The High Plains Society
for
Applied Anthropology
Building on a triad model of change, loss, and grief, I descibe the ways in which I assisted the members of a mid-western American Jewish synagogue in dealing with potentially traumatic transitions affecting the life of the congregation. Would it, in fact, survive? As what? Could the members let go of their dearly held notion of an earlier "Golden Age"? AN account of the consultation is presented, one that provides so-called touchstones that will enable skilled applied anthropologists to conduct similar organizational consultations. I describe my work with an organization in the throes of change. Specifically, I describe and analyze steps in discovering that the synangogue was attempting to enact a "ghost dance" in the service of restoring a "golden age" and in helping the organization begin to mourn its irreparable losses. 
Vol.26_No.2_2006_Stein_118-128.pdf

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