Temple Hesed · Scranton, PA

A New Way to Belong.
Fair Share Membership.

Each household will select the membership tier that best reflects its circumstances. — with full and equal belonging at every tier.

Effective September 1, 2026

Why This Matters

Synagogues Like Ours Are Closing.
We Are Choosing a Different Path.

Across the United States, congregations that have served their communities for generations — beloved synagogues, rooted in place, full of warmth and history — are shuttering their doors. Not because the people who loved them stopped caring. Because the financial structure underneath them quietly eroded before action was taken.

The pattern is painfully familiar: membership declines gradually, dues stay flat for years, costs keep rising, and outside revenue fills the gap — until it no longer can. And then it is too late.

We are not writing that story at Temple Hesed.

The Reality We Are Facing
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Nearly two decades without a dues adjustment Inflation alone has meaningfully reduced the real value of what we collect. The cost of everything has grown. Our dues have not.
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A smaller membership base than when dues were set With fewer families than when dues were established, Temple Hesed has been quietly absorbing more of the true cost of congregational life — year after year.
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Our tenant is departing in Summer 2027 Rental income that has helped sustain our budget will end. Closing that will require the community's ability to rise to the moment to help bridge the gap.
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Operating costs continue to rise Building maintenance, security, programming, and operating costs have all increased. None of it is optional.
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The real cost of congregational life Today, the average membership contribution across Temple Hesed is approximately $900 per household annually, while the actual cost of operating Temple Hesed is closer to $2,700 per household. The goal of the Fair Share model is not to bridge that entire gap overnight — it is to begin moving toward a more sustainable future, together. For years, rental income and reserves helped cover the difference. Beginning in 2027, a significant source of that rental income will end.
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When we lose a synagogue, we lose much more than a building. We lose a place of joy, of civic engagement, of belonging — a generator of community that makes a neighborhood more than a collection of private homes. — A reflection on what is at stake when congregations close

The Time to Act Is Now. While We Still Can.

The Shabbat dinners are growing. Social action is active. New faces are becoming familiar faces. The spirit of this congregation is very much alive. The time to strengthen Temple Hesed is now—while we have momentum, while we have choices, and while we can shape our future together.

Judaism teaches that community doesn't simply exist—it is built, sustained, and passed from one generation to the next. The Fair Share model is one way we do that. We need each of us to give what is genuinely reasonable—not the minimum, but what truly reflects what this community is worth to us.

Temple Hesed has been an anchor of Jewish life in Scranton for generations. With thoughtful stewardship, it will be here for the generations that follow.

The Model

What Is a Fair Share Model?

Temple Hesed's dues structure has not kept pace with the true cost of congregational life. The Fair Share model changes that — replacing a fixed amount with a self-selected tier that each household chooses privately and honestly.

The Fair Share model recognizes that every household's circumstances are different. We simply ask each member to choose the level that feels right for their household and helps sustain the future of Temple Hesed.

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Every tier carries identical rights, benefits, and belonging.

Why Now

Building a Foundation That Lasts

The financial structure that sustained Temple Hesed no longer reflects today's reality. The Fair Share model helps us close that gap thoughtfully and gradually—before it becomes a crisis—and while we still have options.

20 Years since dues were last adjusted
4 Membership tiers — each with full and equal benefits
100% Your membership selection is completely private and handled confidentially by our temple administrator.
Sept 1 2026 — new model takes effect

Membership Tiers

Choose the Level That Is Right for Your Household

Each tier is designed for a different set of circumstances. We simply ask that you choose the level that best reflects your household and its ability to support Temple Hesed. Religious school enrollment is included at every tier, with no additional tuition charge.

