[Dave25969]

I have noticed that some synagogues in the New York area have signs out front that mention purchasing tickets for holiday services. Why do they charge people to attend services? It almost brings to mind the negative stereotype about Jews being preoccupied with money. Although I try not to buy into that idea, I have not seen any other religious denomination directly charging people to attend services. Of course, many churches hold collections, and almost any religious group accepts donations, but those are voluntary, and the ability to worship is not contingent on the individual giving a specific amount of money.

User Detail :  

Name : Dave25969, Gender : M, Age : 25, City : Pomona, State : NY, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, 

[Me21871]

This has a dual purpose: Economy of space and fundraising for synagogues. Many Jewish people do not attend temple regularly, but come out in full force for the High Holiday services. Many synagogues cannot handle the amount of people who would attend. So they restrict entry to their own members via tickets. Most services throughout the year are not charged for, and anyone may attend. Again, the problem is accommodating the amount of people during the most attended services of the year. Additional ticket purchases help fund the synagogue as well.

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Name : Me21871, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 26, City : San Francisco Bay Area, State : CA, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Daniel]

Synagogues do not pass around a collection plate, either for Sabbath services or for the High Holiday services. Thus, the process of collecting has become more formalized; often, a significant amount of the annual budget for a congregation is collected by buying a seat. I think it’s easy to interpret this practice in a negative way, when contrasted with how churches collect money. But it is not bad, merely different. It is important to view it in light of the practical need for the practice. As the previous respondent pointed out, congregations are often packed to capacity during the High Holidays, and this is one way for synagogues to limit and predict the number of attendees. As to not allowing people to worship if they don’t pay, I have personal experience of having walked into a synagogue for the High Holidays and was welcomed without having paid. So while paying for a seat is the expectation, it is not a barrier to admission. You just have to stand or sit where someone left their seat for a while!

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Name : Daniel, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 44, City : New York, State : NY, Country : United States, Occupation : consultant, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[Emma R.]

When you join a church, you pay a membership fee each year, and you are also expected to put money into the collection plate at each service you attend. Likewise, when you join a temple, you pay a membership fee each year, but Jewish law forbids handling money on shabbat, so there’s no weekly collection. Instead, you are expected to pay for High Holy Day services in the fall. Those are the only services you pay for; there is no charge for regular shabbat services. So what’s the difference? In church, you pay as you go. In temple, you pay once, and after that, only for Erev Rosh Hashannah/Rosh Hashannah and Kol Nidre/Yom Kippur services. So you can safely lay to rest all those negative stereotypes about Jews and money. No faith community can exist without the financial support of its members. The only difference here is in how it’s collected.

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Name : Emma R., Gender : F, City : Los Angeles, State : CA, Country : United States, 

[Andy-B23932]

Also, anyone who is unable to pay the fee or is pressed for cash is always let in free without question at any synagogue I’ve ever heard about.

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Name : Andy-B23932, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 16, City : Sharon, State : MA, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Social class : Middle class, 

[Beth23190]

I’m Jewish but don’t attend temple and may not be knowledgeable enough about my religion to answer your question accurately, but here’s my take on charging for holiday services: It’s not that Jews or temples are preoccupied with money. Money is not collected at any service at the temple except for the two ‘high’ holidays, when services get jam-packed. In the Jewish religion, the ability to worship need not take place in a temple. Religion is practiced in the home and in daily life, and worship can take place anywhere. Not being in the temple or attending a service in no way inhibits a Jew’s ability to worship.

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Name : Beth23190, Gender : F, City : Raleigh, State : NC, Country : United States, 

[Leslie22880]

Jews are specifically forbidden to bring money to weekly services. How likely is it that they mail a check on Monday morning? So in order to keep the synagogue going they a) sign up members, who pay monthly and b) charge non-members for attending the High Holy Day services (usually the only time they come to services). If people can’t afford tickets, they can usually get a discount/scholarship just by asking.

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Name : Leslie22880, City : San Jose, State : CA, Country : United States, 

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