Center for Small Town Jewish Life Expands Efforts to Support Rural Synagogues

The program based at Colby College in Maine has grown to assist over 60 communities across 22 states.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 1:56pm

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The Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College in Maine is leading a nationwide effort to strengthen rural synagogues and Jewish communities. The center, founded a decade ago, now runs programs for over 60 congregations in 22 states, providing mentorship for young rabbis, training for lay leaders, and coaching for synagogue boards. As the number of synagogues in America has declined by 20% since 1990, the center's work has become increasingly vital, especially in the face of rising antisemitism in rural areas.

Why it matters

Maintaining vibrant Jewish life in rural America is crucial, both for the Jewish community and for the broader rural population. The center's programs help ensure that Jews living outside major urban areas can access religious and cultural resources, build connections, and find strength in the face of growing antisemitism.

The details

The center's work focuses on three key strategies: the Makom mentorship program for early-career rural rabbis, training for lay leaders to support congregations without a full-time rabbi, and board leadership coaching to help small-town synagogues thrive. These efforts have reached dozens of communities, from Maine to California to Montana.

  • The Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College was founded a decade ago.
  • The number of synagogues in America has declined by roughly 20% since 1990.

The players

Rabbi Rachel Isaacs

Executive director of the Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College and the rabbi at Beth Israel Congregation in Waterville, Maine.

Rebecca Stanfel

Executive director of the Montana Jewish Project, which has worked with the Center for Small Town Jewish Life.

Rabbi Lisa Rappaport

Leader of Congregation Beth Israel in Chico, California, and a participant in the center's Makom mentorship program.

Jeff Lovitz

A member of Beth Israel Congregation in Waterville, Maine.

Colby College

The liberal arts college in Waterville, Maine, that hosts the Center for Small Town Jewish Life.

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What they’re saying

“Rural Jewish life is important for the Jewish people and it's important for rural America. Those people deserve to be served and shepherded.”

— Rabbi Rachel Isaacs, Executive director, Center for Small Town Jewish Life

“In Helena, we have no choice but to rely on volunteers. And if we want to have something like a seder, High Holidays, it's got to come from the community. That is also a really important model for people outside rural America.”

— Rebecca Stanfel, Executive director, Montana Jewish Project

“We have felt very validated as rabbis in small communities that our work is as important.”

— Rabbi Lisa Rappaport, Leader, Congregation Beth Israel in Chico, California

“We've been here since the early '70s. Our kids went to Hebrew school here. I think it's important to have a Jewish community in Waterville.”

— Jeff Lovitz, Synagogue member, Beth Israel Congregation

What’s next

The Center for Small Town Jewish Life plans to continue expanding its programs to support even more rural synagogues and Jewish communities across the United States.

The takeaway

The Center for Small Town Jewish Life's efforts to strengthen rural Jewish congregations are vital in the face of declining synagogue numbers and rising antisemitism, helping to ensure that Jews in small-town America can access religious and cultural resources and build strong, connected communities.