Between the fall of 2009 and the summer of 2010, Synagogue 3000’s Next Dor initiative inaugurated four experiments in engaging congregationally unaffiliated adults Jews in their 20s and 30s. They were set in widely scattered locations across the United States (Washington, DC; St. Louis; Marin County, CA; and Miami Beach). All four adhered to the Next Dor philosophy of providing relational engagement rather than just a series of unrelated programs; but they differed significantly from one another. This report briefly follows each one’s trajectory. It analyzes the demographic characteristics of each site’s appeal, demonstrates significant Jewish growth in all four instances, and urges an expansion of the relational approach as a successful means of long-term engagement.

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