. Unfortunately, there’s also been some very ugly incidents in the real world, and we’re not keeping our eyes open if we don’t recognize that acts in the physical world have connections with the online world. ### What should a synagogue do if they discover that their staff’s email addresses are on a list of potentially compromised addresses? The first thing they should do is change the password associated with the email. It’s not necessary for the users to change their email address. **The standard recommendation used to be for users to change their passwords every month or every 90 days. But that’s no longer true.** NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the U.S., [no longer recommends](https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/easy-ways-build-better-p5w0rd) that people change their passwords all the time, as it was inadvertently encouraging behavior where users would create weak or predictable password patterns. **It’s better for people to create long passwords or password phrases that they can remember, even if they change it less often.** Of course, you should always change a password for a website or system has been breached. ### Often, we have clients ask if a synagogue should post staff members’ email addresses online. What is your take on this? That’s a hard question. Obviously, you want to make the information about your staff available and you want to make it easy for people to find you, but I recommend that you don’t publish individual email addresses for all employees. In our case, we removed all of our staff email addresses from Hillel’s website because we realized that anti-Semites were mining those email addresses to send ugly messages to our entire staff in one step. An alternative to publishing all email addresses is to create a web contact form that people fill out or to use a catch-all email address like info@ or hello@. ### Do you think it’s a bad idea for synagogues to post pictures of their community members online? No, I think it’s essential to help tell the story of the organization. People want to see photos and social media, in particular, depends on photography of people to really carry the emotion and the impact of what the activity or event really is, so you can’t really get away from that. I do think that there are special considerations to take. For example, some members might not allow their photos to be used based on their work in government, in security, or another reason. But, as a precaution, do not identify individuals in the photos on public pages unless they are members of your leadership. This is particularly true for minors. ### We also often get the question if synagogues should include addresses and phone numbers, and we encourage our clients to balance the need between being accessible and being safe. What do you recommend? The address is a must. It’s impossible to hide. Unless you have taken extraordinary steps to remove your synagogue’s address from Google Maps’ database, it’s available to the general public. **What do the anti-Semites want? They want us to be invisible. They want us to be scared. They want to make it harder for people to figure out where to go and be with Jews and pray and be in a community.** So, I would never advise a Jewish organization to not publicize their location or phone number. But there are simple security steps like not publishing your entire staff directory, and having a single main phone number. ### How can we move forward, feel secure online, but not be afraid? I think people need to take ownership of their online behavior. We wish we all lived in a world where we didn’t have to lock our cars and our houses but unfortunately we do. That’s how it is when it comes to internet security. You can’t be on the internet and not keep security in mind. But there are tools that are making it easier, so for example, there’s tools that will tell you if you use a password manager it will automatically tell if your password has been breached recently and it will prompt you to change the password. Rather than feel defeatist, take ownership and reach out. If you’re not comfortable with technology, connect with friends and family who are, and realize that our old habits and behaviors are no longer good enough. Take ownership of your online identity. But most importantly, we should not exist in the shadows. As Jews, it is right to stay visible and be seen. --- ![Andrew Cohen - Hillel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/andrew-cohen-headshot-new-1.jpg "andrew-cohen-headshot-new | Synagogue-Websites.com")Andrew J. Cohen oversees the digital strategy and information technology teams in support of Hillel professionals across the movement. Equally adept in technology platforms and design thinking approaches, he has nearly 20 years of experience balancing business considerations with user needs. Learn more about [Hillel International](https://hillel.org/). --- ## We’d love to connect. Want to know more about how your synagogue can stay safe online? Don’t hesitate to reach out and we’ll help keep your website secure. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Website security --- ### [What Synagogues Can Learn from the Best Church Websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/11/what-synagogues-can-learn-from-the-best-church-websites/) **Published:** November 28, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** We took a look at how similar niches, in particular, Christian churches, use their websites as a marketing tool. What we discovered surprised us and we came away with new ideas as to how synagogues can build a better website. **Content:** The Internet is a place where you have only seconds to grab your visitor’s attention. Snap-judgement decisions are made about the vibrancy of a school, business, restaurant, or house of worship. **Your synagogue website has the power to influence how an outsider perceives your community.** Making a positive first impression is key. While our focus at Addicott Web is on helping synagogues thrive online, we began to wonder how similar niches, in particular, Christian churches, use their websites as a marketing tool. What we discovered surprised us and we came away with new ideas as to how synagogues can build a better website. ## Here’s what we learned. ### 1. The church’s mission plays a starring role. The first thing we noticed was that the best church websites excel at sharing their mission. It’s often wrapped up in a concise, neat sentence. [Hill City Church RVA](http://hillcityrva.com/) starts with “*A safe place to explore your faith.”* The [Good New Church](http://goodnews.church/) proudly proclaims “*Good News is a place where anyone can be transformed by the story of Jesus*.” These statements shape and support the content and design of the homepage. [![Good News Church - synagogue websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/GoodNewsChurch.png "GoodNewsChurch | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://goodnews.church/) The homepage of the Good News Church , Omaha, NE, illustrates the power of a strong mission oriented headline. What is the mission of your synagogue? What does your community do best? What makes your community special? The answers to these questions should guide the content you place on your homepage. If your website is overloaded with upcoming events, consider what these events say about your congregation. Your Hanukkah party may be absolutely amazing, but a member isn’t joining because of a fun party. They want community, a sense of belonging, and a deeper relationship with Judaism. **By positioning your homepage around your synagogue’s mission, you are giving your website a sense of focus.** You are elevating your website from a jumble of seemingly unrelated events to one that provides visitors with a broad and comprehensive look at your community. ### **2. Church websites speak directly to the reader.** Many successful church websites use outward facing language. It feels like the website is initiating a conversation with the reader. Words are carefully chosen and are designed to stir an emotional response. These statements are powerful, inclusive and effective. [Grace Hills Church](https://gracehillschurch.com/) in Rogers, Arkansas, begins with the large, can’t miss “*We’re Saving a Seat for You*.” This simple statement feels like a personal invitations for the reader to explore the congregation. You’re saving a seat for me? How nice of you! [![GraceHillsChurch](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/GraceHillsChurch.png "GraceHillsChurch | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://gracehillschurch.com/) Grace Hills Church – Rogers, Arkansas Of course a synagogue cannot simply copy the words on these church websites. It wouldn’t work for many reasons, but the point remains valid. **Personal invitations that are directed to the reader are much more powerful than a general “*****we are a warm and welcoming congregation*****.”** How many times have we heard that one before? ### 3. Church websites use professional images and dynamic videos. [![New Spring Church](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/NewSpringChurch.png "NewSpringChurch | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://newspring.cc/) New Spring Church – Anderson, SC You can’t have a great synagogue website without great images. There is no way around it. The web is a visual medium and what people see needs to look good. [Empty sanctuary pictures ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/04/no-more-empty-sanctuary-pics/)definitely have no place on your synagogue website, but if the pics featuring bright happy people are blurry or low-quality, they’ve got to go as well. It’s clear that many of the best church websites invested in high-quality photography, are committed to hiring professional photographers, or at the very least have someone with a photographic background take photos – something any synagogue can easily do. This makes a big difference. **One interesting trend is the inclusion of silent, spliced videos showing people entering the church, greeting others, and making their way to the sanctuary.** None of these scenes feel powerful on their own, but when placed together, these ordinary images tell a powerful story. Not only do they give the visitor a sense of what to expect, but they make you feel like you are already there. The congregation feels alive, the visitor feels welcomed, and going to church feels fun. In addition to the [New Spring Church,](https://newspring.cc/) [College Park Church](https://www.yourchurch.com/) (Indianapolis, IN) and the [Greenhouse Church](http://www.greenhousesouthflorida.org/) (Davie, FL) feature these welcome videos on their homepages. Imagine how a synagogue could create their own story through the use of a welcome video. It’s definitely worth getting excited about and we can’t wait to see a synagogue website containing such a montage in the future. ### 4. Church Websites are Focused on Community Building. [![Saddleback Church - what synagogues can learn from church websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/SaddlebackChurch.png "SaddlebackChurch | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://saddleback.com/) Saddleback Church – Irvine, CA This is big. Really big. The best church websites are not listing upcoming event after upcoming event. **Programming is important, but it does not take center-stage. Instead, the focus is on community building.** When we sat down with [Dr. Ron Wolfson to discuss synagogue websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/06/an-interview-with-dr-ron-wolfson-relational-judaism-and-synagogue-websites/), he recounted a story by Pastor Rick Warren, the pastor of [Saddleback Church](https://saddleback.com/) in Orange County. California. “*Rick likes to ask: “What’s the first question people ask when they walk into a church for the first time?” It’s not “Where’s the bathroom?” It’s: “Is there anybody here who I can be friends with, who is in the same stage of life?”* Dr. Wolfson went on to note “*That’s a great lesson for synagogues and their websites. If I am looking for a spiritual home, I would want to know “who are the people of this community? Why would I want to meet them? Why would I want to engage with them? And, is this a place where I can find friends?”* **By building a website focused on community, friendship, and developing a closer relationship to Judaism, your site will evoke the kind of feelings that encourage a person to get to know your congregation.** Let your website tell the story of your congregation and community. For a synagogue to embrace such an approach, it will require a shift away from a website centered around promoting events. **Upcoming events are still a part of your website, but the focus is on showcasing your synagogue from a high-level perspective.** Think of your website as an introduction to your congregation and your synagogue is more than the sum of the next 10 events. ## **Final Thoughts** The best church websites excel at generating excitement and interest. They show off their communities in a way that makes them feel appealing to a potential congregant. They tell an enticing story and encourage visitors to consider why this place should become their spiritual home. Synagogues can do this as well. Use your website to show prospective members that you are the one – the right place for them to deepen their connection to Judaism and join a caring community. ### Feeling like your synagogue website isn’t cutting it? Let’s talk. We are here to answer any questions you may have about Addicott Web, our services, or how we can design and build an affordable new website for your synagogue. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Content, Website Best Practices, Website Design --- ### [The 22 Best Conservative Synagogue Websites 2018](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/02/the-22-best-conservative-synagogue-websites-2018/) **Published:** February 21, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** ![best conservative synagogue websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/best-conservative-synagogues-1-300x300.png "best-conservative-synagogues (1) | Synagogue-Websites.com")We are absolutely in love with the new [USCJ website](https://uscj.org/). It’s fresh, vibrant, rich in content, and full of dynamic functionality. It’s no surprise that so many Conservative synagogues have followed suit and are also sporting a fresh, new look. This year’s roundup of the 22 Best Conservative Synagogue websites celebrates congregations from across the United States and Canada. We were delighted to find so many synagogue websites featuring bold imagery, mobile-friendly layouts, and a unique design aesthetic. As a side note…while we were overwhelmed by the growing number of truly fantastic Conservative synagogue websites, we would be remiss if we didn’t note that plenty of congregations are desperately in need of a revamp. As one of the most effective ways to communicate with current members and attract prospective families, it’s startling that so many synagogues continue to have such outdated websites. ## And now… without further ado…. we are proud to present you with our list of the 22 best Conservative synagogue websites for 2018. Synagogues are organized alphabetically by name. ### Adath Israel – Merion Station, Pennsylvania ### [![Adath Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Adath-Israel.png "Adath Israel | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.adathisrael.org/) ### Adath Shalom – Morris Plains, New Jersey [![Adath Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Adath-Shalom.png "Adath Shalom | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.adathshalom.net/) ### Agudas Achim Congregation – Alexandria, Virginia [![Agudas Achim Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Agudas-Achim-Congregation.png "Agudas Achim Congregation | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.agudasachim-va.org/) ### Beth El Congregation of the South Hills – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania [![Beth El Congregation of the South Hills](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Beth-El-Congregation-of-the-South-Hills.png "Beth El Congregation of the South Hills | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://bethelcong.org/) ### Beth El Synagogue – East Windsor, New Jersey [![Beth El Synagogue](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Beth-El-Synagogue-1.png "Beth El Synagogue | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.bethel.net/) ### Beth El Temple – West Hartford, Connecticut [![Beth El Temple](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Beth-El-Temple.png "Beth El Temple | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.bethelwesthartford.org/) ### Beth Israel Synagogue – Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada) [![Beth Israel Synagogue](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Beth-El-Synagogue.png "Beth Israel Synagogue | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.bethisraelvan.ca/) ### Chizuk Amuno Congregation – Baltimore, Maryland [![Chizuk Amuno Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Chizuk-Amuno-Congregation.png "Chizuk Amuno Congregation | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.chizukamuno.org/) ### Congregation Beth Shalom – Northbrook, Illinois [![Congregation Beth Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Congregation-Beth-Shalom.png "Congregation Beth Shalom | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://bethshalomnb.org/) ### Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills – Milton, Massachusetts ### [![Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Copngregation-Beth-Shalom-of-the-Blue-Hills.png "Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.bethshalombluehills.org/) ### Congregation Beth Sholom – San Francisco, California [![Congregation Beth Sholom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Congregation-Beth-Sholom.png "Congregation Beth Sholom | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://bethsholomsf.org/) ### Congregation Bonai Shalom – Boulder, Colorado [![Congregation Bonai Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Congregation-Bonai-Shalom.png "Congregation Bonai Shalom | Synagogue-Websites.com")]() ### Congregation Sons of Israel – Briarcliff Manor, New York [![Congregation Sons of Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Congregation-Sons-of-Israel.png "Congregation Sons of Israel | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.csibriarcliff.org/) ### Har Zion Temple – Penn Valley, Pennsylvania [![Har Zion Temple](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Har-Zion-Temple.png "Har Zion Temple | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.harziontemple.org/) ### North Suburban Synagogue Beth El – Highland Park, Illinois [![North Suburban Synagogue Beth El](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/North-Suburban-Synagogue-Beth-El.png "North Suburban Synagogue Beth El | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://nssbethel.org/) ### Sinai Temple – Los Angeles, California [![Sinai Temple](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Sinai-Temple.png "Sinai Temple | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.sinaitemple.org/) ### Surf City Synagogue – Costa Mesa, California [![Surf City Synagogue](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Surf-City-Synagogue.png "Surf City Synagogue | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.surfcitysynagogue.org/) ### Temple Beth Am – Los Angeles, California [![Temple Beth Am](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Temple-Beth-Am.png "Temple Beth Am | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.tbala.org/) ### Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [![Temple Beth Zion Beth Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Temple-Beth-Zion-Beth-Israel.png "Temple Beth Zion Beth Israel | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://bzbi.org) ### Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach – Palm Beach, Florida [![Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Temple-Emanu-El-of-Palm-Beach.png "Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.tepb.org/) ### Valley Beth Shalom – Encino, California [![Valley Beth Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Valley-Beth-Shalom.png "Valley Beth Shalom | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.vbs.org/) ### Westchester Jewish Center – Mamaroneck, New York [![Westchester Jewish Center](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Westchester-Jewish-Center.png "Westchester Jewish Center | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.wjcenter.org/) --- ## Dreaming of a new website for your congregation? We specialize in designing professional and modern websites that are as vibrant as your congregation. Together, let’s make your community thrive online. ## We’d love to connect! We are here to answer any questions you may have about Addicott Web, our services, or how we can design and build a new website for your synagogue. Please complete the form to get the conversation started. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Best Synagogue Websites, Design Galleries --- ### [The Best Reconstructionist Synagogue Websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/02/the-best-reconstructionist-synagogue-websites/) **Published:** February 22, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** Our list of 11 the best Reconstructionist synagogue websites celebrates congregations from California to Curaçao. While diverse in size and location, all of these websites share one essential characteristic - they bring the communities they represent to life online. **Content:** ![the best reconstructionist synagogue websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Copy-of-best-conservative-synagogues-300x300.png "the best reconstructionist synagogue websites | Synagogue-Websites.com")The Reconstructionist movement has always been cutting edge and it’s no surprise that we discovered so many Reconstructionist synagogues with such forward-thinking and innovative websites. Our list of 11 fantastic Reconstructionist synagogue websites celebrates congregations from California to Curaçao. While diverse in size and location, all of these websites share one essential characteristic – they bring the communities they represent to life online. As you explore these websites, you’ll discover vibrant content, engaging images, and new ways to showcase upcoming programming and events. ## And now…we are pleased to present you with our list of the best Reconstructionist synagogue websites for 2018. Synagogues are organized alphabetically by location. ### Congregation Ner Shalom – Cotati, CA [![Congregation Ner Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Congregation-Ner-Shalom.png "Congregation Ner Shalom | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.nershalom.org/) ### Malibu Jewish Center & Synagogue – Malibu, CA [![Malibu JewishCenter](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/MalibuJewishCenter.png "Malibu JewishCenter | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://mjcs.org/) ### Kehillat Israel – Pacific Palisades, CA [![Kehillat Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Kehillat-Israel.png "Kehillat Israel | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://ourki.org/) ### Synagogue Mikvé Israel-Emanuel – Willemstad, Curaçao [![Mikve Israel Emanuel Synagogue](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Mikve-Israel-Emanuel-Synagogue.png "Mikve Israel Emanuel Synagogue | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.snoa.com/) ### Jewish Community of Amherst – Amherst, MA ### [![Jewish Community of Amherst](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/JewishCommunityofAmherst.png "JewishCommunityofAmherst | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://jcamherst.org/) ### Temple Israel and JCC – Ridgewood, NJ [![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Temple-Israel-JCC.png "Temple Israel & JCC | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.synagogue.org/) ### Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore – Plandome, NY [![RSNS](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/RSNS.png "RSNS | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://rsns.org/) ### Bet Am Shalom Synagogue – White Plains, NY [![Bet Am Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bet-Am-Shalom.png "Bet Am Shalom | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.betamshalom.org/) ### Congregation Shalom Rav – Austin, TX [![Congregation Shalom Rav](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/CongregationShalomRav.png "CongregationShalomRav | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://shalomravaustin.org/) ### Kol Ami – Arlington, VA [![Kol Ami](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Kol-Ami.png "Kol Ami | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.kolamivirginia.org/) --- ## Dreaming of a new website for your congregation? We specialize in designing professional and modern websites that are as vibrant as your congregation. Together, let’s make your community thrive online. ## We’d love to connect! We are here to answer any questions you may have about Addicott Web, our services, or how we can design and build a new website for your synagogue. Please complete the form to get the conversation started. