THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
UAHC leaders implementing
`Outreach' conversion program
BY BEN GALLOB
New York — A variety of
programs are being put in
place in what Reform lead-
ers claim is the first formal
program by a major Jewish
religious group to encour-
rte non-Jews to choose
laism as their- "perma-
nent faith."
Approval of such a project
was given at the closing ses-
sion of the biennial assem-
bly of the Union of Ameri-
can Hebrew Congregations
(UAHC), the association of
Reform synagogues, held in
Houston last November.
Delegates voted to create
a permanent Commission
on Reform Jewish Outreach
which Reform leaders said
was designed to encourage
non-Jewish partners in
mixed marriages, and their
children, as well as "un-
churched" Americans, to
convert to Judaism. The
delegates acted in response
to information that about a
third of all American Jews
currently marry non-Jews.
For the past four years, a
joint task force of the UAHC
and the Central Conference
of American Rabbis
(CCAR), the organization of
Reform rabbis, has tested
books, study guides, films,
introduction-to-Judaism
courses, weekend dis-
cussions and other methods
of helping non-Jews to con-
vert to Judaism.
Project director Lydia
Kukoff of Los Angeles, her-
self a convert, provided de-
•tails on how the plans were
being carried out. "We have
provided a congregational
Outreach kit to every con-
gregational rabbi and Out-
reach chairperson which
tells them in detail how to
form their own congrega-
tional program."
She said this was in addi-
tion to the help the rabbi
and the congregational
Outreach chairperson re-
ceive from the regional Out-
reach coordinators, explain-
ing that an Outreach coor-
dinator had been assigned
to each of the 13 UAHC
regional offices.
The commission has de-
veloped a video-tape on
"Choosing Judaism" and
"we are creating a whole
variety of resources and
materials" to speak "speci-
fically" to the needs of the
program.
Another development
was creation of "a rich and
exciting basic Judaism cur-
riculum which is very re-
levant to the needs of those
considering conversion and
interfaith couples."
A model for a program
has been developed "for un-
affiliated interfaith
couples," those in which
"one partner is Jewish and
one partner is not and who
are totally unaffiliated with
the Jewish community at
present," Kukoff said.
One of the groups for
which the Outreach effort is
designed is the general pub-
lic, which will be ap-
proached with programs to
convey the message that
Judaism "is a living, mean-
ingful, spiritual religion
that welcomes all who wish
to embrace it." No efforts
would be aimed at adhe-
rents of other faiths.
Friday, May 4, 1984
M& !Z Floor Coverings
Special Purchase From Carter Carpet Mills.
100% Wool Carpet. Some Made To Sell For
$80.00 Per Yd. Very Heavy Wool Plush Carpet-
ing.
PARTIAL LISTING:
#79480 SPECIAL NATURAL
Berber Plush
12 x 28.7
#79472' SPECIAL NATURAL, BEIGE
Plush
12 x 45.3
CANDY STRIPE PLUSH
Grey-Peach
12 x 48.8
DANBURY
Lime Plush
12 x 48.2
BODMIN-WHITE WOOL
Fine Velvet Plush
12 x 43.3, 13.2 x 17.4, 13.2 x 12.6
MANY ROOM SIZES. ONE OF A KINDS.
All Priced To Sell! Way Below Wholesale!
23660 Grand River
Just E. of Telegraph
534-6020
Detroit, MI 48219
Bob Hirsch
Copyright 1984, JTA, Inc.
St. Thomas
Anne Klein
Piaget • Corum
Patek Philippe • Concord
Movado • Raymond Weil
Cartier • Longines Wittnauer
Citizen • Seiko
Leather Goods
40% OFF!
Orrefors • Val St. Lambert .
Kosta Bodo • Ceska • Avitra
30% OFF
Cross Pens 30% OFF
Crystal
50%
OFF!
Diamond
Stud Earrings
ct. was $2,850
NOW $1,710
1/2 ct. was $930
NOW $558
23