Beth Sholom Synagogue in Elkins Park is widely known for having the only shul constructed by the legendary American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Beth Sholom Rabbi David Glanzberg-Krainin said Wright’s work has inspired a nickname for the congregation’s physical structure.
“One of our nicknames for Beth Sholom is, ‘Falling Water East,’” he said, referencing Wright’s most famous building, a residence in rural Pennsylvania. “We call it that because a lot of his buildings have roofs that leak, and during a heavy rainstorm, the roof of our main sanctuary definitely leaks.”
All things considered, a leaky roof is a good problem to have for a synagogue at a time when many are facing declining membership and aging congregations. Glanzberg-Krainin said he thinks one reason Beth Sholom has been able to thrive is because they have created a dynamic environment for young families.
“Families crave connection, and they get it here. That leads to word of mouth, and that’s what helps build the congregation,” he said. “You feel it every day because there are tons of kids in the building and families coming in for programs and activities, and [the synagogue] feels totally alive.”
The Beth Sholom preschool, which has about 100 enrollees, has around twenty events a year, apart from the curriculum, that are designed to build relationships between families.
“We have family services, Shabbat dinners and more,” Glanzberg-Krainin said. “Our families come to these because they want to be together, and because we have invested in our staff to help create those programs.”
Glanzberg-Krainin added that this is especially important at a time when what used to be a largely Jewish neighborhood is becoming more diverse.
“The demographics of the Old York Road corridor have shifted over the past twenty years, and by percentage, there are fewer Jewish families living here than there were before,” he said. “But even after a period of some diminishment in membership, we are actually starting to grow.”
The synagogue has a little under 500 families as members, making it one of the larger shuls in the area.
In addition to the preschool, Beth Sholom runs a religious school that Glanzberg-Krainin said has a specific mission.
“It’s really about student-directed learning, and it’s very text-based,” he said. “It helps kids see themselves as Jewish, and gives them the tools to take these [Torah] stories and learn from them. What has kept us alive for centuries is reading our sacred texts and finding meaning in them for today.”
He said the work of the after-school program Makom Community in Center City inspired the school to add more project-based learning to its classroom schedules.
The school offers two different tracks for preschoolers, depending on the parents’ preference.
“We have both a Montessori track for families who want their kids to have a Montessori education, as well as a more traditional track,” he said.
But Beth Sholom isn’t just focused on accommodating its youngest members. The synagogue has plenty to offer for older congregants, too. Glanzberg-Krainin said the shul just founded a group to provide those 60 years of age and up with activities.
There is also something called the Center for Spiritual Well Being, which Glanzberg-Krainin said is designed to allow for exploration of alternative ways to connect spiritually, whether that be mediation, mindfulness or something else.
Overall, the feedback from the community on the changes Beth Sholom has made has been positive. Glanzberg-Krainin cited the fact that last year, 24 of the 24 families that saw a child graduate from the preschool either continued or adopted membership to the synagogue. He emphasized, however, that the Beth Sholom preschool is for non-Jewish students, too.
“Obviously, we hope for the growth of the congregation that a lot of our families are Jewish, but we welcome any family here,” he said.
Glanzberg-Krainin said he believes that fostering a safe space for Jewish families is more important than ever.
“The most important thing we can provide for young families is a sense of community,” Glanzberg-Krainin said. “At a time when the world feels more dangerous for Jews, with increasing antisemitism, we need to feel a sense of belonging, and feel like we are connected.”