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Best Synagogue Websites, Design Galleries --- ### [22 of the Best Reform Synagogue Websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/02/22-of-the-best-reform-synagogue-websites/) **Published:** February 28, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** Explore our list of 22 of the best Reform Synagogue websites and discover vibrant content, engaging images, and new ways to showcase upcoming programming and events. Get inspired by the unending possibilities of how you can bring your congregation to life online. **Content:** ![best reform synagogue websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/best-reform-synagogues-300x300.png "best-reform-synagogues | Synagogue-Websites.com")We’ve been spending a lot of time scouring the web in pursuit of the best Reform synagogue websites. And, with nearly 900 congregations affiliated with the [Union of Reform Judaism](https://urj.org/), we certainly didn’t have a shortage of options. But, despite the abundance of Reform temples, putting this list together wasn’t an easy task. It’s surprising how many synagogues continue to use outdated templates that aren’t optimized for mobile. **Presenting a strong online presence is no longer a luxury, it’s a must**. First impressions matter and prospective members are more likely to engage with a congregation (visiting, calling, contacting, etc.) when presented with a modern and attractive website. While a great looking website doesn’t require a congregation to remortgage the building or pay hundreds of dollars a month, it does require an individual (whether paid or volunteer) to actively maintain it. Based on our observations, this is where many congregations of all denominations stumble. One of the many reasons why we, at Addicott Web, use WordPress is because it’s so easy to learn – especially when a [volunteer is responsible for keeping the website up-to-date.](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2017/07/why-wordpress-benefits-for-volunteer-driven-organizations/) By the time 2019 rolls around, our hope is that we are overwhelmed by SO many incredible synagogue websites that our list grows from 22 to 42. As you explore our list of 22 of the best Reform Synagogue websites, you’ll discover vibrant content, engaging images, and new ways to showcase upcoming programming and events. ## We now invite you to sit back, check out these diverse congregations, and get inspired by the unending possibilities of how you can bring your congregation to life online. Synagogues are organized alphabetically by name. [![Aspen Jewish](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/AspenJewish.png "AspenJewish | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://aspenjewish.org/) ### Beth Shir Shalom – Santa Monica, California [![Beth Shir Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Beth-Shir-Shalom.png "Beth Shir Shalom | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.bethshirshalom.org) ### Congregation Rodeph Sholom – New York, New York [![RodephSholom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/RodephSholom.png "RodephSholom | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://rodephsholom.org/) ### Congregation Shaare Emeth – St. Louis, Missouri [![Congregation Shaare Emeth](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Congregation-Shaare-Emeth.png "Congregation Shaare Emeth | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.sestl.org/) ### Congregation Shaarai Shomayim – Lancaster, Pennsylvania [![Congregation Shaarai Shomayim](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Congregation-Shaarai-Shomayim.png "Congregation Shaarai Shomayim | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.shaarai.org/) ### Leo Baeck Temple – Los Angeles, California [![Leo Baeck Temple - best synagogue website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Leo-Baeck.png "Leo Baeck | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.leobaecktemple.org/) ### Rodef Shalom Congregation – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ### [![Rodef Shalom Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Rodef-Shalom-Congregation.png "Rodef Shalom Congregation | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://rodefshalom.org/) ### Stephen Wise Temple – Los Angeles, California [![Stephen Wise Temple](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/stephen-wise-temple.png "stephen wise temple | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.wisela.org/) ### Temple Akiba of Culver City – Culver City, California [![Temple Akiba](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Temple-Akiba.png "Temple Akiba | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.templeakiba.net/) ### Temple Beth El – Huntington, New York [![Temple Beth El](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Temple-Beth-El.png "Temple Beth El | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.tbeli.org/) ### Temple Beth El of Hollywood – Hollywood, Florida [![Temple Beth El](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Temple-Beth-El-1.png "Temple Beth El | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.templebethelhollywood.org/) ### Temple Emanu-El – Marblehead, Massachusetts [![Temple Emanu-El](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Temple-Emanu-El.png "Temple Emanu-El | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.emanu-el.org/) ### Temple Emanu-El – North York, Ontario [![Temple Emanu-el - best synagogue website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/TempleEmanu-el.png "TempleEmanu-el | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.templeemanuel.ca/) ### Temple Emanuel – Winston-Salem, North Carolina [![Temple Emanuel-NC](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Temple-Emanuel-NC-e1519322603536.png "Temple Emanuel-NC | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.templeemanuelws.com/) ### Temple Emanuel of South Hills – South Hills, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania [![Temple Emanuel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Temple-Emanuel.png "Temple Emanuel | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.templeemanuelpgh.org/) ### Temple Isaiah – Los Angeles, California [![Temple Isaiah - best synagogue website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Temple-Isaiah.png "Temple Isaiah | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.templeisaiah.com/) ### Temple Kol Ami – Scottsdale, Arizona [![Temple Kol Ami](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Temple-Kol-Ami.png "Temple Kol Ami | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://templekolami.org/) ### Temple Menorah – Redondo Beach, California [![Temple Menorah](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Temple-Menorah.png "Temple Menorah | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.templemenorah.org/) ### Temple Shalom – Succasunna, New Jersey [![Temple Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Temple-Shalom.png "Temple Shalom | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.tshalom.org/) ### Temple Sholom – Scotch Plains, New Jersey [![Temple Sholom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Temple-Sholom.png "Temple Sholom | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.sholomnj.org/) ### Temple Sinai – Brookline, Massachusetts [![Temple Sinai - best synagogue websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Temple-Sinai.png "Temple Sinai | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.sinaibrookline.org/) ### Temple Solel – Paradise Valley, Arizona [![Temple Solel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Temple-Solel.png "Temple Solel | Synagogue-Websites.com")](http://www.templesolel.org/) --- ## Dreaming of a new website for your congregation? We specialize in designing professional and modern websites that are as vibrant as your congregation. Together, let’s make your community thrive online. ## We’d love to connect! We are here to answer any questions you may have about Addicott Web, our services, or how we can design and build a new website for your synagogue. Please complete this form to get the conversation started. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Best Synagogue Websites, Design Galleries --- ### [Make Your Synagogue's Website Something People Will Want to Visit](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2017/07/make-your-synagogues-website-something-people-will-want-to-visit/) **Published:** July 11, 2017 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** Having an outstanding synagogue website that your synagogue’s members actually want to visit takes a lot of work. A modern design helps, but the synagogue also needs a long-term strategy for how they’re going to get people to actually use the website. Here are some strategies to help synagogues accomplish that. **Content:** When it comes down to it, the core purpose of a synagogue’s website is to communicate information about the synagogue to members and the larger community. In order to meet this goal, an ideal synagogue website should be (1) well-designed so that it reflects positively on the synagogue; (2) allow members to accomplish tasks that are common to life in the synagogue community; and (3) be intuitively organized so that visitors can easily find what they’re looking for. In reality, so many synagogues across all the major denominations have websites that are outdated, disorganized, difficult to use, or some combination of the three, that members avoid them at all costs, and the synagogue staff avoids trying to do anything with the website. This should not be the case, to say the least. Having an outstanding synagogue website that your synagogue’s members actually want to visit takes a lot of work – starting with redesigning it with a modern, welcoming, visually-interesting look and feel and building it using a [modern content management system such as WordPress](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2017/07/why-wordpress-benefits-for-volunteer-driven-organizations/). But more importantly, the synagogue needs a long-term strategy for how they’re going to get people to actually use the website, which starts by getting members to know that it is the number one place they will information communicated by the synagogue. To that end, here are three strategies to help synagogues accomplish that. ## Start actively updating the website If your website contains information that hasn’t been updated for weeks or months at a time; displays the same stale photos from events that took place years ago; or is still prominently promoting events that already took place – and does so in an unattractive, outdated website design that isn’t mobile-friendly – don’t be surprised if your members stop using it and stop valuing it. Not every page on the synagogue’s website needs to be updated on a regular basis – for example, generic details about the synagogue’s religious policies, or about what the Men’s Club or Sisterhood do. But there is plenty of content that does need to be updated on a regular basis, such as: - Event calendars, so that only future events appear - Lists of board members and committee chairs, so that the correct people are listed - Photos scattered throughout the website, so that they remain current and relevant Another helpful tip? Make sure that any pages that contain “letters” from committee chairs are updated with new content once that person is done serving as the chair. I can’t tell you how many committee, Men’s Club, or Sisterhood pages I’ve seen that show letters from people who were the chair years ago. If you’re not updating your synagogue’s website with relevant information on a regular basis, don’t be surprised if your members stop using it and stop considering it as the most relevant place to find out what’s happening at the synagogue. ## Start driving people to the website Almost all synagogues publish monthly bulletins and send out weekly email blasts to their members. That’s all well and good, but if synagogues really want to get people to use their websites as the central repository of information about what’s going on, they might want to consider what’s contained in those newsletters and bulletins. Are they crammed with every little bit of information about what’s going on at the synagogue, yet the website remains outdated as I described above? No wonder people don’t go to the synagogue’s website! Why would they when everything they need to know they get in an email? Here’s the thing to remember when it comes to weekly email blasts and monthly newsletters – they are simply a means of notification. Period. You want people to use the synagogue’s website more? Stop posting event information in its entirety in the email. Start posting just the basic details in the newsletter and instead drive people to the website where the rest of the information is, which can be done using a combination of linked text and smartly-chosen images. Make a deliberate shift to doing this and your members will learn to use the website and stop being so reliant on emails. Of course, if the synagogue uses the email newsletter as a crutch because the website runs on a platform that is so outdated and/or difficult to update, then there are bigger fish to fry than just the content of the email newsletters. Ditto for Facebook. ## Start making the website task-oriented There are some [basic tasks](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2014/09/5-tasks-visitors-should-be-able-to-do-on-a-synagogues-website/) that synagogue members should, at a minimum, be able to accomplish when visiting the website. Needless to say, if your website isn’t task-oriented and doesn’t let people do what they want, don’t be surprised if people don’t use it. Here are some basic examples of what I mean: - Posting information about an event and at the end of the description, telling people to call the synagogue office to RSVP. Solution: enable event registration, preferably with the ability to pay by credit card. - Listing the funds that donors can contribute towards, and then telling people where they can send their check. Solution: build an online donation form. - Giving directions to the synagogue from various directions, but then not giving people a way to visualize where the synagogue is located. Solution: embed a Google map. If synagogue members know that they can do the routine tasks commonly associated with synagogue life – and especially when it comes to online payments, something that there is a basic expectation to be able to do in today’s day and age – they’ll be more likely to use the website. ## Contact us today A synagogue website is only as good as how much it is used, which is why we build all of our websites with these strategies and functionalities in mind. [Contact us today](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/) to get started on building a new, useful, and engaging website that your synagogue’s members will actually want to use! ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Website Design --- ### [Why Wordpress? Benefits for Volunteer-Driven Organizations](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2017/07/why-wordpress-benefits-for-volunteer-driven-organizations/) **Published:** July 11, 2017 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** Why do I build all of my synagogue websites using Wordpress? Because it's so easy to manage a website with, and because it's such a flexible system to design and build a website with. For synagogues, the former is one of the most important selling points, especially since most synagogue websites are managed and updated by volunteers, and Wordpress is a system that volunteers of a non-technical background can easily learn. **Content:** WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems out there – so popular, in fact, that as of 2016, over 65% of the websites that use a content management system world-wide use WordPress, and over 25% of websites total run on WordPress. Despite that, many people from synagogues who I talk to about rebuilding their websites using WordPress still think that it’s just for creating a blog, when in fact it’s a full-fledged content management system and so much more. Why do I build all of my synagogue websites using WordPress? Because it’s so easy to manage a website with, and because it’s such a flexible system to design and build a website with. For synagogues, the former is one of the most important selling points, especially since most synagogue websites are managed and updated by volunteers, and WordPress is a system that volunteers of a non-technical background can easily learn. Here are some of the primary reasons why I believe WordPress is ideal to use for a synagogue’s website, and why I propose that synagogues use it. - **WordPress is free for synagogues (and everyone else, for that matter)** – There are no additional costs that your synagogue has to pay to use WordPress, as all hosting companies offer it as an optional one-click add-on with the hosting package that you are already paying for. - **Create any site you want** – Whether you want an eCommerce website, a blog, a membership site, a directory, a question/answer forum, or just a regular informational website, WordPress can be used to run them all. - **Lots of features that synagogues commonly need** – If you want features such as photo galleries, site searches, contact forms, donation forms, event calendars, etc., there are numerous free plug-ins available to download and use. - **WordPress works entirely through a web interface** – The administrative section of WordPress can be accessed from anywhere you have an Internet connection, meaning a synagogue’s volunteer webmaster (1) doesn’t have to be physically present at the synagogue in order to update it; (2) doesn’t need any special software other than a web browser; and (3) doesn’t have be tied to one person’s computer (thus allowing for more people to be able to update the website and eliminating bottlenecks in the administrative process). - **It allows for unlimited user IDs** – If more than one person at your synagogue needs to be able to update the website, WordPress allows for that. It lets you create an unlimited number of unique user IDs and passwords, so as many people who need to update it can do so. You can also assign various roles to a user ID so that you can, for example, only give someone permission to update content and not to update site settings and other things that site administrators will do. - **WordPress uses an easy-to-use WYSIWYG interface** – Writing content for the website is done in an easy-to-use WYSIWYG interface, with simple buttons for text styles, bulleted lists, links, images, etc. Just like Microsoft Word, Outlook, Gmail, etc. - **Synagogue webmasters don’t need to know HTML** – Whoever is charged with updating the synagogue website doesn’t need to know HTML or any other programming language. All someone must do is go to the dashboard in their URL, log in, type and click. - **There are minimal files to work with** – With the content being updated through the web-based dashboard, there are no files to manually edit and upload, unless you wanted to make structural changes to the theme. Synagogue webmasters and others who have access to the WordPress dashboard can make any content changes that synagogues require in a quick and efficient manner, without having to contact a third-party (for example, on an outdated website, a synagogue volunteer webmaster who has a technical background and has special software) every time a change needs to be made. - **WordPress makes a synagogue’s website SEO friendly** – With the installation of just a few plugins, you can make your synagogue’s WordPress website SEO-friendly, such as by optimizing with keywords elements such as page title tags, META description tags, etc. And WordPress already gives you the ability to add image ALT attributes and link TITLE attributes, which also help with keyword optimization. - **It’s secure, despite what people say** – As long as you take basic precautions such as using strong passwords and installing upgrades to WordPress itself and to any plugins you have installed, this will help keep your synagogue’s website safe from hackers. I also recommend using a more robust security plugin that takes further precautions to secure the WordPress database. - **WordPress supports multimedia** – The default visual editor that WordPress uses supports the easy insertion of images, videos (such as YouTube or Vimeo embeds), or audio files with a single click. - **It’s only getting better** – WordPress is constantly evolving to improve its user-friendly interface and features, and plugin developers are always following suit. ## WordPress Multisite Network Another lesser known feature of WordPress is the ability to configure it to run as a [WordPress Multisite Network](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/wordpress-multisite-networks/). By default, WordPress is used to run just one website, but you can set up a network of websites by turning on the WordPress Multisite feature. This feature is already a part of a WordPress website – it just isn’t turned on unless you do so. When you do this, all websites in the network are managed through a single installation of WordPress, eliminating the need for separate sites with separate dashboards for various parts of the synagogue’s overall programming. This is useful if, for example, your synagogue wants to manage their main website and additional websites for other main programming areas (such as a [preschool](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2017/07/should-a-synagogue-preschool-have-its-own-website/) or religious school) through one master dashboard. WordPress Multisite works as follows: - Each website in the network is created either as a sub-domain of the master domain, or at a unique URL. - Each website in the network has its own separate dashboard, so that each website can be administered independently from the others, even though they are all tied together within the same network. - A master network dashboard is used to control do things such as add sites, add users, install plugins, install themes, etc. - The network is administered by specific users with super-administrator level access, who have access to all the websites in the network. ## WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org Finally, there is often some confusion about WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org, which synagogues often ask about. The easiest way to understand the difference between the two is that it all comes down to who is actually hosting the website. With WordPress.org, your synagogue hosts its own website through a third-party hosting company. While WordPress.org is where you’ll find the free WordPress software that you can download, in reality, all hosting companies offer it as a one-click add-on, as described earlier. WordPress.com, on the other hand, takes care of all of the hosting for you. You don’t have to download software, pay for hosting, or manage a web server. Any website built on WordPress.com will include “wordpress.com” in the site URL – i.e., “sitename.wordpress.com”. In summary: synagogues should NOT be using WordPress.com for their websites, and should be using WordPress as an add-on through their hosting company. ## Contact us today If your synagogue is interested in a new WordPress website, or your synagogue’s website already runs on WordPress and needs some fine-tuning, [contact us today](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/) to get started! ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Wordpress --- ### [Should a Synagogue Preschool Have Its Own Website?](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2017/07/should-a-synagogue-preschool-have-its-own-website/) **Published:** July 10, 2017 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** For many synagogues, their preschool/early childhood center (ECC) is a main attraction that brings young families into the synagogue community and starts them on their path to synagogue membership. What many synagogues often do is include the preschool content within the main synagogue website, but is that really the best approach? Or would it be better if the preschool had its own separate website, one that better highlights what the preschool offers? **Content:** For many synagogues, their preschool/early childhood center (ECC) is a main attraction that brings young families into the synagogue community and starts them on their path to synagogue membership. What many synagogues often do is include the preschool content within the main synagogue website, but is that really the best approach? Or would it be better if the preschool had its own separate website, one that better highlights what the preschool offers? There are pros and cons to both approaches, which I’d like to discuss here. Note that there isn’t a right answer or right approach – which one works best will depend on your specific synagogue community. It may also depend on such things as what other synagogue preschools in your geographic area are doing – if they all have separate websites, then your synagogue’s preschool should have a separate website as well. That is the case where I live in Raleigh, North Carolina. There are three synagogues here in Raleigh, each with their own preschool, and each preschool has its own separate website. Thus the website I built for my synagogue’s preschool (where my children attended), [Beth Meyer Preschool](https://www.bethmeyerpreschool.org/). ## On the Synagogue’s Website Most synagogue’s maintain their preschool/early childhood content directly on the main synagogue website, usually under a “Lifelong Learning” or “Education” section on the website. The reasons for doing it this way may vary – it may have been a historical reason (i.e., because that’s the way it’s always been done), or it may be because it’s the best way to highlight the relationship between the preschool and the synagogue. **Pros:** - Whoever updates the synagogue’s website can also update the preschool’s website (i.e., less people have access to the website, and there are less people to train on how to update the website). - The branding of the preschool (as a part of what the synagogue offers) is consistent with the branding for the rest of the synagogue. - There is no additional cost for the synagogue, since you’re just creating more pages on the main website. **Cons:** - Synagogue websites can be very busy with lots of information on them, and this would effectively be burying all the information that the preschool needs to publish (i.e., the preschool wouldn’t be as prominent as if it were featured on its own website). - It’s more difficult for the preschool pages to be optimized for SEO when they’re part of a larger website, which can be a problem if there are a lot of other preschools that the synagogue’s preschool is competing against in Google search results. - It’s more difficult for non-members and non-Jewish families to learn about the preschool, since non-member families may not be familiar with the main synagogue website and know where to look on it for the information about the preschool. - It may be difficult to get information posted to the preschool section in a timely manner if you have to go through the synagogue’s webmaster and/or marketing/communications person in order to first get it approved and posted. - Parents may have preconceptions about a particular synagogue, or movement of Judaism that the synagogue is affiliated with, and may be turned off of the preschool (however good its programs are) by the fact that they have to go through the synagogue first to learn about the preschool. ## On a Separate Website In this approach, there will still be links to the preschool’s website from the main synagogue website, most likely still within a “Lifelong Learning” or “Education” tab. You’ll be taken to a separate website, though, rather than staying on the main synagogue website. **Pros:** - If the synagogue’s website is outdated or very difficult to update, it’s easier to build a new one using an easier-to-use system such as WordPress. - It’s much easier to showcase what the preschool offers, and the information that parents need to know, since it’s not buried within a content hierarchy. - The preschool will have plenty of room to build out a main menu and fill it with content. - Assuming the content is organized intuitively, it’s much easier for visitors to the website to browse the content and find the information they’re looking for. - It’s much easier to optimize a separate preschool website for SEO. - It’s easier for non-members or non-Jewish families to learn about the preschool and to focus on the school’s programming, particularly if they don’t necessarily care that it’s affiliated with a particular synagogue. - It can be much easier to get content posted to the site if the preschool staff can make the updates directly. - There can be more freedom to create a design and layout that is more reflective of a preschool and not of a synagogue (i.e., using softer or more vibrant colors, more photos, more fun fonts, etc.). **Cons** - More people need to be trained on how to maintain the preschool website, and/or the preschool may need to find a separate webmaster to manage their website. - The branding of the preschool website can become too far removed from the branding of the main synagogue website – unless you think about how to keep it continuous across both. - There may be costs associated with this, such as for domain registration and hosting (if the hosting isn’t done in the same place as the synagogue’s website). ## The Hybrid Approach to Preschool Websites & Synagogue Websites Like I said earlier, there is no correct approach to this question. However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t have my own solution to the problem, which is to take a hybrid approach that combines the best of both worlds. **I recommend that synagogue preschools have their own websites separate from the main synagogue website.** However, I understand the value in the synagogue still maintaining some degree or control and influence over the preschool’s website. Keeping in mind that I build all of my synagogue websites using WordPress, and that I would build a new preschool website using WordPress, what I specifically recommend is that synagogues do the following: 1. Assuming that the synagogue’s website already runs on WordPress, make that standalone WordPress installation into a [WordPress Multisite network](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/wordpress-multisite-networks/). The preschool website would then be created as a site within that network, either at a unique URL (that would need to be registered separately) or at a sub-domain of the main synagogue website. If the synagogue’s website doesn’t run on WordPress, still build the separate preschool website in WordPress. 2. Work with the synagogue’s marketing/communications team to create a template for the preschool website that is continuous with the look of the main synagogue website. Ideally this process would be done at the same time as redesign of the main synagogue website. **There are benefits for both sides to this hybrid approach.** For the synagogue, from the administrative side of things, the synagogue’s webmaster and/or marketing communications team can still have overall control over the preschool’s website (through the use of the Superadmin role within the WordPress Multisite network), even though the preschool staff has day-to-day control over updating the website. The preschool is still highlighted as a main part of what the synagogue offers, and by working collaboratively with the preschool, the branding won’t get too far out of line with that of the overall synagogue website. For the preschool, they now can: - Make the design of the preschool website reflect the target audience they’re trying to reach - Showcase the content they need to, and organize it in a main menu - Do the keyword optimization necessary for SEO purposes, so that they stand out from their competition WordPress is easy enough to pick up that it shouldn’t take long to train someone from the preschool on how to use it. If the main synagogue website is also built using WordPress, then the preschool’s webmaster has an immediate resource at the synagogue if there is a question about something. And if the synagogue is already paying for hosting for their main synagogue website, the preschool website can be built there through no additional charge, since the vast majority of hosting packages are capable of hosting multiple websites. That leaves the question of whether to register a separate domain or to go with a sub-domain of the main synagogue website URL. Either approach is fine – if you go with a separate domain, those usually cost less than $15 a year, which is minimal. ## Contact us today We have experience building preschool websites for synagogues through this approach, as well as in creating entirely separate preschool websites that are completely separate from the main synagogue website. If you are interested in working with us on either a preschool website, a synagogue website, or both, [contact us today](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/) to get started! ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Content, Website Design --- ### [Synagogue Websites Shouldn't Use Print Flyers as Images to Promote Events](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2016/02/synagogue-websites-shouldnt-use-print-flyers-as-images-to-promote-events/) **Published:** February 26, 2016 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** Why should synagogues not post event flyers as images on their websites? Event flyers are meant for print purposes only – a very different medium than the web. They just don’t work on synagogue websites – it’s an outdated practice that does more harm than good. **Content:** Stop me if you’ve seen this one before. You go to your synagogue’s website and decorating the homepage are tiny, little event flyers. Minimized from their original 8.5 by 11′ inch size these thumbnails are everywhere. They may be well designed (at least sometimes), with the text artfully positioned on top of a nice image, but in order to see the actual event information, you need to click on the thumbnail in order to view the full-sized version. It says to email such-and-such a person for more information or to RSVP – but it’s not a functioning link that you can click on, so you have to open your email program and type in the email address, or open a new tab and type in the link URL. And you’d really like to pay by credit card for the event, but there’s no way to do that. This scenario happens all the time. Synagogues prepare event flyers for monthly bulletins or design and print flyers to place on a table at the back of the sanctuary for Shabbat services. And, then without an afterthought, these documents are slapped up on the website. This is where the problems begin. The web is a radically different medium than print. Designing a website is not the same So why do some many synagogues continue to add items 1. That’s what has always been done. 2. Someone took the time to design the flyer, so we don’t want to hurt their feelings and not use it. 3. The staff and/or laypeople don’t have time to come up with unique ways of promoting the event for different mediums. 4. What appears in the bulletin should go on the website as well. Posting event flyers as images on a synagogue’s website is an outdated practice which does more harm than good. ## Why should synagogues not post event flyers on their websites? Event flyers like what I’m describing are meant for print purposes only – a very different medium than the web, with very different considerations. They just don’t work on synagogue websites – it’s like trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Here are five reasons why synagogues should not post their event information in flyer form, saved as an image, on their websites: 1. **There’s no way to include links.** How many synagogue event flyers have you seen where there’s a link contained in the text, either to email someone if you’re interested in attending, or to visit a certain URL for more information. If you post the event flyer as an image, and someone can only read the text by clicking on the thumbnail to view the larger version, can you then make the links work? You can’t. 2. **There’s no way to include an RSVP form.** If the event requires people to RSVP or purchase tickets in order to attend (which is an absolute must, [something I’ve detailed here](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2014/09/5-tasks-visitors-should-be-able-to-do-on-a-synagogues-website/)), can you add an online payment form to the image of the event flyer? Nope. 3. **It’s not search-engine friendly.** Search engines look for words on the page when crawling the synagogue website. If all of the words are contained within the flyer saved as an image, can search engines find them? They can’t – so it won’t come up on Google or the synagogue website’s internal search. 4. **It’s not social-media friendly.** If you want to publicize the event on social media such as Facebook or Twitter, you’ll want a link that you can share – not an image. 5. **It’s not mobile-friendly.** If someone wanted to read all the content in your flyer while looking at it on your phone, they’d have to zoom in and out multiple times in order to do that, which is bothersome and unnecessary. Putting the content on the page lets them scroll instead, which is a much easier action to do and makes more sense with how people actually read content on their phones. ## How events should be handled on the synagogue’s website… …or any website, period. I take a different approach to posting event information on a synagogue’s website. Here is the strategy I recommend synagogues use: 1. **Use an event management (calendar) system**, preferably one integrated with a [payment gateway](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2016/02/payment-gateway-options-for-your-synagogue-website/) to allow for online payments if the event is something people need to RSVP or purchase tickets for. This is something I set up on every synagogue website I’ve created. 2. **For each event, create an entry on the calendar.** This is how you create a unique URL for each event – useful for sharing on the synagogue’s Facebook page, or for linking to in the synagogue’s weekly email sent out to congregants. 3. **Take the text out of the flyer.** For featured events – the ones synagogues normally create flyers for – take the text from the flyer, and type it in as text on the page. Not only does this give search engines something to find, but it also lets you add functioning links to the event text – such as to the person who people should contact if they have questions about the event. 4. **Find an image or photograph for the event.** Every featured event, in particular, must must must have a featured image along with it, period. These events can be used in places such as the homepage (photos grab people’s attention more than text), and can also be pulled dynamically by social media such as Facebook (where the same principle applies). How much effort does it really take to go on Google and search for an image, especially something generic for things like Jewish holidays? Not much at all. Or, just use the same image as was originally used in the flyer, since you already have that. This strategy ensures that the event information on your synagogue’s website will meet modern-day web standards and be tailored to the unique requirements of the web medium. ## Contact us today Does your synagogue need guidance on posting events to its website, or the calendar functionality required to do that? If so, or if your synagogue is looking for a new website in general, [contact us today](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/ "Contact Us") and we can help. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Events --- ### [Payment Gateway Options for Your Synagogue Website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2016/02/payment-gateway-options-for-your-synagogue-website/) **Published:** February 26, 2016 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** When it comes to choosing a payment gateway to handle the credit card processing, many people are often confused as to which gateway they should choose for use on the synagogue's website. Here is an overview of some of the various options that synagogues can choose from. **Content:** Making an online donation or an online payment is an absolute must on a modern synagogue website, as I’ve written about previously in my post on the [benefits and considerations of having online donations on your synagogue’s website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2013/12/synagogue-websites-and-online-donations-payments-benefits-and-considerations/). When it comes to actually choosing a payment gateway to handle the credit card processing, though, many people are often confused as to which gateway they should choose for use on the synagogue’s website. Here is an overview of some of the various options that synagogues can choose from. I have used all three of these when building online donation and payment forms on synagogue websites built in WordPress. The donation and online payment forms I build for synagogues are built using a popular form plugin called [Gravity Forms](http://www.gravityforms.com/), which has add-ons for many any of these popular payment gateways. ## PayPal ![Paypal-logo-20141](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Paypal-logo-20141.png "Paypal-logo-20141 | Synagogue-Websites.com") PayPal is definitely one of the most common payment gateways that I’ve worked with. Many synagogues use PayPal for their donations. Often times when I’m building a new website for a synagogue, on their current website they have the ubiquitous yellow PayPal “Donate Now” button – which is fine, but it’s old-fashioned and doesn’t allow for much functionality, such as gathering information about the donation. The worst is when I see a synagogue website’s donation page where they list the funds that donors can make contributions towards, and have PayPal buttons for each fund! That’s definitely an outdated way of doing things, and the online donation forms integrated with PayPal that I build for synagogue websites do better than that. There are some pros and cons to consider with PayPal. **Pros:** - It’s easy to set up. - It’s relatively cheap – the only fee you pay is a percentage of the transaction amount, usually 2.5%. - It can be integrated with Gravity Forms. - Allows for recurring donations. - Offers a mobile card reader for use on smart phones. **Cons:** - When it’s integrated, once a donor fills out the donation form on the synagogue’s website, they’re taken off the synagogue website and to PayPal’s website in order to enter the credit card information. This can be confusing for many people, and is the biggest reason why I don’t recommend synagogues use PayPal for their payment gateway. ## Authorize.net ![Authorize.net Logo](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Authorize.net-Logo.jpg "Authorize.net Logo | Synagogue-Websites.com") Authorize.net is considered the next step up from PayPal and is definitely looked at as more professional than PayPal. Many synagogues use Authorize.net for their credit card processing. It’s what I recommend that synagogues use for their websites and online payments if at all possible. **Pros:** - It can be integrated with Gravity Forms. - Once integrated, it lets you keep people on the synagogue’s website for the entirety of the transaction – unlike PayPal, which takes you away from the synagogue’s website. This avoids confusion and gives the synagogue greater control over the entire payment process. - Allows for recurring donations. - Offers a mobile card reader for use on smart phones. **Cons:** - It’s more expensive than PayPal. Not only do you pay a percentage of each transaction, there’s also a monthly fee as well. - It requires the purchase, installation, and upkeep of an SSL certificate to secure the pages on the synagogue website that have online donation and online payment forms. - While you can set up the account directly through Authorize.net, you’ll get better rates if you go through a reseller or a merchant services provider, who can set up the account for you. It requires a little more legwork. - It’s not economically efficient (i.e., you won’t offset the fees) if you’re not doing between $3,000 to $5,000 a month in receipts. ## Stripe ![stripe-donations](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/stripe-donations.png "stripe-donations | Synagogue-Websites.com") Stripe is another popular payment gateway that I’m starting to see more and more synagogues use for their websites. It has the same pros and cons as Authorize.net, and is my second choice when it comes to recommending a payment gateway to synagogues for use on their websites. There are three differences between the two, though: 1. There are no monthly fees, whereas with Authorize.net, there are. BUT, this if offset by the synagogue paying a higher percentage of each transaction – 2.9% + 30¢, to be exact. 2. You don’t need to go through a reseller – the rates are what the rates are. 3. It’s more economically efficient if you’re doing less than $3,000 in receipts each month. ## Using the Payment Gateway Once the payment gateway account has been created and integrated with Gravity Forms on the synagogue’s WordPress website, the possibilities are endless when it comes to creating online donation and online payment forms. You can create donation forms that list all the funds that donors can make their donations towards, whether they want acknowledgement cards sent, etc. You can create payment forms that list all the items that congregants can make payments towards, such as synagogue dues, religious school tuition, etc. Or you can integrate it with an event calendar/management system so that you can accept paid RSVPs for events at your synagogue, such as Shabbat dinners. ## Contact us for more information Synagogue websites definitely need to allow for donations and payments to be made on them, and we can set that up for you. Our synagogue websites all run on WordPress and use Gravity Forms for all the forms that a synagogue needs to have. If your synagogue is interested in hiring us to build your online donations and online payment pages, or to build you a new WordPress website, [please contact us](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/) to learn more. