Defining the Role of the Non-Jew in the Synagogue: A Resource for Congregations Book

The success of the Reform Movement's Outreach to interfaith couples is evident in every Reform congregation in North America. Just look around your own congregation! Welcoming nonJewish partners and inviting them to participate in meaningful and appropriate ways requires careful thought and policy setting. What leadership roles should be reserved for Jews? How will nonJewish family members know they're welcome and how they can be included? This revised and updated edition of Defining the Role of the NonJew in the Synagogue draws on the experience and expertise of the past 10 years to guide congregations in a deliberative and successful policy setting process. The best of the two earlier volumes is included along with new chapters on the following topics: a sampler of the full range of current policies on membership, voting and governance, discussion and examples of a spectrum of ways to honor nonJewish family members at a bar or bat mitzvah, examples of the process of policy setting in congregations of various sizes, with policy, the special challenges of setting policy in small congregations, additional resources on affiliate policies, an index of Outreachrelated responsa, and more! If your congregation is just starting to study its general policies or if you are finetuning language for a religious school enrollment brochure or coordinating your WRJ policy with that of your congregation, this volume will surely be of assistance.