Assembly: we build community.

What’s the difference between a marketer and a community organizer? It sounds simple but it’s actually kind of radical.

In our latest episode of Assembling Community, we share a snippet from a recent conversation we had with dozens of community builders from across the country.

We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Marketing builds brands, not community | Podcast Episode on RSS.com When you push yourself to ask “who should I be talking to?” (instead of “where should I post this?”), you’re doing something that’s deeply Jewish. Our tradition has always understood that community is built person-to-person, day-to-day. It’s what we do together.In episode 2 of Assembli...

You have a vision.

Maybe it’s a new Shabbat dinner community, a learning circle, a volunteer cohort, a parent network, a young adult initiative, a neighborhood project, or a whole new ecosystem waiting to be born.

But how can you actually get there?

Our upcoming Master Class will break down the steps of how to turn a community dream into reality.

Join us in July for a two-part virtual event that will help you see your work with fresh eyes and sharper tools.

More info: https://assembly.community/lifecycle/

One of the most common questions you may get is also one of the simplest and hardest to answer: “So, what do you do?”

We recently held a workshop for community builders at the Greater Miami Jewish Federation about this.

The truth is: you do not need one perfect pitch for every person.

You need a few simple sentences that help someone understand: “Here’s who I am. Here’s what I’m listening for. Here’s the kind of community we might build. And here’s how you could be part of it.”

How does this land for you? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

“I’m realizing I’ve never really asked a question in an email…ever."

That’s what a rabbi said at a recent day of learning, and it’s more common than you think.

Relationship-based community building is about showing up authentically. And it’s also about actually making an ask of the people you want to recruit.

It’s as simple as: “Would you like to join for our new member Shabbat next week?”

(Notice how this question ends with a question mark!)

Our ED Erica shared about this and more at a recent training for synagogue leaders hosted by the The Jewish Education Project and The New York Board of Rabbis, Inc..

Between Pesach and Shavuot, Jewish tradition invites us into a remarkable journey: 49 days of growth.

As we look back on this period, we think about how day by day, step by step, we moved from the story of our freedom to the question of who we want to become.

It was so special to follow along as our community gathered for Omer Circles.

Today marks the launch of Assembly’s first-ever podcast, Assembling Community.

The idea came to us recently as our team reflected on all the amazing conversations we have every week with community builders, lay leaders and entrepreneurs across the country.

We often leave these conversations thinking about how we wish we could share some of those insights with our broader community.

Our new podcast will do just that – sharing excerpts from some of our most fascinating and impactful discussions.

We hope they’ll be helpful to spark inspiration and actionable insights that you can use in your own communities.

Listen and subscribe here:

https://assembly.community/podcast/

How can I feel confident and not desperate when I try to recruit people to our programs and gatherings?

A community builder recently asked us this.

We were so glad they said the quiet part out loud.

It all starts with self-awareness.

Knowing and leaning into your intentions is the difference between seeming desperate (because you genuinely feel desperate) and feeling prepared.

It helps you feel less attached to the other person’s response, and assured that what you’re inviting them to is amazing – whether or not they say yes.

How do you share about your role as a lay leader or volunteer when speaking to community members? We often get asked this question.

Here’s our take: Being open about your purpose actually helps inspire action in others.

Check out some ideas below.

Did someone say podcast? We’ve been working on something the last few months and we're almost ready to share it.

In May, we're launching a podcast featuring real conversations with Jewish leaders across the country. Honest, practical, and full of ideas you can actually use.

Stay tuned!

ICYMI: You can still sign up to host an Omer Circle through IYUN .

You bring the people. We provide the Jewish texts, thought-provoking questions and a guide to make it easy.

Click through to register.

Omer Circles - IYUN Omer Circles is IYUN’s annual, free 3-part series designed to help you gather a group and reflect meaningfully during the Spring.