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Online Donations --- ### [5 Tasks Visitors Should Be Able to Do on a Synagogue's Website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2014/09/5-tasks-visitors-should-be-able-to-do-on-a-synagogues-website/) **Published:** September 4, 2014 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** In today's day and Internet age, when so many people are used to accomplishing certain tasks online (especially younger generations), a synagogue's website should offer the ability to accomplish some common tasks online - tasks that are common to life in the synagogue community. Here is my list of five tasks that an outstanding synagogue website should let people accomplish. **Content:** A synagogue’s website is its face to the world (wide web), and there are lots of people who are likely to look at it. Congregants are the most obvious (and largest) group, but by no means are they exclusively the people who will be looking at the website. There are lots of other people who may look at the synagogue’s website – people who are new to the community, potential members, people visiting the area (perhaps for a bar or bat mitzvah, or a wedding), and more. At my synagogue, I met someone at Sunday minyan once who was in town for an NCAA college basketball tournament game; he was from New Jersey and had found out the minyan time on the website. So you just never know who’s going to look at it. But that being said, congregants are by and large the largest group of visitors to the synagogue’s website. Many synagogue websites are more informational in nature, which is fine, as most people are looking for information about the synagogue. But in today’s day and Internet age, when so many people are used to accomplishing certain tasks online (especially younger generations), a synagogue’s website should offer the ability to accomplish some common tasks online – tasks that are common to life in the synagogue community. Here is my list of five tasks that an outstanding synagogue website should let people accomplish. ## 1. Make a secure credit card donation I’ve seen many synagogue websites where the donation page consists of a PDF file that people are supposed to print and mail in along with a check. Or the donation page is simply a Paypal button. I can tell you from both personal and professional experience – that is simply not going to do. An excellent donation form should have the following components: - **List of funds** – Where can people direct their donation towards? - **Descriptive fields** – Who is the donation in honor/memory/recognition of? - **Payment options** – Can someone pay by credit card? Or, if the person making the donation is a congregant, can they have the donation added to their account to be billed later? - **Secure connection** – Any form/page that asks for credit card information should be secured with an SSL certificate. - **Payment gateway\*** – Integration with a professional payment gateway, preferably Authorize.net. Bottom line, what I’m saying is that a synagogue’s website should allow visitors to make a secure, online, credit card donation to the synagogue if they so desire. And for those who don’t want that, they can still mail in a check the old way. If you would like to read a more in-depth post that I wrote about this topic, please see [“Synagogue Websites and Online Donations: Benefits and Considerations”](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2013/12/synagogue-websites-and-online-donations-payments-benefits-and-considerations/ "Synagogue Websites and Online Donations: Benefits and Considerations"). **\* A quick note about payment gateways** With any payment gateway, such as Paypal or Authorize.net, the synagogue is charged a certain small percentage of the transaction amount as the fee for using that gateway. Many synagogues struggle with this, particularly in terms of whether or not to “eat” those fees, or whether to ask people to add an extra amount to their donation to cover that fee. I get asked often what should a synagogue do about this. My point of view is that those fees are simply the cost of doing business, and that unfortunately a synagogue should just absorb those fees. Yes, it is less money that they’re getting, but to me, the convenience factor outweighs that, especially if an online form drives more donations than would come in otherwise. Bottom line is that so many people are used to making online payments of some sort, so if a synagogue doesn’t have this capability, it can be extremely frustrating to those who are looking for and used to it. (A quick personal anecdote: I was recently looking to make a small donation in memory of someone to their synagogue. Not only did they not have a donation form like I’m describing, they didn’t even have a donate page. I had to do a Google search for the name of the template with the word “donations” after it, which turned up a page containing the dreaded PDF form I mentioned earlier.) ## 2. Register for an upcoming synagogue event and pay by credit card So many synagogues I’ve seen or worked with post upcoming event information as a flyer with a form at the bottom of it, which people are then supposed to print, complete, and mail along with a check if they want to register for the event. Again – something like this is a task that someone should be able to complete on the website, including paying for the event with a credit card. There’s just no excuse not to have this in place. The most frustrating thing for me is when I synagogue that I’ve built a website for, including the event registration and credit card payment functionality, and who still continues to use paper flyers like that. My point being: this is a very entrenched mindset and way of approaching it that takes a lot of effort to change. If you have a payment gateway set up for online donations, this can easily be used for event registration capabilities as well. The same list of form components above apply here as well. ## 3. Pay a dues balance, school tuition, etc. This is a trickier area because the dollar amounts are greater, so synagogues aren’t always as willing to eat the fees for these payments. I still maintain that the convenience factor outweighs those considerations and that these are items that a synagogue should have a payment form for. (Another quick personal anecdote: I have two children who attend my synagogue’s preschool. Their billing method is to send me a PDF statement so that I can write a check and leave it in the preschool office. I would love – LOVE – it if the synagogue had a payment form on their website with this as a line item, so that I can easily make these payments. I would much rather receive the credit card points and pay the balance as soon as I get the in voice by email. Plus, I can avoid the hassle of forgetting the envelope with the check in it, which I’ve done multiple times.) If you have a payment gateway set up for online donations, this can easily be used for event registration capabilities as well. The same list of form components above apply here as well. ## 4. Subscribe to the synagogue’s mailing list A synagogue’s mailing list shouldn’t just be for members. Prospective members may be just as interested in learning what’s going on as current members are. When I moved to the city I currently live in, I didn’t join the synagogue right away, but we wanted to know what was happening. Fortunately, we could sign up to receive the monthly newsletter and email updates. We are now members. **Worried about separating potential members from current members in the email list?** Mailing list programs such as Constant Contact let you create as many mailing lists within the account as you want. Attach the sign-up form on your website to a new list for potential members or web sign-ups, which you can keep separate from the mailing list of congregants. Then when the weekly email is sent out, just make sure that whoever does it sends to both mailing lists. This way you can keep them separate, with the added benefit of having a separate database of potential members that you can use for other purposes. ## 5. Get directions to the synagogue This is the simplest task on this list. How easy is it to embed a Google map on the synagogue’s website? Very easy. (Mapquest doesn’t count – sorry.) Google Maps have the added benefit that in the embedded map, they have a link to click on for directions. For visitors who may not have ever been to the synagogue before – relatives in town for a bar mitzvah, for example – this will make it easy for them to figure out how to get to the synagogue. Bonus points for linking the address of the synagogue to the page with the embedded map on it, or to that address directly on the Google Maps website. ## Contact us today Is your synagogue looking for a new website, or help with your current one? These are all elements that we can help you add to your website – [contact us today](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/ "Contact Us") to get started! ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Content, Website Best Practices, Website Design --- ### [Synagogue Websites and Online Donations: Benefits and Considerations](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2013/12/synagogue-websites-and-online-donations-payments-benefits-and-considerations/) **Published:** December 31, 2013 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** So when it comes to one of the more important aspects of modern synagogue life - financially supporting the synagogue through donations - why should a synagogue's congregants not be able to do that online as well? **Content:** In today’s day and age, nearly everyone has paid for something online, whether it’s a book, clothing, an airline ticket, etc. I’m not referring just to the younger age cohorts either – even most of the so-called “baby boomers” in the older age cohorts do this as well. So when it comes to one of the more important aspects of modern synagogue life – financially supporting the synagogue through donations – why should a synagogue’s congregants not be able to do that online as well? **The answer, of course, is that there is no reason that they shouldn’t.** For congregants who are used to making payments online in one form or another, being able to make a donation to their synagogue online is a no-brainer. I say this from personal experience too. I’m used to paying my bills online through my bank’s online checking, and regularly purchase things online. So when I’ve had to make a donation to the synagogue I’m a member of, which I’ve done twice in the last year, it was only natural that the very first place I turned to was their website. Some of the decision-makers at a synagogue (and this may apply to other organizations that seek donations too, such as non-profits) may have concerns about the cost of implementing online donation functionality. It’s true – there are costs involved, primarily for the credit card processing, but perhaps also for other things such as someone to set it all up, or an SSL certificate. And if a synagogue is starting from zero online payment capabilities, then those costs may seem significant. **When people mention these concerns to me, I always tell them this: over the long term, the benefits will far outweigh the costs involved.** What exactly are some of those benefits? ## Benefits to having online payment functionality on a synagogue’s website - **Makes your congregants lives easier** – Think about how much effort is involved in making a donation by check. You of course need checks from your bank, but you also need to to write out the check, mail it (requiring stamps and envelopes), wait for the synagogue to process it, etc. (And for someone in their 20s or 30s who pays everything online, getting them to pay by check is completely off their radar.) Paying by credit card is immediate, and with most people having access to a computer nowadays, it’s something that can be done in only a few minutes time. - **Makes the synagogue office more efficient** – What was once a multiple-step process on the part of a synagogue in order to process a check (sorting the mail, opening the envelope, determining the purpose of the check, entering it into an individual’s membership record, copying and/or scanning the check, sending an acknowledgement letter) becomes much shorter. The synagogue staff can be notified by email when an online donation is made, while congregants can receive confirmation and acknowledgement of their payment automatically by email. This can free up staff time to devote to other endeavors. - **Brings in more donations** – That’s right, I said it: your synagogue will receive more donations if you offer people the ability to pay online than if you don’t. People are just so used to making paying online nowadays, especially younger generations, that not offering it means a synagogue is passing up on money it could otherwise have. **These benefits all sound great, but there’s a kicker if you want to realize them: the synagogue needs to actively work at it in order for that to happen.** What do I mean by that? You can introduce the payment functionality on your synagogue’s website, but if people don’t know about that it’s there, or if you keep on doing things the same old way by paper, then no one is going to actually make a donation online. In short: a synagogue needs to condition its congregants to start paying and donating online. Promote it in event flyers. Mention it in the synagogue bulletin. Create a shortcut URL that takes people directly to the donate page, which the synagogue president can use in a speech. The more people know that paying through the website is how the synagogue is now accepting donations, the more it will get used, and the synagogue is more likely to experience the benefits mentioned above. Of course, the question of whether or not to accept online donations is a very high-level question. For those who administer a synagogue’s website and focus more on the details, there are a few other considerations to keep in mind. ## Other considerations for online payment functionality on a synagogue’s website - **Processing/user fee** – Many synagogues will pass the user fee on to their congregants by asking them to make an additional small contribution (say 3% of the total payment) to offset the cost of the credit card processing. I’m not in favor of this though; those fees are just the cost of doing business and something a synagogue should assume. Asking those making a donation to cover them isn’t something that should be done. - **Payment gateway to use** – There are lots of tools out there for accepting donations and payments through a website, but the main thing the synagogue needs to be concerned with is finding a tool to actually process the credit card payments. Simple tools such as Paypal are easily configured, but more advanced tools such as Authorize.net are the next step up and offer more advanced functionality. You may also consider Network for Good or Google Checkout as well. - **Make it a prominent call-to-action** – Some people may say that it’s a little pushy to overtly ask for donations on your homepage, but I disagree. It should be a prominent call-to-action on your website somewhere – just not the most important call-to-action. Obviously you want people to somehow get involved in the synagogue first, and that should always be the main call-to-action. But most congregants know that donating to the Jewish community is a vital part of what keeps their synagogue running, so there’s nothing wrong with it also being a main call-to-action on the website. - **Branded vs. non-branded payment pages** – If the donations page is part of your website, then it’s probably already branded with your colors and logo. If the page sits elsewhere on the same server, make sure that it’s also branded with your colors and logo so that it looks like an extension of the overall website. Or if it resides off-site somewhere, try to at least brand it with the synagogue’s logo so people know who they’re donating to. - **On-site vs. off-site payment pages** – Third-party services that require you to direct people to their websites are all well and good, and certainly function fine, but to me, directing anyone off of your website isn’t ideal. Especially considering that there are so many ways you can go about integrating the payment functionality right on your website. - **Secure the page(s) with an SSL Certificate** – SSL Certificates securely transmit credit card information to the payment processor, so if you are going to host the payment functionality directly on your website, make sure to purchase one through your domain name provider. These can be had relatively inexpensively – for example, GoDaddy regularly has sales on them – and are a must-have. ## **Other online payments you can also accept on the synagogue’s website** If you choose a payment gateway such as Paypal or Authorize.net, why stop with just donations? There are many other things that people can pay for on the synagogue’s website, such as membership dues, religious school tuition, event registrations, etc. These are all things that congregants may want to pay for online, so if you’ve already made the decision to offer online donation capabilities on the synagogue’s website, it’s a natural extension of that decision. Like I earlier, the more that congregants get used to paying online, the greater the benefits that the synagogue will experience in the long run. ## Contact us for more information Synagogues definitely need to accept online donations and online payments on their websites, and we can set that up for you. Not only can we build a secure, online donation form for your synagogue, but we can also build a separate page that will allow congregants to pay some of the various fees that I just mentioned. We’ll do that using an Authorize.net account, which if your synagogue already has a relationship with a credit card provider, is something that they can easily set up for you. We can also set up your synagogue with the ability for people to RSVP to events, such as Shabbat dinners, using one of the popular plugins that we regularly install. If your synagogue is interested in hiring us to build your online donations and online payment pages, [contact us](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/ "Contact Us") to learn more. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Online Donations --- ### [Who Should Be Responsible for Managing a Synagogue's Website?](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2013/01/who-should-be-responsible-for-managing-a-synagogues-website/) **Published:** January 18, 2013 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** Who is primarily responsible for managing the synagogue's website? Is it volunteers or laypeople, who are often passionate about technology and want to give their time by working on the website? Is it the professional staff, who are often over-burdened with other responsibilities? Is it an outside website firm altogether? Or is it some combination of all three? **Content:** When I looked through lots of [Conservative synagogue websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2012/08/22-of-the-best-conservative-synagogue-websites/ "22 of the Best Conservative Synagogue Websites") and [Reform temple websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2012/10/22-of-the-best-reform-temple-websites/ "22 of the Best Reform Temple Websites"), I noticed that a significant number of those websites are still using [outdated technology](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2013/01/what-makes-a-synagogue-website-outdated/ "What Makes a Synagogue Website Outdated?") to run their sites. If I were to draw a conclusion about a synagogue from giving their website the “eye test”, those synagogues with outdated website technology are most likely also using an outdated management philosophy when it comes to who is responsible for the website. ## Who should be responsible for the synagogue’s website? Even if a synagogue has a modern website in the technological sense, many times their management philosophy about who is responsible for the website is outdated. Who is primarily responsible for managing the synagogue’s website? Is it volunteers or laypeople, who are often passionate about technology and want to give their time by working on the website? Is it the professional staff, who are often over-burdened with other responsibilities? Is it an outside website firm altogether? Or is it some combination of all three? Here are some pros and cons regarding each group’s involvement with a synagogue’s website. ## Volunteers ### Pros - **Lots of passion** – New volunteers are often eager to get involved and make a difference, especially if they’re familiar with website technology. ### Cons - **Have other priorities** – As volunteers, the synagogue isn’t their main focus, so their responsibilities regarding the website don’t always come first or as quick as necessary. - **Can turn over quickly** – Volunteers can come and go quickly as members join or leave the synagogue, or take on other volunteer responsibilities at the synagogue. - **Territoriality** – I’ve heard many situations where synagogues don’t have access to all of the account information they need, or to the website in general, because the original person who created it doesn’t want to cede control, see it changed, or do something different with it. - **Knowledge and skills** – What happens when the person who inherits the website down the line doesn’t have the necessary knowledge or skills needed to manage it? ## **Synagogue Staff** ### Pros - **Focus is the synagogue** – Someone whose daily work focuses on the synagogue is in a better position to assume responsibility for the website than a volunteer. - **Greater continuity than volunteers** – Synagogue staff usually don’t change as often as volunteers do, so there is a greater likelihood that someone will be able to focus on the website for the long-term. ### Cons - **Who exactly?** – Unlike in businesses and other organizations, most synagogues don’t have someone devoted solely to the website, so its responsibilities get tacked onto someone’s portfolio. This can be a downside if that person doesn’t necessarily have a website background, or the knowledge and skills needed. Hence the need for volunteers in the first place. - **Over-stretched for time as it is** – If someone’s background and job responsibilities are primarily doing something else, the website may not take as high a priority as it should. ## Professional Firm ### Pros - **Greater technical support** – Should something go wrong with the website, professionals are in a better position to diagnose and correct it then a staff member (whose work doesn’t revolve totally around websites) or a volunteer (who may not be able to respond quick enough). - **Security issues** – Due to their Jewish nature, synagogue websites have the potential to be hacked with inappropriate content. Professionals follow these trends closely and can quickly work to restore a synagogue’s website and remove the offensive content. - **Takes the burden off of the synagogue** – Having an outside professional work on the website can free up staff members’ time so that they can focus on other priorities. - **Are on top of other technologies** – Professionals can also help a synagogue set up, manage, and properly use other web technologies such as Facebook pages, email newsletters, etc. ### Cons - **Outside the community** – Professional firms or designers are most likely not a part of your synagogue’s community, so they might not understand all the unique aspects of its communication needs. ## What do we recommend? In my opinion the ideal situation there are two layers of support that a synagogue’s website should have: - **Inner layer** – One or two staff members and/or dedicated volunteers who are responsible for it on a regular basis. These individuals are most likely part of a larger oversight group, say a communications or marketing committee. - **Outer layer** – A professional web designer or firm should be engaged to provide ongoing support and maintenance on a more macro level. I do not say this to disparage volunteers in any way. I fully understand why many synagogues use, or used, volunteers to work on their website. However, in today’s day and age, with the breadth of web technologies available, in my opinion synagogues are in a better position in the long run if they work with a professional designer or design firm on a new website and then continue to work with them for ongoing support. **This is precisely the service that we offer synagogues.** We will start working with them from the ground up, building a modern website that is well-designed, well-organized, and that meets all of their advanced needs such as online donations and other functionality. We’ll then train people at the synagogue in how to use WordPress so that they know how to update and work with it. We also offer **monthly support plans** so that synagogues have the reassurance that someone is there if they need help. ## Contact us for more information Synagogues need to make their websites a priority, including serious thinking about who will manage and be responsible for it. If your synagogue is interested in any of [our web design services](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/ "Services"), [contact us](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/ "Contact Us") to learn more. