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Congregation Beth Or

As you can see below, we offer many programs that assist our congregants and the unaffiliated in their Jewish journey. Our lifelong learning program has expanded to include all levels of learning - including 3 different Hebrew classes, holiday how-to workshops, Intro to Judaism, December Dilemma and The Mothers Circle. We currently have two Mothers Circle groups with approximately 10 mothers in each group. Our rabbi is considering leading a Grandparents Circle this winter (we have already received materials).

In addition, we offered Stepping Stones 2 years in a row. Unfortunately, we do not have enough families to run with it this year, but hope to recruit more next year. We also are working on an ambassador/buddy program in the form of a Connectors Committee. This committee is working on identifying "connectors" in the synagogue and matching them up with families who want to integrate themselves into our community.

Our synagogue offers membership discounts to preschool families and High Holiday tickets to all preschool families - members or unaffiliated. Congregation Beth Or is also pleased to announce that we were chosen from among a number of synagogues who applied to participate in the newly launched “Judge Harold and Renee Berger Synagogue Network for Young Families.” This is an initiative of the Jewish Outreach Partnership of Philadelphia (the same folks who have brought us Synaplex, One Book One Jewish Community, and the Reshet Networks), which is bringing together five synagogues across the area to focus on the issue of encouraging and facilitating synagogue affiliation among young families. A team comprised of lay and professional staff from each of the five synagogues (we are the only Reform synagogue selected) will meet throughout the year with experts in the areas of marketing, programming and finance to work on creative and experimental ways to encourage young families to affiliate with formal synagogue life (and ways to sensitize the synagogue to the many barriers to affiliation).

We are looking forward to being a part of Big Tent Judaism Coalition as well.

Programs We Offer to Open Our Tent

  • Interfaith Couples Group/Counseling/Events > "December Dilemma" Discussions
  • Parents of Intermarried > "Grandparents Circle"
  • "Stepping Stones"
  • "Synaplex"
  • "Taste of Judaism"
  • "The Mothers Circle"
  • Adult Children and Grandchildren of Intermarriage
  • Adult Education
  • Beginner Hebrew Classes
  • Financial Needs/Incentives (offered without requiring newcomers to ask first)
  • Holiday How-To Workshops
  • Interfaith Couples Group/Counseling/Events
  • Introduction to Judaism/"Derekh Torah"
  • Beginner Hebrew Classes > Learners Shabbat
  • Mentor Programs
  • Parents of Intermarried
  • Financial Needs/Incentives (offered without requiring newcomers to ask first) > Publicly-Advertised Membership Discounts
  • Single Parents
  • Staff Sensitivity Training

Affiliation

Reform 		Congregation Beth Or

  • 239 Welsh Road
    Maple Glen, PA 19002
  • (215) 646-5806 phone
    (215) 646-0173 fax
  • www.bethor.org
Contact Person
Elisa Heisman, Program Director
eheisman@bethor.org