Custom synagogue photo albums are wonderful resources for any temple community. They’re straightforward to create and offer a wealth of benefits, not least of which is a way to celebrate the important role a synagogue plays in the lives of its congregants. You get to fully customize not only the photo collection and layout, but also the aesthetic design of a temple photo book, ensuring it’s in line with your established branding, identity, and values.
The options for content and design are endless, and the rewards plentiful. Discover how Mixbook can help you with such a meaningful project.
Benefits of custom synagogue photo albums
These are some of the major benefits of synagogue photo books:
- Commemorate history: Whether your synagogue is historic or relatively new, there’s a story to tell about its founding and milestones up to the present day. Tell that story in a dedicated synagogue history book or as part of a broader photo book project.
- Celebrate a major milestone: A temple photo book is a wonderful way to celebrate a milestone such as a big anniversary, a newly refurbished venue, or the transition from a retiring rabbi to a new one.
- A keepsake: Make copies of synagogue photo books as gifts to patrons or new members of the congregation. The books could also be thank you gifts for donors or prizes for fundraising efforts.
- Reinforce your mission statement: A photo book is a great way to communicate your synagogue’s mission statement, identity, and values. Show what makes your synagogue special.
- Highlight programs: Use the photo book to let congregants know about all the synagogue’s community programs, facilities, and events, such as a day care, social hall, and musical performances.
- Sharing and social happenings: A photo book can be a fun communal project for the community, for example, a recipe book, or a memory book for long-standing community members and elders to pass along their stories.
What to include in a synagogue photo book
The specific contents and character of your synagogue photo book are fully customizable, but the following ideas can get you started:
Names & faces
An ideal opening page for a temple photo book could feature a letter from the rabbi. Include a photo, a welcome message, mission statement, and a short summary of the synagogue’s role in its community.
You might also include photos, names, and brief bios for cantors, board members, donors, and prominent community members. If you’re making a year-in-review book, consider honoring the congregants who have passed away during the past year. A remembrance page is a nice way to celebrate their memory.
Synagogue photos
Gather a wide-ranging collection of high-quality photos of the synagogue itself. Capture exterior and interior shots, any historic or impressive architectural features or artwork, and the various community spaces within the temple. Take photos of the congregation during services, individual congregants, and special rituals like weddings and bar or bat mitzvahs.
Collect older photos of the synagogue and congregation, too, if it’s an older establishment. These are ideal for content covering the history and background of the temple.
Shabbat services & holidays
The synagogue is arguably at its finest during High Holy Days services and other holiday and festival celebrations. Take photos during Shabbat services and special events, and dedicate pages or spreads to each holiday. If your synagogue photo book is going to be an annual project, include the dates for the next year’s services. This makes the book a handy guide for planning purposes.