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Content --- ### [Security Considerations for Your Synagogue's Website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2012/12/security-considerations-for-your-synagogues-website/) **Published:** December 4, 2012 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** Synagogue security is always a concern to community leaders, and an important part of that preparation is cyber-security. Synagogues are responsible for keeping their online identity safe, so those responsible for the administration of their synagogue's website should take appropriate steps to reduce the risk of something malicious happening to it. **Content:** Synagogue security is always a concern to community leaders, and an important part of that preparation is cyber-security. Synagogues are responsible for keeping their online identity safe, so those responsible for the administration of their synagogue’s website should take appropriate steps to reduce the risk of something malicious happening to it. The following are my recommendations, based on a list originally published by the Anti-Defamation League during Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense in November 2012, that can help safeguard a synagogue’s website from attack: ## Synagogue website security recommendations - **Use a professional hosting provider** – The synagogue’s website should be hosted with a professional hosting provider and not on the institution’s, or a member’s, computer or network. - **Do regular backups** – Are the website files backed up regularly? What about the database? - **Ask what security measures are in place** – Synagogues should meet with their hosting provider to discuss what security precautions the hosting company uses to prevent malicious attacks and unauthorized access. - **Prepare a disaster recovery plan** – This plan should the steps to take to restore the website; who should be contacted in the event something happens (including their contact information), as well as all account user IDs and passwords. - **Limit the number of people that have access** – Synagogues should limit and control the number of people who have access to the website and the web server. - **Change passwords regularly** – Stick to a regular schedule of updating the passwords used to access either the website or the web server. - **Make passwords adequately strong** – New passwords should be sufficiently strong that someone can’t easily “guess” the password. You can make them strong by using a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters; numbers; and symbols. - **Know who has access** – Account owners should be aware of who has access to the website and the web server. When using a content management system such as WordPress, this will be the users that are able to log into the dashboard. - **Don’t connect from a personal device** – Users should be discouraged from accessing the website through devices such as smart phones and tablets, which can easily be stolen or lost. ## WordPress-specific security precautions - **Install WordPress upgrades when they’re available** – Not only will this help you take advantage of new developments in the WordPress dashboard, but it will also close a security loophole that exists when files become too out of date. - **Install plugin upgrades when they’re available** – The same concept also applies to any plugins that you may be running on your synagogue’s WordPress website. - **Install security plugins**– There are a variety of WordPress plugins available that will help secure a synagogue’s WordPress website. Popular ones include: - [Security Scan](http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-security-scan/) - [Login Lockdown](http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/login-lockdown/) - [WordPress File Monitor](http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-file-monitor/) - [AskApache Password Protect](http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/askapache-password-protect/) - [Secure WordPress](http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/secure-wordpress/) - [WordPress Firewall 2](http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-firewall-2/) - **Create a Google Webmaster Tools profile** – This is useful for monitoring your website’s placement in search engine results, but it also lets you report any malicious activity that may have happened to your website. ## If your synagogue’s website is hacked… - **Immediately contact the hosting company** – Do this as soon as the incident is discovered. They will need to preserve a copy of the hacked page(s) and copies of all relevant server logs. The hacked page(s) need to be removed as soon as possible in case malware is involved and also to limit the hacker’s usual main objective – to gloat. - **Report the event to the police and FBI –** This is especially important to do if the material left by hackers involves threats or hateful language. You can file a report by [filling out this form](http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx). - **Restore the database and/or file backup(s)** – Do so only after the hosting company or ISP acknowledges that the issues relating to the hack have been addressed. ## Contact us with any questions If you or someone from your synagogue has any questions on how to keep the synagogue’s website secure, [contact us today](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/ "Contact Us") and we would be glad to give you an answer. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Website security --- ### [18 Elements of Successful Synagogue Websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2012/07/18-elements-of-successful-synagogue-websites/) **Published:** July 30, 2012 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** A great synagogue website does many things well, but the most important thing it does is easily communicate information about the synagogue to congregants, potential members, and other people looking at it. With that in mind, here is a list of 18 important elements that I recommend any synagogue's website should have. **Content:** A great synagogue website does many things well, but the most important thing it does is easily communicate information about the synagogue to congregants, potential members, and other people looking at it. With that in mind, here is a list of 18 important elements that I recommend any synagogue’s website should have. ## Contact Information - **Address, Phone, and Email** – These should be displayed in both the header and footer, as both are obvious locations where your congregants will look for this information. - **Staff directory** – A full list of your synagogue’s professional staff and their contact information (phone extensions and email addresses). - **Google map** – In my opinion it’s an absolute must nowadays to have a Google map embedded on your website. You may or may not want to display directions as well; if you choose not to, just provide a link to the larger Google map with a link that indicates that congregants can find directions through that interface. - **Newsletter subscription field** – With more and more synagogues using online email services such as Constant Contact, you can place a subscription form on your website so that congregants and visitors can easily sign up to receive weekly or monthly bulletins and messages. ## Calendar/Schedule - **Service times** – Daily or weekly minyans, Friday night services, Shabbat morning services, etc. These should be displayed prominently on the homepage. - **Calendar** – The full calendar of what’s happening at your synagogue. There are a variety of ways to do this, such as embedding a Google calendar, using more advanced calendar functionality, etc. - **Candlelighting times** – Shabbat candlelighting times for your community. You can get these from Hebcal.com as a script that can easily be added anywhere on your website. - **Holiday schedule** – Service and programming times for your synagogue’s observance of Jewish holidays throughout the year. - **Upcoming Jewish holidays** – Help congregants plan ahead by displaying the full year’s schedule of Jewish holidays on the synagogue’s website. You can get this from Hebcal.com, which has four years of holidays published and available for download. ## Pictures - **Of congregants** – People are what make up your synagogue’s community, and that sense of community is what’s most important to convey through your website. Take pictures at anything that your synagogue does, and scatter these picture throughout the website and most importantly, on the homepage. - **Of past events** – Take pictures of past programs to give people looking at the website a good idea of what life is like at your synagogue over the course of the year. - **Of the synagogue itself** – Pictures of the building or any architectural highlights. I don’t necessarily think these belong on the homepage though – people join a synagogue for the people, not the building. These can be put on internal pages, or on the homepage, just sparingly. ## Content - **Calls-to-action** – Your website has a purpose, and that purpose is to get people to do something. Make a donation? Fill out a membership form? RSVP to a program? All of these are calls-to-action that should be ranked and emphasized accordingly in the design. - **Membership information** – Prospective members are going to be looking at your website, so in addition to everything else, make it easy for them to find information about how to join the synagogue. - **Rabbi’s blog** – Rabbis produce a ton of content, be it in emails, speeches, etc., so getting content from them should be easy. Ask them to provide you with some of that content to post on the website, which you can even just cut-and-paste from an email or Word document. - **Latest news/Announcements** – The website’s main purpose is to convey timely information to a synagogue’s congregants, so this should be front and center on the homepage and cross-referenced from other internal areas of the website. - **Ways to donate** – Synagogues are always looking for donations, so this should be a main call-to-action on your website. Bonus points if congregants can make donations online using a service such as PayPal. - **Social media** – Does your synagogue have a Facebook page? Twitter feed? YouTube videos? There are many ways to integrate those with your website, depending on how it’s designed. ## Contact us today Is your synagogue looking for a new website, or help with your current one? These are all elements that we can help you add to your website – [contact us today](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/ "Contact Us") to get started! ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/951e73af9a0db7a607fd17ca4bd632b17385bfad894149d377fb036f7cd26d69?s=300&d=mm&r=g) Hirsch Fishman [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/hirsch/) **Categories:** Website Design --- ### [An Interview with Dr. Ron Wolfson: Relational Judaism and Synagogue Websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2018/06/an-interview-with-dr-ron-wolfson-relational-judaism-and-synagogue-websites/) **Published:** June 21, 2018 **Author:** **Excerpt:** Recently we sat down with renowned author, educator and inspirational speaker, Dr. Ron Wolfson to discuss synagogue websites, the importance of storytelling and the downside to giving things away for free. **Content:** ![Ron Wolfson - synagogue websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Interview-with-Ron-Wolfson.png "Interview with Ron Wolfson | Synagogue-Websites.com") At Addicott Web, our focus is on helping Jewish non-profits, in particular synagogues, grow and the thrive in the digital age. Recently we sat down with Dr. Ron Wolfson, author of [Relational Judaism: Using the Power of Relationships to Transform the Jewish Community](http://www.jewishlights.com/page/product/978-1-58023-666-9) (Jewish Lights Publishing) and co-author of the recently published [The Relational Judaism Handbook: How to Create a Relational Engagement Campaign to Build and Deepen Relationships in Your Community](https://relationaljudaismhandbook.com/) (Center for Relational Judaism of the Kripke Institute) to discuss synagogue websites, the importance of storytelling and the downside to giving things away for free. ### Why is it so important for a synagogue to have a strong website? 90% of American Jews say that they are proud to be Jewish, but only a small fraction choose to belong to a synagogue. **More and more people, particularly the upcoming generation who are digital natives, are likely to find a synagogue on the website first or check it out on the web before they walk in the door, so the attitude, the language, the visuals all send a message to those prospective members.** The website is literally the front door of the congregation. ### How can the ideas of Relational Judaism apply to a synagogue website? I’m interested in this relational engagement work and building relationships on three tiers. The first tier is helping people engage with the Jewish experience. That might mean a website linking people to great resources on how to “do Jewish.” The second tier is building a relationship with the clergy and staff of the synagogue. I often see bios of the clergy and staff on websites, along with an invitation to engage. Most of them will list an email; some of the more adventurous websites will have a way to actually calendar a meeting directly the Rabbi. And then the third tier, which is the most interesting to me: is how do you connect people who are already members of the community with each other? ### What would you like to see more of on synagogue websites? Most synagogue websites are rather stodgy. I would like to see a much “hipper” presentation of what a synagogue community can be, especially if you want to reach out to a younger population who are looking for a school for their kids or looking for someplace where they can be Jewish. A welcoming website that is fun, even tongue-in-cheek a bit, would stand out. **I’d like to see more opportunities for congregants to connect with the staff and the clergy.** Not just access the Rabbi’s blog and sermons, but invitations from the Rabbi to engage -either by email or by coming in to visit. **I’d also like to see more stories of the people of the community and what they are doing and what they are thinking and how they got there**. Stories of what their community has meant to them. If I am looking for a spiritual home, I would want to know “*who are the people of this community? Why would I want to meet them? Why would I want to engage with them? And, is this a place where I can find friends*?” ### Why is storytelling such an important part of a synagogue website? One of the key strategies in relational engagement is to encourage people to tell their stories. That is something that you can do well on a website. And not just testimonials. I don’t need a Yelp-type testimonial that this synagogue has the greatest Rabbi. It would be great to see a page that constantly changes with the personal stories of their spiritual journeys. ### What are some synagogue websites that you come across that do a great job of showcasing the communities they serve online? The Jewish Emergent Network spiritual communities are on the cutting edge. There are seven places: [The Kitchen](http://thekitchensf.org/) in San Francisco, the [Kavana Cooperative](https://www.kavana.org/) in Seattle, [IKAR](https://ikar.org/) in Los Angeles, [Mishkan](https://www.mishkanchicago.org/) in Chicago, [Sixth and I](https://www.sixthandi.org/) in Washington DC and two communities in New York City – [Romemu](https://www.romemu.org/) and [Lab Shul](http://www.labshul.org/). Those guys get it. ### Some of the emergent Jewish websites shy away from the use of the word Member or Membership. What are your thoughts on this topic? A lot of people don’t like it. I was just at the JEN national conference and they tried to avoid the word “Member.” Some people use the word “partner” or “community” over and over again. Even “synagogue” is replaced by “spiritual community. For most synagogues in the country, they are still making this distinction between “member” or “guest” and it feels like you’re in or you’re out. I don’t know what the answer is. We need a whole new language for this and I don’t think we’ve invented it yet. ### Instead of a page about Membership, [The Kitchen](http://thekitchensf.org/) invites supporters to “pick the subscription that’s right for you.” It’s a fascinating way to approach this idea of belonging to a community. Rabbi Noa Kushner started The Kitchen out of our Synagogue 3000 project. It began as a parallel group to a Reform congregation, Rodef Sholom in Marin County, and then migrated to downtown San Francisco. Noa has experimented with the subscription model. Her idea was some people want a “full” subscription; they want everything that the community has to offer. Some people just want to subscribe to High Holiday seats. Noa pegged the monetary contribution to how deep they want to go, how many offers they want to pick up in their subscription. ### The Kitchen’s subscriber page reminds readers that “You can totally show up and you never have to join The Kitchen – membership has never been the only way to do Jewish. But when you do choose to become a member, here are a few of the things you’ll get.” Would you encourage other synagogues to follow The Kitchen’s lead? Well, it’s not just what you “get” – it’s what we expect of you. **The message to the community of prospective people is – not only do you get stuff, but we expect you to give stuff. And not just money.** If you look at [IKAR’s website](https://ikar.org/join/), money is the last thing they list. The first ask is: “We are a small group, we are a small staff, so we need your help. We expect you as a member of our community to be a participant in our community.” The second ask is: “We are a learning community, so expect everyone to learn. Not just kids.” The third notes: “We are a community that is a nexus of social justice and spiritually, so we expect everybody to participate in our Minyan Tzedek social justice work.” And then the fourth ask is: “Community has costs, so we expect a financial commitment.” **I like that because there is a downside to a lot of things in the Jewish community being free.** The message is we are going to give, give, give and we don’t expect much back. **In a true relational community, you are deeply invested in the people of the community and in the success of the community and in the work of the community and that means you put yourself forward for the community.** It’s an important message for people to hear through a web presence. ### Where else can synagogues go to find inspiration for their websites? I’ve been visiting and studying mega-churches for more than twenty years and it’s instructive to visit their websites. I’ve become good friends with Rick Warren, the pastor of [Saddleback Church](https://saddleback.com/) in Orange County. California. He likes to ask: “W*hat’s the first question people ask when they walk into a church for the first time?”* It’s not “*Where’s the bathroom?*” It’s: “*Is there anybody here who I can be friends with, who is in the same stage of life*?” That’s a great lesson for synagogues and their websites. **The photos on your website need to represent the people who you want to attract.** You’ve got to make sure that it’s not just older folks or just kids, but it’s people of all ages doing cool stuff together. **And no photos of empty sanctuaries, please!** I always say that If there are 1,000 people showing up for a religious service – I want to know what’s going on. And it’s the same with websites. If IKAR and other places have created the sweet spot of attractive, clever, and engaging websites, take a look at it, deduce the principles of what makes it work, and then create your own engaging, relational “front door” to your community. --- ![Ron Wolfson - synagogue websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ron-wolfson-150x150.jpg "ron-wolfson | Synagogue-Websites.com")Dr. Ron Wolfson is Fingerhut Professor of Education, American Jewish University. He can be reached at and [Relational Judaism Handbook.](http://relationaljudaismhandbook.com) --- ## Dreaming of a new website for your congregation? We specialize in designing professional and modern websites that are as vibrant as your congregation. Together, let’s make your community thrive online. ## We’d love to connect. We are here to answer any questions you may have about Addicott Web, our services, or how we can design and build a new website for your synagogue. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/?s=300&d=mm&r=g) [See Full Bio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/) [ ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/author/) **Categories:** Content, Website Best Practices --- ## Pages ### [Home](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/) **Published:** June 27, 2012 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** # We design synagogue websites in WordPress for synagogues of all sizes and denominations Synagogue websites should be welcoming, look great, be easy to manage, and efficiently communicate information to your community. Does yours? 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[ Learn More ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/overview/) [ ![SYNAGOGUE WEB DESIGN - building custom WordPress Multisite website projects for synagogues](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/icon-multisite.png "icon-multisite | Synagogue-Websites.com | Synagogue-Websites.com") ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/wordpress-multisite-networks/) ### [WordPress Multisite](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/wordpress-multisite-networks/) Manage multiple websites from a single location. Your ECC or religious school can have their own site, but one that looks and feels like the synagogue website. [ Learn More ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/wordpress-multisite-networks/) [ ![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/icon-shulcloud.png "icon-shulcloud | Synagogue-Websites.com | Synagogue-Websites.com") ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/wordpress-and-shulcloud-websites/) ### [Using Shulcloud?](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/wordpress-and-shulcloud-websites/) Your website doesn’t have to use one of Shulcloud’s templates – we can design your new website to load at your live URL while still letting you use their tools. [ Learn More ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/wordpress-and-shulcloud-websites/) ## Latest Synagogue Website Projects [Visit our full portfolio](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/our-work/) to see all of the synagogue websites we’ve designed. [](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-kol-ami-3/) ![Group of people on a stage near a Torah ceremony, with a purple 'Welcome to Kol Ami' panel overlaid in the foreground.](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/congregation-kol-ami-salt-lake-city-ut-300x240.jpg "congregation-kol-ami-salt-lake-city-ut | Synagogue-Websites.com") #### [Congregation Kol Ami](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-kol-ami-3/ "Congregation Kol Ami") [Visit Website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-kol-ami-3/) [](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/kona-beth-shalom/) ![Group of people on a sunny beach participating in a seaside gathering, with 'Shalom & Aloha' in yellow text across the foreground.](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/kona-beth-shalom-300x240.jpg "kona-beth-shalom | Synagogue-Websites.com") #### [Kona Beth Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/kona-beth-shalom/ "Kona Beth Shalom") [Visit Website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/kona-beth-shalom/) [](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/hill-havurah/) ![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/hill-havurah-300x240.jpg "hill-havurah | Synagogue-Websites.com") #### [Hill Havurah](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/hill-havurah/ "Hill Havurah") [Visit Website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/hill-havurah/) [](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-emanu-el-bne-jeshurun/) ![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/emanu-el-milwaukee-300x240.jpg "emanu-el-milwaukee | Synagogue-Websites.com") #### [Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-emanu-el-bne-jeshurun/ "Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun") [Visit Website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-emanu-el-bne-jeshurun/) Load More [ View Our Full Portfolio ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/our-work/full-portfolio-of-synagogue-websites/) "Thank you so much for all your patience, support, and help these past few months in building a beautiful website for our synagogue! We have gotten great reviews so far, and we are so appreciative to you for all your expertise. You went the extra mile to make sure we were happy, and indulged so many snags and requests and did a great job! Thank you!" ## From Our Blog [](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2023/06/the-best-conservative-synagogue-websites-in-2023/) ![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/best-conservative-websites-2023-300x300.jpg "best-conservative-websites-2023 | Synagogue-Websites.com") ## [The Best Conservative Synagogue Websites in 2023](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2023/06/the-best-conservative-synagogue-websites-in-2023/ "The Best Conservative Synagogue Websites in 2023") A great synagogue website inspires visitors to imagine themselves becoming a part of your congregation. It has the power to help your Jewish community grow and thrive. See who made... [Read More](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2023/06/the-best-conservative-synagogue-websites-in-2023/) [](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2020/02/keeping-your-synagogue-safe-online/) ![Andrew Cohen - Hillel - interview about synagogue websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/QA-Andrew-Cohen-Hillel-updated-1-300x300.png "QA-Andrew-Cohen-Hillel-updated (1) | Synagogue-Websites.com") ## [Keeping Your Synagogue Safe Online](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2020/02/keeping-your-synagogue-safe-online/ "Keeping Your Synagogue Safe Online") Recently, we sat down Andrew J. Cohen, vice president for technology strategy and operations at Hillel International to discuss synagogue website security, why most passwords are not sufficient, and why... [Read More](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2020/02/keeping-your-synagogue-safe-online/) [](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/09/6-ways-to-prepare-your-synagogue-website-for-the-high-holidays/) ![High-Holiday-Image](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Copy-of-6-ways-to-preparepe-your-website-for-the-high-holidays-blog-300x300.png "image-6-ways-to-preparepe-your-website-for-the-high-holidays-blog | Synagogue-Websites.com") ## [6 Ways to Prepare Your Synagogue Website for the High