Big Tent Judaism

Tips for Newcomers During the High Holidays

With the High Holidays fast approaching (Rosh Hashanah begins on the evening of Sept. 8), many in the Jewish community have begun to make plans for celebration. Plane tickets have been purchased, dinner menus are being decided, and High Holiday tickets (if needed) have been acquired. In all of the chaos, though, it’s easy to forget that there are many among us who will be celebrating the High Holidays for the first time. These can be spouses or partners in interfaith relationships, Jews-by-choice, or people reconnecting after a long absence. What can we do to make sure the holidays are an accessible, inclusive and meaningful experience for them?

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Creative Options for Interfaith Families Planning a Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Earlier this summer, the Cleveland Jewish News published a guide we wrote for interfaith families who are preparing for a bar or bat mitzvah. In the guide, we identified five areas where synagogues and communities can include intermarried families in bar and bat mitzvah rituals while still respecting both tradition and Jewish law. For instance, while most synagogues don’t have well defined roles for the non-Jewish parent during the ceremony, there are certainly no laws prohibiting a parent from standing with his/her child and offering an English prayer or blessing at the beginning or conclusion of the service.

We were excited to see that our guide was recently picked up and published by the J. Weekly, San Francisco’s weekly Jewish newspaper. The re-publication points to the fact that more people are interested in finding out what they and their synagogues can do to help intermarried families feel more welcome and included in Jewish ritual life. We encourage you to share this guide with anyone you think would be interested because finding ways to engage intermarried families — and people of all backgrounds — will continue to show that everyone is welcome to stand under our big tent.

When We Go Out

(The following is a Word of Torah I wrote for the Jewish Federations of North America for this week’s Torah portion, Ki Tetze)

Each time I read this text, I have a sense that I am about to get last minute instructions from a parent or a spouse as I leave the house in the morning. The words of the Torah resound in an echo of something like, “It’s cold outside. Don’t forget to wear a coat.” Or perhaps, “Be careful of the potholes while driving.” While somewhat innocuous, these parting words reflect a rather profound supportive and loving relationship, last minute advice to carry with me on my way. Of course, in this week’s reading, the Torah does not seem to be concerned with the everyday. Rather, its focus appears to be on the ancient Israelites’ battle against its enemies, as well as what should be done when Israel—with Gd’s help—defeats its enemies.

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The Growing Popularity of Independent Prayer Groups

Prayer in the Jewish community has taken many forms over the course of its 2500 year history. From High German Reform services with pipe organs to the ecstatic prayer of Hasidic Judaism, Jews constantly seek to adapt their prayer to fit their historical and cultural realities. And the Jewish community has begun to adapt yet again. In the past ten years, volunteer led communities based on the havurah (group of companions) movement of the 1970s have sprung up all over America. Called independent minyanim (Jewish prayer group), these groups seek to break down the barriers that sometimes exist in synagogue life and build a more dynamic, inclusive community, especially for those on the periphery of Jewish life. This article at Msnbc.com provides an overview of the goals of independent minyanim and gives a glimpse into their prayer services.

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