New website will rate rabbis’ pulpit performance

AJN STAFF

SENIOR rabbis have expressed concern over the establishment of a new government-sponsored league table, which will see their synagogues ranked according to the quality of their sermons.

Based on the controversial My School website, the My Shul website is due to be launched in May by the Australian Faith Institute (AFI).

Among the factors determining how a synagogue fares is the length of the rabbi’s sermon, the number of references to the week’s parshah and -— based on a questionnaire provided to congregants -— just how interesting it is.

Shuls will also be graded according to the musical ability of their respective chazans, with volume, pitch and choice of tunes all influencing the overall mark.

Independent assessors are expected to attend synagogues across the country over the Pesach and Shavuot period to collate the relevant data. Initial rankings will be posted shortly after the festivals.

A further study later this year, detailing the number of congregants in each community, as well as the quality of their kiddushes, will then be factored in to complete the final league table.

Jewish adviser to the institute Mordy Felstein told The AJN: “As with My School, My Shul will seek to compare like with like, so the socio-economic status of each synagogue will be considered.”

He added: “If congregants are having to pay membership fees, surely they’re entitled to know they’re getting value for money and what they could get if they shopped around. This will help them to make informed choices, as well as encouraging synagogues to see them as customers or clients who deserve the best.”

However, the proposal has not been welcomed by members of the rabbinate. Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence of Sydney’s The Great Synagogue said: “Our congregants should focus on Shabbat tables rather than league tables. I know my congregants feel comfortable in shul -— they always wake up feeling refreshed.”