Holidays](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/09/6-ways-to-prepare-your-synagogue-website-for-the-high-holidays/ "6 Ways to Prepare Your Synagogue Website for the High Holidays") Flyers get lost, emails can be overlooked, and print mailings get recycled, but your website remains an accessible resource. Here's how to get your website ready for the High Holidays. [Read More](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/09/6-ways-to-prepare-your-synagogue-website-for-the-high-holidays/) [](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/04/the-pros-and-cons-of-using-a-synagogue-website-template/) ![Synagogue Website Templates - website design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Copy-of-best-reform-websites-2019-300x300.png "Synagogue Website Templates | Synagogue-Websites.com") ## [The Pros and Cons of Using a Synagogue Website Template](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/04/the-pros-and-cons-of-using-a-synagogue-website-template/ "The Pros and Cons of Using a Synagogue Website Template") As the trend towards website templates grows, one question - will the use of a template help or hurt a synagogue - keeps popping up. Are templates a good idea? [Read More](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/2019/04/the-pros-and-cons-of-using-a-synagogue-website-template/) Load More [ See More Posts ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/blog/) ### Our Web Design Process Our process is based on a simple idea: we listen. And that means we get to know our clients as well as you know your congregants. [ Learn More ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/our-process/) ### How We Help Synagogues Our focus is on helping synagogues grow and thrive online. From websites to SEO to eCommerce, we've got you covered. [ Our Services ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/overview/) ### Synagogue Website Features Online donations, secure event registration, members only pages, blogs, and more. You name it and your new website can have it. [ What's Included ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/features/) --- ### [About Our Synagogue Website Design Agency](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/about-us/overview/) **Published:** August 21, 2012 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** ### Addicott Web is a Raleigh-based website company with a passion for working with synagogues and Jewish non-profits. We’ve been building websites since 2007. Since then, much has changed in the web design and development world. But, what hasn’t changed is our devotion to our clients and our commitment to providing all synagogues with a stellar experience. ### We are a little obsessed. Well, obsessed may be taking it a bit far, but we spend more time thinking about synagogue websites than we probably should. We can’t help it though. We honestly believe that all synagogues deserve a great website. We view a synagogue’s website as critical to its future success and we’ve witnessed firsthand how transformative a new website can be for a congregation. From new member growth to increased congregational engagement, websites can do big things for Jewish communities. ### Here’s what we know Synagogue websites are different than other kinds of websites. It’s not just a place for your members to go to find out service times or to register for an event. It’s so much more. You know all that good stuff you have going on within the walls of your building? Think of all your initiatives, programs, classes, services, friendships and more. Your synagogue’s website is where you get to put it all together and let people know just how incredible your community actually is. Your website is the place for them to feel inspired and want to get involved in congregational life. ### Be nice and work hard. Our business model is simple. We are devoted to our clients and take care to provide them with a great website. Honesty, integrity, and innovation are the driving principles behind everything we do. ### We’re a small shop with a dedicated team. We work hard to provide you with an exceptional experience and deliver fantastic results. Get to know [the people behind Addicott Web](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/about-us/meet-our-team/). ### We don’t want to brag, but… Our clients have said many good things about working with us. If you would like to talk to someone about their experience working with us, just let us know. We are happy to put you in touch with the right person. --- ### We’d love to connect. We can create a great website for your synagogue. Please reach out with questions or to request a proposal. Give us a ring at 919-438-2180, send an email to or complete the following form. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit --- ### [Synagogue Website Design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/website-design/) **Published:** July 30, 2012 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** ### We started Addicott Web because all synagogues deserve a great website. We believe that synagogue websites should be welcoming, user-friendly, and give visitors a positive impression. We also believe that synagogues shouldn’t have to pay a small fortune to look good online. Our collaborative and hands-on [process](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/our-process/) involves you and your team every step of the way. We get to know you as well as you know your congregants. By understanding what makes you special, your new website shares the joy and energy of your community. **We can give your synagogue everything it needs for a new website, including:** - A unique design custom-created for your synagogue - A responsive design that lets the website easily scale down for smaller screen sizes such as tablets and smartphones - A website that runs on WordPress - Photo galleries - Content recommendations - Drag-and-drop “widget” areas - Drop-down navigation menus - Custom graphics and design elements - Events calendar, including RSVP capability - PDF downloads - Customized WordPress dashboard - As many contact forms as you need - Multiple blogs - Members-only area ## Together, let’s build a better website for your congregation. Give us a ring at 919-438-2180, send an email to or complete the following form. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit --- ### [Meet Our Synagogue Website Team](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/about-us/meet-our-team/) **Published:** January 7, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** ## Get to Know The People Behind Addicott Web We are a small, but mighty crew with a focus on helping synagogues look good online. We’re the kind of team that works hard to provide you with an exceptional experience and deliver great results. ![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Hirsch-Fishman.jpg "Hirsch-Fishman | Synagogue-Websites.com | Synagogue-Websites.com") ## Owner & Web Designer **Hirsch Fishman** Hirsch has been working professionally with websites since 2001, working exclusively in, and focusing on, the Jewish community. His goal is to take modern website design trends and apply them in order to build synagogue websites that provide a welcoming face to a synagogue community while allowing synagogue members to easily find the information they are looking for or complete common tasks of synagogue life. Hirsch offers a wide range of website knowledge to his synagogue web design clients from his years of experience working in the Jewish community. He takes pride in the work he does for each client and values his relationship with each synagogue design client. Hirsch lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife and two sons. He is a huge Carolina Hurricanes fan. ![Raven, Chief Morale Office](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/raven.jpg "| Synagogue-Websites.com | Synagogue-Websites.com") ## Chief Morale Officer **Raven** Raven hails from Raleigh, North Carolina and joined the Addicott Web team in 2019. What she lacks in work experience, she makes up for in many other ways. She happily greets all customers, and her energetic spirit helps keep everyone’s morale high around the company. ## Let’s Talk Thinking of a new website for your congregation? Give us a ring at 919-438-2180 or send an email to You can also fill out the following form and we’ll be in touch right away. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit --- ### [Full Portfolio of Synagogue Websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/our-work/full-portfolio-of-synagogue-websites/) **Published:** December 19, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** See the full list of synagogue websites we have designed. Get started on on redesigning your synagogue’s website – [contact us today](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/). --- ### [Get in Touch with Our Synagogue Web Design Company](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/) **Published:** July 30, 2012 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** ## Give your congregation a website to kvell over. Let’s talk! We would love to talk to you about [how we can improve](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/overview/) your synagogue’s website. Call 919-438-2180 or email us at [hello@addicottweb.com.](mailto:hello@addicottweb.com) "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit --- ### [Using a WordPress Website While Also Using ShulCloud](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/wordpress-and-shulcloud-websites/) **Published:** December 18, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** ShulCloud is one of the most popular membership management options within the synagogue marketplace. Along with their database functionality, they also offer templates for their clients to use as their synagogue website. ### A question that we often get asked is can I build a website with Addicott Web if I am using ShulCloud for my membership management needs? The answer is yes! ShulCloud provides synagogues with a cloud-based membership management system. This means that the pages that feed information to your synagogue database, things like donation forms, calendar events, and other registration forms are online and visible to the public. You don’t need to be logged into ShulCloud to view these forward-facing pages. When using an Addicott WordPress website in partnership with ShulCloud, we help you link or redirect these pages from your website to ShulCloud. [Congregation Or Tzion,](https://www.congregationortzion.org) Scottsdale, Arizona, came to Addicott Web in need of a new website. They were already using a ShulCloud template and wanted a more engaging and vibrant look. By linking their ShulCloud forms and calendar to their new Addicott Website, we helped them achieve their goal of a great looking site – without sacrificing the convenience of a cloud-based database. Check out their [donation page](https://www.congregationortzion.org/give/donate/) to see how it’s done. [![congregation or tzion - shulcloud and wordpress](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/congregationortzion-homepage-after.jpg "congregationortzion-homepage-after | Synagogue-Websites.com")](https://www.congregationortzion.org/) This is but one synagogue that we’ve worked with that uses ShulCloud yet still has a website designed and built by Addicott Web. We have worked with a large number of synagogues who we have designed WordPress websites for and who are using ShulCloud for their back-end functionality. ### Can the Shulcloud portion of my website look like the WordPress website that Addicott will design for me? Yes! ShulCloud offers the ability to customize some of the elements on their website, such as: - Logo - Favicon (what appears in the browser tab) - Fonts and colors (through custom CSS) Using one of their basic templates, we can then customize your ShulCloud portal so that it looks like an extension of the WordPress website. While the exact layout of the ShulCloud portion won’t match your WordPress website, this gives enough of a match between the branding, colors, and fonts so that it looks like the two go together. Here are some examples of what we mean by this: - **Congregation Beth Israel (Asheville, NC)** – [Website](https://www.bethisraelnc.org/) & [ShulCloud portal](https://bethisraelnc.shulcloud.com/) - **Congregation Kol Haverim (Glastonbury, CT)** – [Website](https://www.kolhaverim.org/) & [ShulCloud portal](https://kolhaverim.shulcloud.com/) - **Congregation B’nai Israel (Manalapan, NJ)** – [Website](https://www.bnaiisraelnj.org/) & [ShulCloud portal](https://bnaiisraelnj.shulcloud.com/) ### But, my ShulCloud donation forms and calendar use my synagogue’s domain name. How can an Addicott website and ShulCloud pages share the same URL? While ShulCloud encourages you to load all pages (like your donation form and calendar) with your synagogue’s main domain name, this is not necessary. When using an Addicott website, a subdomain is used for these ShulCloud pages. We worked with Congregation Or Tzion to set up a [sub-domain](https://congregationortzion.shulcloud.com/) connecting their ShulCloud pages to their new WordPress website. Their WordPress website loads at the main domain name: while the synagogue’s website calendar easily redirects to their ShulCloud calendar at . **In sum, you can use ShulCloud’s membership management software without using their websites.** ### So, will my synagogue’s WordPress website integrate with ShulCloud? Not quite. Since ShulCloud is a proprietary system, WordPress forms and calendar events cannot feed directly to your membership database. However since ShulCloud’s system will let you load your donation forms and membership portals at a sub-domain, you can then either link or redirect these pages from your synagogue’s WordPress website. ### Why wouldn’t I want to use a ShulCloud website? It’s free. Nothing is free. ShulCloud’s priority as a company is and has always been, their database tools and payment processing. It is not on website design. **While a premade template may save you money in the short-term, in the long-run, your membership and outreach goals may suffer. A modern and welcoming website is one of the most effective ways for your synagogue to grow and better market themselves to new members – especially young families.** At Addicott Web, our focus is on designing and building great-looking, modern synagogue websites. We want your community to shine online. ### What about functionality? Will I lose out on the various web-related tools offered by ShulCloud? Nope. Our feature-rich websites are built using WordPress -the most popular and widely-supported content management system around. Learn more about the rich features and functionality that can be included in a new Addicott website [here](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/features/). ### Budget is a major concern for my congregation. We are already paying ShulCloud a monthly fee. Is Addicott Web an affordable option? Yes! We understand synagogues and our website packages are designed around the needs of non-profit organizations. **Also, there are no ongoing fees with Addicott – only a flat one-time cost.** Best of all, our website design packages include project management, one-on-one training, and content migration. So, while we aren’t a free option, we are certainly an affordable one. And, since the design of a synagogue’s website is what gives the best first impression to your members and other site visitors, an additional cost is worth every penny. If you have any questions, would like examples of synagogue website design clients we have worked with who also use ShulCloud, or would like to talk about a new website for your synagogue, [please contact us](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/). ## Get In Touch "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit --- ### [Project Timeline for a New Synagogue Website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/project-timeline/) **Published:** July 9, 2024 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** Designing a new synagogue website with our [design process](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/our-process/) takes, on average, about 3 months, give or take. The project schedule will be determined during the course of the project in consultation with you. We aim for the timely completion of work on your website, while giving some leeway during the process should anything come up that might cause a delay. Please note the overall project timeline for your new synagogue website can be dependent upon the following: - **Scheduled meetings** – Timely scheduling of meetings, phone calls, etc. - **Content** – How long it takes you to gather additional content, photos, etc. - **Timely feedback** – How long it takes to provide feedback during the respective feedback opportunities. - **Awareness of additional requirements** – During the project, additional requirements may arise, or requirements may change. If this happens, we ask that we be made aware of these as soon as possible, so that they can be handled promptly without throwing the delivery timetable off. If this timeline sounds good and you would like to get started on redesigning and rebuilding your synagogue’s website, [contact us](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/) for an estimate today! --- ### [Our Synagogue Web Design Process](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/our-process/) **Published:** July 30, 2012 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** We use a step-by-step process in order to effectively manage the creation of your synagogue's new website from start to finish. **Content:** ## From content strategy to innovative website design, our process is simple, streamlined and effective. We take the time to get to know you and never take our focus off what matters most – designing an extraordinary new website for your synagogue. We even throw in three hours of one-on-one training to ensure your team’s success. **Take a closer look at our synagogue website design process:** Phase & DescriptionDeliverable(s)**Discovery** – Extensive consultation with your team concerning the goals of your organization, intended target market, and how best to use the website to market the congregation. We will focus on synagogue website best practices, and strategies for content organization. Together we will map out the website architecture – focusing on the main menu navigation and layout the desired content for the homepage.*Full content sitemap indicating how the content will be organized on the website.* **Design** – Preparation of full-color mockups of the website templates. These mockups will give you an understanding of the design that is being proposed for the new site.*One (1) set of full-color mockups; Feedback from your team***Design Feedback** – After the mockups have been submitted to you for approval, this is when you have the opportunity to submit any feedback about them. Your input is important at this stage and can be given on anything in the – organization of the templates; design features; color scheme; fonts; overall look and feel; etc.*Feedback from your team; Revisions to design mockups (if needed)***Development** – Once you have provided feedback on the design mockups and approval to continue, the website will be physically built on the server. Content and functionality will be added, and any additional content needs not already discussed in the Content/Discovery Phase will be brought to your attention.*Website built on server***Site Feedback** – Once the website is built on the server, you will be provided with the URL and password to use in order to access it and test the functionality. You will be able to provide feedback on what you see, and all of the input gathered during this phase will be incorporated.\**Feedback from your team***Launch** – Once your feedback has been incorporated and final approval has been given, this is when the website will be taken live.*Fully functioning website***Followup** – When any additional changes that were missed in the feedback phase, as well as any minor tweaks, will be corrected. Any troubleshooting will also be completed during this phase as well.*Feedback from your team; Support provided and changes made*## Our specialty is in designing professional and modern websites that are as vibrant as your synagogue. If you would like to get started on redesigning & rebuilding your synagogue’s website, [contact us](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/) for an estimate today! --- #### “We used Addicott Web to design a website for our congregation. Hirsch was wonderful to work with. He was professional and delivered a great product in a timely manner. Everyone in the congregation finds our new website very easy to use and loves the new look.” -Kol Ami of Annandale, VA --- ### [Synagogue Wordpress Website & E-Commerce/Online Stores](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/e-commerce-online-stores/) **Published:** January 5, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Does your synagogue want an online store for the sisterhood gift shop, or so that the preschool and/or religious school can sell things online? Now you can!** ![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/woocommerce.png "woocommerce | Synagogue-Websites.com") With WordPress, your synagogue’s website can be turned into an online store, all in the same master dashboard as the rest of the website. We exclusively use the widely popular [WooCommerce](https://woocommerce.com/) plugin, which comes packed with tons of features. You can sell both physical and digital goods in all shapes and sizes, offer product variations, multiple configurations, instant downloads, and much, much more. Plus you can: - Categorize products - Offer various payment options - Completely customize the checkout experience - Offer coupon codes - Calculate shipping, if necessary - Obtain completely control of your store **Who will set up your synagogue’s online store?** We will completely set up your online store for you, including populating it with all of the products that you want to sell, customizing it for your needs, and installing and configuring any necessary extensions to make it work how your synagogue needs it to. With endless flexibility and access to hundreds of free and premium WordPress extensions, WooCommerce now powers 30% of all online stores – more than any other platform. We have used WooCommerce extensively in building e-commerce websites for our clients. **Who is an online store useful for?** - Sisterhood Judaica gift shops - Synagogue preschools - Synagogue religious schools - Other synagogue groups We will also train you or your team on how to use and manage your online store during the development process. **My synagogue already has a WordPress website – can the store functionality be added without creating a new website?** Absolutely! The store can be built in the background of your existing synagogue website without interfering with the rest of the website. Then when it’s ready to go live, it can simply be linked from someone prominent on the website so that your congregants can start using it. **If you think that an online store is a useful feature to have on your synagogue’s website, [contact us](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/) for an estimate today!** --- ### [Synagogue Wordpress Websites & WordPress Multisite Networks](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/wordpress-multisite-networks/) **Published:** January 28, 2017 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Does your synagogue need an efficient way to manage multiple websites in addition to the main synagogue website – for the synagogue religious school, synagogue preschool, etc.? WordPress Multisite may be exactly what you need!