What inspired you to create eLEVate boxes for Temple Sinai congregants?

Back in April, my 90 year-old grandmother, who never missed a High Holy Day service in her lifetime, told me she hoped to be in services come September. I told her I did not think it would happen, so she asked what our synagogue was planning to offer. When I told her about videos or a livestream on the computer, she said it would be so unsatisfying. That stuck with me. How could we make being in our homes for the High Holy Days satisfying?

How did you answer that question?

We started with asking what is it that people feel when they are in Temple Sinai--what are the sensory and iconic elements of the High Holy Days for our congregants? At Temple Sinai, we say “every heart has a home.” So, we focused on the idea of the heart at home, hence our tagline “lifting our HEARTS from home.” From there, it was just a matter of what could achieve that goal of helping people feel the synagogue in their hearts.

Using design thinking to guide the process, we decided to infuse people’s homes with meaning and connection. We had a “scents of Rosh HaShanah” sensory sachet, guides for building a sanctuary at home with a poster of our ark as an option, worksheets to do during the services, and three packets to explore over the 40 days of Elul and Rosh HaShanah through Yom Kippur. We included a journal with prompts and resources from others like a haggadah for a Rosh HaShanah seder from Kol Haot and Amplifier materials on righteous giving.  

What were your takeaways from the process?

We were proposing a radically different way to relate the synagogue to its congregants. Congregants were touched by the intentionality of the gift, some even remarking that they put everything right back in the box because materials were so beautiful! That was only part of the goal, though; we also wanted congregants to explore the materials. Next time, we would build in weekly check-ins and offer more instructions. When all is said and done, though, the biggest takeaway is that this project was a learning opportunity for everyone. We can’t wait to see where it leads.