Member
For households on fixed incomes, navigating a life transition, or facing circumstances that make a higher contribution genuinely difficult.
$33 – $67 /mo
$400 – $800 annually
The Member tier exists to ensure that financial circumstances are never a barrier to belonging. No documentation required. No questions asked. Every benefit, every right, every welcome — exactly the same as every other tier.
Most Families
Supporting Member
This is the expected tier for most participating households. If your household is financially stable, we encourage you to consider Supporting as your starting point..
$125 /mo
Suggested: $1,500 / year
$1,200 – $1,800 annually
This tier provides the core support that sustains worship, learning, community, and Jewish life at Temple Hesed.
Sustaining Member
For families with the capacity to give above their own fair share, helping to sustain membership for those who cannot.
$208 /mo
Suggested: $2,500 / year
$2,000 – $3,000 annually
Giving at this level is an act of Tzedakah. You are making it possible for every family to belong — including those who cannot give as much as they would like.
Pillar Member
For those who choose to be a foundational source of support for Temple Hesed's future.
$300+ /mo
$3,600+ annually · beginning at double chai
This is dues and leadership-level giving in one. You are the foundation this congregation stands on — and your investment ensures that every family who wants to belong can.

What's Included

Every Tier. Every Benefit. No Exceptions.

All membership tiers carry identical rights and benefits. The amount you contribute never changes what you receive or how you are welcomed.

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High Holiday seats for all household members — no additional tickets required
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Religious school (Hebrew School) — included at no additional tuition charge
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Full participation in all services, programming, and congregational events
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Lifecycle support — b'nai mitzvah, baby namings, funerals, and pastoral care
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Voting rights at the Annual Congregational Meeting
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Belonging to a warm, active community — equal in every sense

Enrollment

How to Choose Your Tier

1
Look for Your Card in the Mail
Your enrollment card will arrive in early August with a pre-addressed return envelope and complete instructions. Prefer to go paperless? Click here to select your tier online.
2
Choose the Tier That Feels Right
Select the membership tier that reflects your household's circumstances and your commitment to this community. Your selection is completely private. We kindly ask that you let us know by September 1, 2026.
3
Choose How You'd Like to Pay
Pay annually or monthly — whichever works best for your household. Payment can be made by check by mail or online. Details will be on your enrollment card.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Will anyone know which tier I choose?
Your membership selection is completely private and handled confidentially by our temple administrator.
Do all tiers really include the same benefits?
Yes — completely. High Holiday seats, religious school enrollment, lifecycle support, full congregational participation, and voting rights are included at every tier without exception. The amount you contribute never changes what you receive or how you are welcomed here.
What if my financial situation changes during the year?
Please reach out to our temple administrator at any time. Membership selections can always be revisited as circumstances change. The Fair Share model recognizes that every household's journey is different, and we want Temple Hesed to remain accessible and welcoming through every stage of life.t.
Is religious school tuition really included?
Yes. Beginning September 1, 2026, religious school enrollment is included in membership at every tier — there is no additional tuition charge. Please note that membership is required to enroll your child in religious school.
What Is Considered a Membership Household?
A membership household generally includes all family members living together at the same primary address, including dependent children.

Adult children who have established their own residence are encouraged to maintain their own Temple Hesed membership. Likewise, parents or grandparents who maintain a separate residence are generally considered a separate membership household.

We recognize that every family situation is unique. If you have questions about your circumstances, please contact our temple administrator and we will be happy to discuss the best arrangement.
What payment options are available?
You can pay annually or monthly — whichever works best for your household. Payment can be made by check by mail or online through the Temple Hesed website. Details will be included on your enrollment card.
I have an existing arrangement with the temple administrator. What happens to it?
If your situation is the same, you are welcome to self-select the Member tier on your enrollment card — or simply call our temple administrator at 570-344-7201 and they will be happy to help. Your membership continues without interruption.
Who can I contact with questions?
Our temple administrator will be happy to speak with you personally. Reach us at templehesed@comcast.net or call 570-344-7201.

Thank you for being part of Temple Hesed and for helping build the kind of community people don’t want to leave.

Select Your Tier Online Contact Us With Questions

Enrollment cards arrive in early August 2026 · Please kindly indicate your tier by September 1, 2026