** With WordPress Multisite (also known as WordPress MU), it’s as easy to create and manage multiple websites all through a single WordPress dashboard. With just a little additional configuration to a standalone Wordpress installation, we can easily create a network of websites for your synagogue. It’s not uncommon for synagogues to have separate websites for the synagogue religious school, synagogue preschool, etc. This creates an administrative problem because these websites might be managed only by the staff for that area – so if the person in charge of updating those websites leaves, or someone else needs to update it, they don’t know how to. With a WordPress Multisite network for your synagogue’s website, each site in the network can have different features, content, users, functionality, dashboards, and even a unique domain name. They can all be administered through a single master WordPress dashboard by your network administrators. This can centralize administration of the websites, bringing everything together under one roof so that your synagogue staff and/or synagogue lay leaders can easily and efficiently manage everything. **When we set up a WordPress Multisite network for your synagogue, we’ll customize it to to meet your synagogue’s needs, including:** - Creating the network of sites - Mapping domains - Installing plugins - Creating users - Assigning access privileges - Setting up super-user/network administrator access - A template for these additional sites to use, one that will look consistent with the main synagogue website and the synagogue’s overall branding, such as colors, design, etc. **Particularly for synagogue website administrators, a WordPress Multisite network will let you work more efficiently by:** - Saving time my managing a number of sites through one dashboard - Installing themes, plugins, and updates once for the entire network - Creating sub-domains or map them to regular domains - Posting content to all of your networked blogs simultaneously - Managing client sites and control what they have access to We can also train you or your team on how to use and maximize a WordPress Multisite network once your website is ready. **If you think that a WordPress Multisite network would be useful for your synagogue website, [contact us](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/) for an estimate today!** --- ### [Included Features on Our Synagogue Websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/features/) **Published:** July 30, 2012 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** We include a lot of features in all our synagogue websites - see what is in our Basic and Premium packages that we offer. **Content:** ## The best synagogue websites are vibrant, engaging, & dynamic. With Addicott, it’s easy to check off all three boxes. #### Select the package that best fits the communication & marketing goals of your synagogue Included Features & FunctionalityPrimaryEnhancedWork with a dedicated Project Manager✓ ✓Up to 3 hours of personalized website training for synagogue staff & laypeople prior to the launch of your new website ✓ ✓Content Migration from your current website to your new Addicott website ✓ ✓HTML and CSS design✓✓Installation and configuration of WordPress content management system (CMS)✓✓Complete Website Redesign✓ ✓Custom color scheme and graphical elements✓✓Mobile (responsive) Website Design ✓ ✓Extensive Content Analysis and Consultation✓✓Navigation elements – drop-down menus, sitemaps, etc.✓✓Interactive Homepage Slideshow✓✓Easy-to-Use drag-and-drop widget areas to customize the appearance of your homepage ✓ ✓Rotating content sliders (if desired)✓✓Information forms (including a ‘contact us’ form)✓✓Interactive Online Calendar✓✓Extensive calendar event management system✓ ✓Ability for members to download synagogue calendar events to iCal or Google calendars✓ ✓Blogs for the Rabbi and others✓✓Image Galleries✓✓Social Media sharing tools✓✓Ability to push website updates to social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)✓✓Google Map integration✓✓Hosting Assistance✓✓Mobile device support (“responsive design”)✓✓Google Analytics✓✓WordPress dashboard customization✓✓Audio file integration✓✓Ability to embed videos✓ ✓Basic search engine optimization (SEO)✓Advanced search engine optimization (SEO)✓Secure Online Donations & Payments (requires a payment processor like Authorize.net)✓Secure Online Dues Payments (requires a payment processor)✓Secure Members-only Area✓Local Business or Member Directories✓Secure Online Event Registration/Payment✓Email Newsletter Template for use with Constant Contact / MailChimp✓**Please note:** Additional features and functionality can always be included in your [synagogue’s new website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/overview/) depending on your needs. --- ## Your synagogue deserves to look good online. Give us a ring at 914-214-1032, send an email to or complete the following form. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit --- #### “We decided to work with Addicott Web because they had the best combination of price and experience. We hit the jackpot! They provided every ounce of functionality that we wanted on our new website. I would absolutely recommend Addicott for any website project.” -Beth El Synagogue, East Windsor, NJ --- ### [Synagogue Website Service Overview](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/overview/) **Published:** August 21, 2012 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** ## What we do is simple. We design and build great websites for synagogues and Jewish non-profits. ![SYNAGOGUE WEB DESIGN - creating unique website designs for synagogues](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/icon-design.png "icon-design | Synagogue-Websites.com | Synagogue-Websites.com") ## Website Design We started Addicott Web because all synagogues deserve a great website. Your congregants rely on it for information on upcoming events and services. It’s also where prospective members go to learn more about your community. We believe that synagogue websites should be welcoming, user-friendly, and give visitors a positive impression. We also believe that synagogues shouldn’t have to pay a small fortune to look good online. [ Learn More ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/website-design/) ![SYNAGOGUE WEB DESIGNER - building custom WordPress websites for synagogues](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/icon-wordpress.png "icon-wordpress | Synagogue-Websites.com | Synagogue-Websites.com") ## WordPress Websites Updating your website should be fun and easy. You don’t need to be an expert to excel at using a website built by Addicott Web. In fact, no experience is required at all. We promise. All of our websites are built using WordPress – the most popular and easy-to-use platform around. And, with three hours of one-on-one training, you’ll feel like a pro by the time your new site goes live. [ Learn More ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/features/) ![](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/icon-shulcloud.png "icon-shulcloud | Synagogue-Websites.com | Synagogue-Websites.com") ## Using Shulcloud? Not a Problem! Your website doesn’t have to use one of Shulcloud’s templates – we can design your new website to load at your live URL while still letting you use their tools by changing the URL on your Shulcloud portal to load at a sub-domain. [ Learn More ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/online-donations-payments/) ![SYNAGOGUE WEB DESIGN - building custom WordPress Multisite website projects for synagogues](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/icon-multisite.png "icon-multisite | Synagogue-Websites.com | Synagogue-Websites.com") ## WordPress Multisite Network Synagogues are busy places. Sometimes a page or two on your shul’s website won’t cut it for your religious school or early childhood center. Enter the multisite network. Manage multiple websites from a single location. Your ECC, religious school, or adult education program can have their own website, but ones that look and feel just like the main synagogue website. The end result is sure to make your communication committee sing. [ Learn More ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/wordpress-multisite-networks/) ![SYNAGOGUE WEB DESIGN - building custom online donation and payment forms on synagogue websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/icon-payment.png "icon-payment | Synagogue-Websites.com | Synagogue-Websites.com") ## Online Donations, Event Registration, and Payments These days, who wants to deal with paper? Build forms so that your congregants can register for events, donate & complete other payments online. [ Learn More ](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/online-donations-payments/) ## Together, let’s build a better website for your synagogue Give us a ring at 919-438-2180, send an email to or complete the following super quick form. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit --- ### [Customer Service at Our Synagogue Web Design Company](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/about-us/customer-service/) **Published:** July 30, 2012 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Excerpt:** We take pride in the customer service that we provide to synagogues throughout the course of our professional relationship. **Content:** ## We understand synagogues. **And, as a professional synagogue web design company, we take pride in the customer service that we provide to synagogues during the [process](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/our-process/) of [designing and building](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/overview/) your synagogue’s website.** We’re not just providing a [new website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/overview/) for your synagogue – we’re also providing our expertise to you about how to make your synagogue’s website work for you. How does this translate into what our synagogue clients experience? - Someone from [our team](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/about-us/meet-our-team/) will get back to your phone calls or emails promptly, within 24 hours - We give you recommendations for improving your synagogue’s web presence through its website - We give your team updates regularly at various points during the project process - We clearly explain our design theories and suggestions - We show your site administrators how to use WordPress before your synagogue’s new website is launched - We remain available after your new website is launched to answer any questions or make minor changes --- #### “It’s refreshing to work with a company that takes great pride in its customer’s success. Addicott Web has routinely gone above and beyond to over-deliver. No request is too small to be ignored and not addressed in a timely manner. Addicott Web has become a critical part of our marketing efforts moving forward.” #### -Westchester Jewish Center --- ## Learn more about how we can help your synagogue thrive online "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit --- ### [What You Can Expect](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/about-us/what-you-can-expect/) **Published:** July 30, 2012 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** We truly enjoy providing great websites to our synagogue clients. But more importantly, we also enjoy the professional relationships we have with the synagogues and people we work with, and are committed to giving everyone the same outstanding customer service. **When you work with us on your synagogue’s website design project, you can count on us to:** - Give you our best ideas - Do what is promised - Focus on helping you achieve your goals - Provide simple explanations of web design concepts and ideas - Promptly respond to your phone calls or emails - Continually seek out new ways to improve your web presence - Be available as a resource on web marketing issues - Appreciate the value of your business We’re proud of the relationships we have with our synagogue clients, and strive to make sure that those relationships develop into long-term partnerships. Website needs and strategies change over time, and we’re here to help synagogues continue to develop their websites and web strategies. **[Contact us today](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/ "Contact Us") to work with us on your synagogue’s website!** --- ### [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/frequently-asked-questions/) **Published:** July 30, 2012 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** # Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ### Hey there! Thanks so much for getting to know Addicott Web. Our FAQ page is here to help to answer the many questions that may pop up when you are considering a new website for your synagogue. Do you think my synagogue needs a new website? Our website is only visited by our congregants, so does it matter if the design is outdated? Do you think a new website can really play a role in new member growth? Why should I pay you to design a website for me rather than use a free template from elsewhere? If I am a ShulCloud client, isn't it important for me to use their website? Budget is always a concern. How much does a new synagogue website cost? Are there any ongoing costs? Do you host the website? How long does it take to build a synagogue website? Do synagogues get to see the design before it's built? Do you come to the synagogue and work with us in-person? Have you worked with a synagogue in my area? Do you install Google Analytics? I have very little experience updating a website. Will my website be easy to use? Do you provide support after the launch of my new website? What's it like to work with Addicott Web? ### Thinking about building a new website for your synagogue? Wondering if we are a good match? Give us a ring at 919-438-2180 or send an email to You can also fill out the following form and we’ll be in touch right away. "\*" indicates required fields Δ Name\* Email Address\* Phone Number\* Synagogue Name\* Synagogue Website URL\* CAPTCHA Submit --- ### [New Project Questionnaire](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/new-project-questionnaire/) **Published:** November 14, 2016 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** # New Synagogue Website – Project Questionnaire New projects begin with the discovery phase, when we’ll meet with you to talk about your content and design ideas. In advance of that meeting, we ask clients to complete the project questionnaire below to help get started on [designing](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/website-design/) a new WordPress website for your synagogue & building a new synagogue website. "\*" indicates required fields Δ ### Project Overview Project Name\* Your Name\* First Last Company/Organization Name\* Your Email Address\* Your Phone Number\* ### Client Overview Please describe your company or organization.List adjectives that you think describe your community or customers. These will help give me a sense of who you serve, which will be reflected in the website’s design. Purpose of the WebsiteGive the most important purposes and/or goals of your website in order of importance. Target MarketWho will visit the website? Describe your visitors demographically. ### Design Information Websites That You Like\*Find 3 or more websites that you like within your niche (or in a related niche) that might serve as design and/or content inspiration. These do not necessarily have to have anything to do with your business but could have design or features that you like. Please be sure to include the URL for each website you mention. Color Scheme\*Do you like the color scheme from your current website? Yes No New Color SchemeIf you don’t like your website’s current color scheme, what colors would you like to see incorporated in the design instead? Please list the colors and, if possible, the hexadecimal or RGB color code for each one. Logo FilesPlease upload all logo files you have. Accepted file types: .EPS, .GIF, .JPG, .AI, .PNG, .TIF, or .PDF. Your browser doesn’t have Flash, Silverlight or HTML5 support. ### Content Information HomepageWhat should go on the homepage, or would you like to see on the homepage? ContentWhat pages/sections do you think you will need on your site? Functionality & Additional FeaturesAre there additional features you would like to add to the site in the future? Social MediaDo you have a social network site(s) set up for your organization (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)? If so, please provide the URLs. Search TermsIf someone were searching for your website, what search terms (single words or phrases) might they use? Additional InformationPlease list any additional information that you think would be useful for us to know about your organization, your goals, etc etc. Submit Save and Continue Later --- ### [Thank You for Contacting Us!](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/thanks/) **Published:** July 5, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** # Thank You for Contacting Us! **Someone will contact you shortly. We are looking forward to speaking with you!** In the meantime, check out our latest content or see examples of the work we’ve done for other synagogues. - [Addicott Blog](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/blog/) – Your go-to resource for marketing tips, round-ups of the best synagogue websites, strategy, and more. - [Portfolio of Work](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/our-work/) – Discover the vibrant and engaging websites we’ve built for our clients. --- ### [Online Donations & Payment Forms](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/features/online-donations-payments/) **Published:** December 31, 2013 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** # Online Donations & Payments on Our Synagogue Websites **Does your synagogue want to offer its congregants the ability to make donations and other payments online through the website? Let us set up this functionality your synagogue today!** We’ll build secure, standalone forms that you can easily manage through the WordPress dashboard, and will customize them to meet your synagogue’s specific needs. Our forms integrate with the Authorize.net payment gateway, which will need to be set up separately. If you don’t have a relationship with a credit card provider who can do this for you, we can recommend some companies to you that will offer this at discounted non-profit rates. **Our online donation forms include:** - A list of the funding opportunities that people can make donations to - The ability to specify who the donation is in honor of, in memory of, etc. - The option to either pay by credit card, or to have the donation added to their account for payment at a later date - Email acknowledgements that are automatically generated to the donor once they make the donation - Email confirmations that are automatically sent to the synagogue notifying them that a donation has been made. - A customized look that makes the form look like an extension of the synagogue’s website **Our online payment forms include:** - A list of the items that people can make a payment towards, such as membership dues, religious school tuition, etc. - The option to either pay by credit card, or to have the payment added to their account for payment at a later date - Email acknowledgements that are automatically generated to the donor once they make the donation - Email confirmations that are automatically sent to the synagogue notifying them that a donation has been made. - A customized look that makes the form look like an extension of the synagogue’s website We can also integrate the popular [Events Manager plugin](http://wp-events-plugin.com/) for WordPress, which we recommend synagogue’s use for their calendar purposes, so that people can make credit card payments while RSVPing for synagogue events, such as Shabbat dinners. **The synagogue is responsible for the following costs in addition to our services:** - Authorize.net account (mentioned above) - SSL certificate (purchased through the domain name provider) **Interested in learning more? [Contact us today](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/contact/ "Contact Us") to get started on new online donations and online payment capabilities for your synagogue’s website!** --- ### [About Us](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/about-us/) **Published:** July 30, 2012 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** - [About Our Synagogue Website Design Agency](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/about-us/overview/) - [Meet Our Synagogue Website Team](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/about-us/meet-our-team/) - [What You Can Expect](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/about-us/what-you-can-expect/) - [Customer Service at Our Synagogue Web Design Company](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/about-us/customer-service/) --- ### [Our Work](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/our-work/) **Published:** July 30, 2012 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** - [Full Portfolio of Synagogue Websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/our-work/full-portfolio-of-synagogue-websites/) --- ### [FAQs](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/) **Published:** December 19, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/frequently-asked-questions/) - [Our Synagogue Web Design Process](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/our-process/) - [Project Timeline for a New Synagogue Website](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/project-timeline/) - [Using a WordPress Website While Also Using ShulCloud](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/faqs/wordpress-and-shulcloud-websites/) --- ### [Services](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/) **Published:** July 30, 2012 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** - [Synagogue Website Service Overview](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/overview/) - [Synagogue Website Design](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/website-design/) - [Included Features on Our Synagogue Websites](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/features/) - [Online Donations & Payment Forms](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/features/online-donations-payments/) - [Synagogue WordPress Websites & WordPress Multisite Networks](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/wordpress-multisite-networks/) - [Synagogue WordPress Website & E-Commerce/Online Stores](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/services/e-commerce-online-stores/) --- ## Portfolio Items ### [Kona Beth Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/kona-beth-shalom/) **Published:** June 26, 2026 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Independent Synagogues --- ### [Congregation Kol Ami](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-kol-ami-3/) **Published:** August 19, 2026 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites, Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Beth El Hebrew Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/beth-el-hebrew-congregation/) **Published:** April 20, 2026 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Hill Havurah](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/hill-havurah/) **Published:** May 26, 2026 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Independent Synagogues --- ### [Machar](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/machar/) **Published:** February 2, 2026 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Humanistic Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Emanu-El B'ne Jeshurun](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-emanu-el-bne-jeshurun/) **Published:** May 7, 2026 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Young Israel of Deerfield Beach](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/young-israel-of-deerfield-beach/) **Published:** March 31, 2026 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Orthodox Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Sha'arey Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-shaarey-israel/) **Published:** March 11, 2026 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Sholom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-sholom/) **Published:** March 11, 2026 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Independent Synagogues --- ### [Agudas Achim Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/agudas-achim-congregation/) **Published:** March 10, 2026 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Reyim](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-reyim/) **Published:** February 22, 2026 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Beth El](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-beth-el/) **Published:** March 9, 2026 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [East Meadow Jewish Center](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/east-meadow-jewish-center/) **Published:** October 7, 2015 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Upper Valley Jewish Community](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/upper-valley-jewish-community/) **Published:** August 24, 2024 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Congregation Kol Haneshama](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-kol-haneshama/) **Published:** October 12, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Independent Synagogues --- ### [Congregation Agudat Achim](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-agudat-achim/) **Published:** October 12, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Emek Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-emek-shalom/) **Published:** October 12, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reconstructionist Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Beth