Rural Synagogues Find Support in Nationwide Outreach Project

The Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College helps strengthen Jewish communities across the country, from Maine to Montana.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 5:39pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a Jewish prayer shawl (tallit) repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the diverse and resilient rural Jewish communities supported by the Center for Small Town Jewish Life.A vibrant, pop art-inspired celebration of the enduring presence of rural Jewish communities across America.Helena Today

The Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College in Maine has launched an initiative to support and strengthen rural synagogues and Jewish communities across the United States. Led by Rabbi Rachel Isaacs, the center provides mentorship, leadership training, and other resources to help these congregations thrive, even as the overall number of synagogues in America has declined by 20% since 1990. The outreach is particularly vital as Jewish Americans face a rising tide of antisemitism, with some of the highest rates of incidents occurring in rural states.

Why it matters

Maintaining vibrant Jewish communities in rural areas is important not only for the Jewish population, but also for the broader rural American landscape. The center's work helps ensure that Jews living outside of major urban centers can access religious and cultural resources, build connections, and strengthen their sense of identity and community. This is especially crucial given the increase in antisemitic incidents, which have disproportionately impacted some rural regions.

The details

The Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College has grown to support more than 60 rural Jewish communities across 22 states over the past decade. Its initiatives include a two-year mentorship program for early-career rabbis serving rural synagogues, training for lay leaders to lead prayer and support congregations, and coaching for synagogue boards on managing small-town Jewish institutions. The center's work has been vital in states like Montana, where the Jewish population is relatively small and spread out, making it challenging to maintain robust religious and cultural programming.

  • The Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College was founded a decade ago.
  • Data shows there are roughly 20% fewer synagogues in America than there were in 1990, with the decline more pronounced in rural areas.
  • The Anti-Defamation League reported a nearly 900% increase in antisemitic incidents for the decade ending 2024, with some of the highest rates occurring in rural states.

The players

Rabbi Rachel Isaacs

The executive director of the Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College, who is leading the nationwide effort to support rural synagogues and Jewish communities.

Beth Israel Congregation

A synagogue in central Maine where membership has quadrupled over the last 15 years, and where Isaacs serves as the rabbi.

Rebecca Stanfel

The executive director of the Montana Jewish Project, which has relied on the Center for Small Town Jewish Life to help bring together the relatively small Jewish community in the state.

Rabbi Lisa Rappaport

The leader of Congregation Beth Israel in Chico, California, who was among the first to go through the center's Makom mentorship program for rural rabbis.

Jeff Lovitz

A member of Beth Israel Congregation in Waterville, Maine, who has been part of the community since the 1970s.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

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 a world of rising antisemitism it's more and more important that Jewish communities are joyful, strong and connected.”

— 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, Member, Beth Israel Congregation

What’s next

The Center for Small Town Jewish Life plans to continue expanding its outreach and support to rural synagogues and Jewish communities across the country, with the goal of strengthening these vital institutions in the face of declining numbers and rising antisemitism.

The takeaway

The Center for Small Town Jewish Life's efforts to support rural synagogues and Jewish communities demonstrate the importance of maintaining vibrant religious and cultural hubs, even in areas far from major urban centers. By providing mentorship, training, and other resources, the center is helping to ensure that Jews living outside of big cities can access the spiritual and communal support they need, which is especially crucial given the troubling rise in antisemitic incidents.