By BETHANY PLUMMER-RICCI

This fall, the Bureau of Jewish Education and the Jewish Community Center of Rhode Island will launch a local branch of the Mothers Circle, a national outreach program specifically for non-Jewish women who are raising Jewish children.

The program consists of a course, national listserv and local drop-in events designed to teach Jewish customs and rituals to women who are intermarried or in committed relationships. It is meant to support and aid these women in their decision to raise their children in the Jewish tradition.

“We really want to be available to as many people as we can be,” explained Kit Haspel, BJE board member and coordinator of the local Circle.

Funded by the Helene and Bertram Bernhardt Foundation, the program is entirely free, and participants will even receive free childcare while they are attending courses.

“It’s been an extraordinarily successful program around the country. Interfaith outreach is something that needs to be done in every community,” she continued.

When the Mothers Circle was first created by the Jewish Outreach Institute, it consisted of only one pilot program in Atlanta, Ga. Today, there are host organizations in 18 states, with many more still on the way.

In addition to spearheading the local program, Haspel, who has a master’s degree in Jewish Studies from Hebrew College, will be teaching the eight-month course. Beginning Sept. 18, classes will meet twice a month for two hours per session and will focus on Jewish customs, ethics and rituals like the specifics of practicing Shabbat.

Aside from their educational aspects, the national listserv and local events aim to help participants communicate with other women in the same situation and increase connections to their local Jewish community.

“There are many people who have made this decision who may not be involved in the Jewish community at all,” Haspel explained, who added that the many events would also involve participants’ partners and children. She has already recruited Rabbi Sarah Mack, associate Rabbi at Providence’s Temple Beth-El, to speak with the families and engage in a question and answer session.

Though the course content and events are still in development stages, Haspel said that many women representing a variety of religious backgrounds have already expressed interest in the Mothers Circle.

“Most of the women I’ve gotten a response from have been women with young children. There have been a range of religious backgrounds; Catholic, Buddhist, Protestant…Some of the people are not especially religious but want to instill Jewish community and Jewish culture in their children,” she elaborated.

For more information about the Mother’s Circle, contact Kit Haspel at (401) 331-0956 or khaspel@bjeri.org.