At the Jewish Outreach Institute, we are always seeking new ways to welcome newcomers and lower barriers for those on the periphery of Jewish life. As a new Jewish year begins tonight at sundown, we take this time to reflect on our work.

This past year, JOI expanded the tent by…

• Helping over 200 communal professionals and volunteer leaders focus on who we’ll need to serve in the future at our Judaism2030 Conference in New York City;

• Assisting over 30 communities in meeting hundreds of people “in the aisles” of supermarkets before Passover with our “Passover in the Matzah Aisle” program;

• Helping over 300 grandparents connect with their adult intermarried children and interfaith grandchildren through Jewish cultural experiences with the help of our Grandparents Circle program and listserve;

• Distributing fun Hanukkah “Visual Guides” to over 8,000 households through 84 Big Tent Judaism Coalition members;

• Training synagogue front-line staff and volunteers from nearly 100 organizations in welcoming newcomers during the High Holidays, through a webinar and in-person seminar;

• Continuing to launch new Mothers Circles across the country, adding an additional 20 communities;

• And traveling all across North America, from New York to Canada to California, to meet with members of local Jewish Federations, JCCs, synagogues, grassroots and start-up Jewish organizations, and many others to continue the conversation on including the intermarried, engaging the unengaged and welcoming all newcomers.

We look forward to another year of continued efforts to include all who would be part of the Jewish community and hope everyone has a very Sweet New Year!