STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS

The Reform Jewish Community participated in a strategic planning process which heavily relied on interviews and focus groups as the primary mechanism for gathering input from the Canadian Reform community. To date, individual and small group interviews have been conducted with over 100 Canadian stakeholders representing nearly all 25 congregations, all affiliate organizations and URJ's Camp George. Focus groups with an additional 100 stakeholders have also been carried out, including with the Reform Rabbis of Greater Toronto, affiliate representatives, executive directors, educational directors, the Reform Rabbis of Canada, URJ Camp George, Reform millennial and youth, and specific groups addressing branding and social action. Representative documents such as the 2018 Survey of Jews in Canada were analyzed and relevant URJ data was reviewed to gain further insight. The strategic planning process also involved the iterative review and input from the RJCC Board and Advisory Group as well as the support and guidance from RJCC’s Strategic Advisor, Michael Miloff.   

 

There were numerous key themes identified throughout the strategic planning process about the Reform Movement in Canada. The data showed that Reform leaders across Canada pride themselves on their warm, caring, friendly, inclusive communities that are open to interfaith families, the LGBTQ community, Jews of colour and others. Reform congregations provide egalitarian worship services, spiritually uplifting music, Torah study and high-quality, accessible programs focused around Tikkun Olam, Jewish life and Israel. Overall, synagogues, Camp George and Reform affiliated organizations are vital and dynamic; at the same time, much work is required to reach the unaffiliated in order to further grow the movement.  

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STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

1.   Facilitate the development and implementation of a Canadian Reform Brand 

2.   Support congregations to be more sustainable and effective, and where feasible, provide similar assistance to URJ Camp George and affiliate organizations  

3.   Strengthen collaboration across Reform organizations 

4.   Support a national Tikkun Olam strategy with both national and local components 

5.   Promote teen and millennial engagement in congregations, partners and affiliates 

6.   Develop and implement fundraising for the Canadian Reform Movement 

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