Two Bay Area synagogues made the cut this year in Newsweek’s inaugural 50 Most Vibrant Congregations list. Included in this new national ranking are San Francisco’s Congregation Emanu-El and Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills.
Congregations were chosen based on social and community engagement, growth of membership, outreach to youth, diversity of programming and programmatic innovation, dynamism of religious services and success of the rabbi.
The new list is an adjunct to the magazine’s 50 Most Influential Rabbis, now in its third year. Making the list for the third year straight, Emanu-El’s Stephen Pearce is ranked No. 32, up from No. 47 last year. Topping the latest list: Rabbi David Saperstein of the Reform movement’s Religious Action Center in Washington, D.C.
Devised by Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton, JTN/JTN Productions CEO Jay Sanderson and News Corp. Executive Vice President Gary Ginsberg, the rabbi rankings are based on such criteria as national profile, political influence, media presence, community leadership and impact on Judaism.
The entire 2008 listing of selected rabbis and congregations can be viewed online at www.newsweek.com/id/192476.