Abstract This study examines the application of ethnographic methodology to contemporary American synagogue life, drawing inspiration from early 20th-century Jewish ethnographic expeditions. The research methodology involves engaging lay community members as participant-observers to document and describe synagogue culture through systematic collection of artifacts, accounts, and observations. Following the model established by S. An-Ski's 1911-1914 expeditions in Eastern Europe and the subsequent YIVO Jewish Ethnographic Society, the author conducted pilot studies across multiple synagogue communities, establishing local steering committees to gather materials including photographs, personal narratives, bulletins, and detailed descriptions of synagogue practices. The study focuses on three primary ethnographic dimensions: material culture (architecture, ritual objects, spatial organization), social culture (community networks, attendance patterns, conflict resolution), and spiritual culture (liturgical variations, musical traditions, devotional practices). Preliminary findings reveal rich documentation of contemporary Jewish life that provides both historical preservation and enhanced cultural self-awareness among participants. The research demonstrates that synagogues function as primary sites of Jewish community interaction in America, serving as "living museums" where traditional and contemporary practices intersect. The methodology successfully engaged community members as ethnographers of their own cultural experience, generating substantial documentation comparable to historical archives. The study concludes that systematic ethnographic documentation of American synagogue life is essential for preserving contemporary Jewish culture and recommends establishing formal archives for ongoing collection efforts.