Creating Communities of Mattering Across Jewish Life
Mattering
Belonging has become a central goal for many Jewish organizations, and for good reason. Feeling welcomed, accepted, and connected is an essential human need. Yet flourishing requires something more: the experience of mattering.
Mattering is the feeling that we are valued by others and that our contributions make a difference.
When people feel that they matter, they flourish. They experience greater purpose, well-being, and connection, and they are more likely to engage, contribute, and invest in the life of their community. Those contributions, in turn, strengthen the community, creating a virtuous cycle in which both individuals and communities flourish. Beyond Belonging explores how Jewish communities can intentionally cultivate this cycle by creating cultures of mattering.
Continue reading: Beyond Belonging: How Mattering Can Renew Jewish Communal Life
Where Beyond Belonging Began
Beyond Belonging grew out of my experience serving in a synagogue community that experienced remarkable growth.
Over the past decade, I had the opportunity to help welcome new members, create programs, train synagogue leaders, and build pathways for people to become involved in community life. Along the way, I saw something remarkable: when people felt valued and found meaningful ways to contribute, they became more connected, more invested, and more likely to help others find their place. And, they were happier.
My graduate work in the Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) program at the University of Pennsylvania gave me the language and research to better understand what I had experienced. Through my capstone research on cultures of mattering in synagogue communities, I discovered that what I had witnessed wasn't just belonging—it was mattering.
Today, Beyond Belonging brings together lived experience and positive psychology to help Jewish communities intentionally cultivate cultures of mattering where both people and institutions flourish.
Bring Beyond Belonging to Your Community
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Bring the science of mattering to your community through keynote presentations, conference sessions, and leadership talks. Explore how Jewish organizations can move beyond belonging to create cultures where people feel valued, needed, and inspired to contribute.
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Interactive experiences that turn the science of mattering into practical strategies for everyday community life. Participants leave with actionable ideas for cultivating mattering through leadership, volunteer engagement, and the everyday moments that shape community culture.
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Interactive experiences that turn the science of mattering into practical strategies for everyday community life. Participants leave with actionable ideas for cultivating mattering through leadership, volunteer engagement, and the everyday moments that shape community culture.