Become a member

In 2018, a new Jewish community launched in D.C. to complement the rich Jewish ecosystem of our city—a community that strives to be spiritually vibrant, radically inclusive, and reflect our vision for a world of justice, equity, and liberation. 

The New Synogouge Project was founded and continues to be built by and for families with kids, couples and single people, queer and trans people, disabled and chronically ill people, D/deaf and hard of hearing folks, interfaith families, Jews of color and white Jews, religious, secular, and atheist Jews, and anyone interested in exploring and experiencing Jewish life. 

Click here to fill our our membership form!

In our first year together, NSP’s founding members contributed time, talent, and financial resources to get our new community off the ground. Collectively, these contributions have enabled the hiring of Rabbi Joseph Berman as our spiritual leader. In our second year, we are looking forward to an even more ambitious expansion of our programming and offerings, including the design of a formal kids’ education program. 

But we can’t do it without you. 

Now is a special moment in our trajectory. Signing up as a member now - in 2019 - means that you will help shape our community in its second year and beyond. Members will have a vote in major decisions. You’ll have a say in our programs, our social justice plans, and our direction as a community. 

While everyone is of course welcome at services and social gatherings, members will have first claim on our learning programs, such as Rabbi Joseph’s Introduction to Jewish Practice course. Membership also includes guaranteed seats at High Holidays services. 

Becoming a member is a spiritual and political act.  In Jewish terms, membership is a brit (a covenant) in which we enter into sacred relationship. And as our community’s membership grows, our collective ability to create meaningful change in our city and the world grows too.

Now is a special moment in our trajectory. Members will have a vote in major decisions.

In our second year, we will learn, pray, and eat together (as a community and in our homes) over the High Holidays; hold three Shabbat services each month (a combination of Friday nights and Saturday mornings) and other holiday gatherings; launch several learning, arts, and justice programs; and create chesed/community care structures (e.g. meal trains and other support for people going through times of need).

For the 2022 fiscal year beginning July 1, our budget is $416,917. NSP has approximately 320 adult members, so  the cost per adult member is $1,250 per year, or $2,500 per year for a two-adult household. 

We ask members to pledge as much as they are able, guided by the table above and by NSP’s operating cost needs, and knowing that this contribution will vary across our community. For membership to be accessible to everyone, we need those who are able to contribute more than the average cost per member.

NSP recently implemented a new annual pledge model, and we will process membership renewals in May of each calendar year. 

 Some of us have capacity to give more to help get this community off the ground. And some of us are fellow travelers and supporters, who don’t plan to participate regularly or live elsewhere, but care deeply about fostering spiritually vibrant, liberation-focused, radically inclusive Jewish community. To create a strong foundation for this new community, we invite members, friends, and family who are able to contribute seed gifts at $10,800, $5,400, $3,600, or $1,800. So that we can lay a strong foundation we hope donors will consider making a multi-year pledge. We welcome gifts of any amount to help us launch this community - and if you know anyone who’d want to chip in, let us know!