Reply #72: About synagogue dues..... [View All]

[ikojo]

AlecBGreen said:
"p.s. The temple has dues? BOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Jews do not pass the collection plate several times (not even once) during Shabbos services. Jews are not supposed to carry money on Shabbos so there is no collection plate.

Synagogue dues help pay salaries for the rabbi, cantor and office staff. They also help pay the electrical and heating bills.

Generally dues are indexed according to income and family size (somewhat). The synagogue figures that a person with a kid is going to use more of its services than a single non childed person or even a married couple with no children.

Most synagogues will also work with people who cannot afford to pay all the dues.

Christians who are active in their church also pay dues but they do it more piecemeal than Jews, by way of the collection plate. Just think of all the "offerings" that are taken during an average church service.