El](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-beth-el/) **Published:** October 12, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Congregation Beth Jacob](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-beth-jacob/) **Published:** October 12, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Temple Har Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-har-shalom/) **Published:** October 12, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Temple Shir Tikva](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-shir-tikva/) **Published:** October 12, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Temple Beth Am](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-beth-am/) **Published:** October 12, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Kesher Israel Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/kesher-israel-congregation/) **Published:** October 12, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Etz Chaim](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-etz-chaim/) **Published:** October 29, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Orthodox Synagogue Websites --- ### [Beth El Temple](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/beth-el-temple/) **Published:** November 8, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-israel-5/) **Published:** January 21, 2022 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Am Yisrael Conservative Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/am-yisrael-conservative-congregation/) **Published:** October 12, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Emeth](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-emeth/) **Published:** October 12, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Israel of Great Neck](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-israel-of-great-neck/) **Published:** October 12, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Beth Hillel Bnai Emunah](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/beth-hillel-bnai-emunah/) **Published:** October 12, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Emunah](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-emunah/) **Published:** October 12, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [The Emanuel Synagogue](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/the-emanuel-synagogue/) **Published:** May 17, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Shaarey Tikvah](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-shaarey-tikvah/) **Published:** May 17, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Young Israel of Long Beach](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/young-israel-of-long-beach/) **Published:** April 2, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Orthodox Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Agudas Achim](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-agudas-achim/) **Published:** April 2, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reconstructionist Synagogue Websites --- ### [Bolton Street Synagogue](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/bolton-street-synagogue/) **Published:** April 2, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Temple Micah](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-micah/) **Published:** April 2, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [First Hebrew Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/first-hebrew-congregation/) **Published:** March 12, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Beth-El](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-beth-el-2/) **Published:** March 11, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Beth Chayim Chadashim](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/beth-chayim-chadashim/) **Published:** February 9, 2021 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-beth-israel-ner-tamid/) **Published:** December 11, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-emanu-el-of-westchester/) **Published:** December 11, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Kehillat Beth Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/kehillat-beth-israel/) **Published:** December 11, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Beth Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-beth-israel-2/) **Published:** December 11, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Independent Synagogues --- ### [Temple Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-israel-4/) **Published:** December 11, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-israel-3/) **Published:** July 1, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-israel-2/) **Published:** July 1, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Bay Ridge Jewish Center](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/bay-ridge-jewish-center/) **Published:** July 1, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Beth El](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-beth-el-rochester/) **Published:** June 4, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Israel Center of Conservative Judaism](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/israel-center-of-conservative-judaism/) **Published:** June 4, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Hollis Hills Bayside Jewish Center](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/hollis-hills-bayside-jewish-center/) **Published:** June 4, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Kahal Joseph Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/kahal-joseph-congregation/) **Published:** March 26, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Orthodox Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-israel-new-rochelle/) **Published:** March 6, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Temple Israel Center](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-israel-center/) **Published:** February 3, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Kol Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/kol-shalom/) **Published:** January 20, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Jacksonville Jewish Center](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/jacksonville-jewish-center/) **Published:** January 20, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Anshe Emet Synagogue](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/anshe-emet-synagogue/) **Published:** January 20, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Beth Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-beth-shalom-2/) **Published:** January 20, 2020 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Morristown Jewish Center Beit Yisrael](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/morristown-jewish-center-beit-yisrael/) **Published:** December 9, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Beth Israel Abraham & Voliner](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-beth-israel-abraham-voliner/) **Published:** November 18, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Orthodox Synagogue Websites --- ### [Beth Abraham Synagogue](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/beth-abraham-synagogue/) **Published:** October 30, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Westchester Reform Temple](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/westchester-reform-temple/) **Published:** October 22, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Temple Beth Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-beth-shalom/) **Published:** October 16, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Congregation Ahavat Achim](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-ahavat-achim/) **Published:** September 26, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Orthodox Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Shaarey Zedek](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-shaarey-zedek/) **Published:** September 26, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Torat El](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-torat-el/) **Published:** September 24, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Chaverim](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-chaverim/) **Published:** September 23, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Congregation Beth Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-beth-shalom/) **Published:** September 6, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Columbia Jewish Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/columbia-jewish-congregation/) **Published:** August 26, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reconstructionist Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Kol Ami](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-kol-ami-2/) **Published:** July 31, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Oseh Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/oseh-shalom/) **Published:** July 11, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reconstructionist Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Tifereth Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-tifereth-israel/) **Published:** June 27, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Beth David](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-beth-david/) **Published:** June 12, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Congregation Or Zarua](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-or-zarua/) **Published:** May 24, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Beth Torah](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-beth-torah/) **Published:** April 30, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Ohav Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-ohav-shalom/) **Published:** January 24, 2019 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Ahavat Olam](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-ahavat-olam/) **Published:** December 20, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Kehillat Ma'arav](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/kehillat-maarav/) **Published:** December 14, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Beth Sholom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-beth-sholom/) **Published:** December 5, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Beth-El](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-beth-el-3/) **Published:** August 29, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Congregation Adath Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-adath-israel/) **Published:** August 27, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Beth Or](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-beth-or/) **Published:** August 2, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Steinberg Preschool](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/steinberg-preschool/) **Published:** June 11, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Synagogue Preschools --- ### [Congregtion Or Tzion](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregtion-or-tzion/) **Published:** May 22, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Beth Jacob Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/beth-jacob-congregation/) **Published:** March 16, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [North Suburban Synagogue Beth El](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/north-suburban-synagogue-beth-el/) **Published:** February 21, 2018 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Westchester Jewish Center](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/westchester-jewish-center/) **Published:** September 29, 2017 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Kol Ami](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-kol-ami/) **Published:** December 21, 2016 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Temple Zion](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-zion/) **Published:** September 22, 2014 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Orthodox Synagogue Websites --- ### [JCC of Paramus](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/jewish-community-center-of-paramuscongregation-beth-tikvah/) **Published:** September 30, 2016 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation B'nai Tikvah](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-bnai-tikvah/) **Published:** June 15, 2016 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Emanu-El](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-emanu-el-2/) **Published:** May 20, 2016 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Israel & JCC](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-israel-jewish-community-center/) **Published:** April 19, 2016 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites, Reconstructionist Synagogue Websites --- ### [Kol Ami](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/kol-ami/) **Published:** March 18, 2016 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reconstructionist Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Schaarei Zedek](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-schaarei-zedek/) **Published:** December 7, 2015 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-beth-el-keser-israel/) **Published:** March 12, 2015 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [United Hebrew Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/united-hebrew-congregation/) **Published:** November 8, 2023 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Congregation Beth Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-beth-shalom-4/) **Published:** August 7, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Kol Ami](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/kol-ami-2/) **Published:** September 4, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Adat Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/adat-shalom-2/) **Published:** September 16, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Ramat Shalom Beth Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/ramat-shalom-beth-israel/) **Published:** September 12, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Independent Synagogues --- ### [Congregation Mishkan Or](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-mishkan-or/) **Published:** April 30, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Hebrew Educational Alliance](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/hebrew-educational-alliance/) **Published:** July 11, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Machzikei Hadas](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-machzikei-hadas/) **Published:** July 11, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Orthodox Synagogue Websites --- ### [Or Haneshamah](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/or-haneshamah/) **Published:** July 11, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reconstructionist Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Shaarei Kodesh](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-shaarei-kodesh/) **Published:** July 3, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Beth Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-beth-shalom-3/) **Published:** July 3, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/marthas-vineyard-hebrew-center/) **Published:** June 30, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Aspen Jewish Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/aspen-jewish-congregation/) **Published:** June 23, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Young Israel of Jamaica Estates](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/young-israel-of-jamaica-estates/) **Published:** June 11, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Orthodox Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Agudath Achim](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-agudath-achim/) **Published:** April 30, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Independent Synagogues --- ### [Congregation Shomrei Torah](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-shomrei-torah/) **Published:** March 24, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Orthodox Synagogue Websites --- ### [Beth El Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/beth-el-congregation-2/) **Published:** April 30, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [KAM Isaiah Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/kam-isaiah-israel/) **Published:** June 6, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Temple Sinai](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-sinai-4/) **Published:** April 14, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Kol Tikvah](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/kol-tikvah/) **Published:** July 29, 2024 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Hillcrest Jewish Center](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/hillcrest-jewish-center/) **Published:** January 8, 2025 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation B'nai Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-bnai-israel-2/) **Published:** November 26, 2024 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Temple Sinai](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-sinai-3/) **Published:** October 24, 2024 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Congregation Zichron Eliezer](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-zichron-eliezer/) **Published:** October 21, 2024 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Orthodox Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation for Humanistic Judaism](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-for-humanistic-judaism/) **Published:** September 10, 2024 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Humanistic Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Shaaray Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-shaaray-shalom/) **Published:** September 10, 2024 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Etz Chaim](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-etz-chaim-2/) **Published:** August 1, 2024 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Ahavas Torah](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/ahavas-torah-2/) **Published:** July 2, 2024 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Orthodox Synagogue Websites --- ### [Hebrew Congregation of Chautauqua](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/hebrew-congregation-of-chautauqua/) **Published:** June 18, 2024 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Independent Synagogues --- ### [Great Neck Synagogue](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/great-neck-synagogue/) **Published:** June 18, 2024 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Orthodox Synagogue Websites --- ### [Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/reconstructionist-synagogue-of-the-north-shore/) **Published:** May 22, 2024 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reconstructionist Synagogue Websites --- ### [Lincolnwood Jewish Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/lincolnwood-jewish-congregation/) **Published:** February 28, 2024 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Orthodox Synagogue Websites --- ### [Adas Yeshurun Synagogue](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/adas-yeshurun-synagogue/) **Published:** February 28, 2024 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Boca Jewish Center](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/boca-jewish-center/) **Published:** January 23, 2024 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Orthodox Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation B'nai Jehudah](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-bnai-jehudah/) **Published:** January 10, 2024 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Temple Beth Am](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-beth-am-3/) **Published:** December 22, 2023 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Sinai](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-sinai-2/) **Published:** July 18, 2023 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Rodef Sholom Temple](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/rodef-sholom-temple/) **Published:** July 18, 2023 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Finchley Progressive Synagogue](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/finchley-progressive-synagogue/) **Published:** July 18, 2023 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Congregation Beth Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-beth-israel-3/) **Published:** July 14, 2023 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Independent Synagogues --- ### [Jewish Congregation of Venice](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/jewish-congregation-of-venice/) **Published:** May 26, 2023 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Independent Synagogues --- ### [Melville Jewish Center](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/melville-jewish-center/) **Published:** May 16, 2023 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Congregation Kol Haverim](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-kol-haverim/) **Published:** May 5, 2023 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Temple Isaiah](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-isaiah/) **Published:** May 2, 2023 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Congregation B'nai Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-bnai-israel/) **Published:** March 20, 2023 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Orthodox Synagogue Websites --- ### [Oraynu](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/oraynu/) **Published:** February 10, 2023 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Humanistic Synagogue Websites --- ### [Shaare Torah](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/shaare-torah/) **Published:** January 24, 2023 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Beth El](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-beth-el-4/) **Published:** January 21, 2022 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Anshe Emet Memorial Temple](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/anshe-emet-memorial-temple/) **Published:** February 14, 2022 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Congregation Or HaTzafon](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-or-hatzafon/) **Published:** March 11, 2022 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Congregation Ner Tamid](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-ner-tamid/) **Published:** March 11, 2022 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Ohev Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/ohev-shalom/) **Published:** March 18, 2022 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Beth Am Synagogue](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/beth-am-synagogue/) **Published:** March 29, 2022 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [West End Temple Sinai Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/west-end-temple-sinai-congregation/) **Published:** March 29, 2022 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Temple Emanuel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-emanuel/) **Published:** June 10, 2022 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Congregation Shearith Israel](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/congregation-shearith-israel/) **Published:** June 24, 2022 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Orthodox Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Etz Chaim](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-etz-chaim/) **Published:** July 1, 2022 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Aliyah](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-aliyah/) **Published:** September 13, 2022 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-beth-ahm-yisrael/) **Published:** September 13, 2022 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Temple Beth Am](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-beth-am-2/) **Published:** September 13, 2022 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Temple Rodef Shalom](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/temple-rodef-shalom/) **Published:** September 13, 2022 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Reform Temple Websites --- ### [Beth El Congregation](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/beth-el-congregation/) **Published:** January 16, 2023 **Author:** Hirsch Fishman **Content:** **Denominations:** Conservative Synagogue Websites --- ### [Bet Knesset Bamidbar](https://www.synagogue-websites.com/portfolio/bet-knesset-bamidbar/) **Published:** January 16, 2023 **Author:** Hirsch 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