Co mmunity

Spirituality

ews

C1101

Helping Judaism come alive for newly
converted Jews and interfaith families.

Dr. Adam Coopei, born Jewish, and his wilt;
Carol, a converted Jew.

Israel, where she has served on a few committees.
Cooper completed a course for her adult bat mitz-
vah. Yet not until she went to the temple's
Introduction to Judaism class, to talk to students
hen Carol Cooper of West Bloomfield
about different opportunities for involvement, did
emerged from the mikva as a Jew, she
she realize what she really wanted to do.
found almost immediate support from a
After months of planning, 15 women crowded
group affiliated with Miami's federation.
into
Cooper's home earlier this month to hold the
The group met once a month in the privacy of
inaugural
session of "A Naomi for Every Ruth," the
the group leader's home to continue the path of
area's
first
formal gathering for people who are in
learning the members had started long before they
interfaith relationships, are newly converted or
entered the waters of the ritual bath. They asked
considering it.
questions of each other and found answers; they
"There was the Introduction to Judaism and
laughed together, learned together and grew
adult education and
together. In fact, it was one of the
0 It
MI
the adult b'nai mitzvah
things Cooper knew she would miss
classes, but beyond that
the most when she moved to
Ate
there was nothing — at
Michigan with her family almost two
least nothing like this,"
years ago. Her husband, Dr. Adam
ai
she said. "The temple
Cooper, serves the community as the
Newly c onverted Jews are
staff was very support-
only Reform mohel in addition to his
ive in starting this and
professional career as an obstetrician
more
open
arms
as
finding
staffing
it."
and gynecologist.
brace
their
new
faith.
they
em
Based
on the class
"When I left the Introduction to
Cooper
attended
in
Judaism class, I still felt like there was
Miami,
the
Temple
this big gap in my learning," she said.
Israel version consists of nine monthly sessions
"With this group [in Miami], I was able to learn
that offer practical information on home rituals
more in a smaller, private setting. It was wonderful.
and observances, holidays and life-cycle events.
And I missed it."
Fran Pearlman, Temple Israel's director of educa-
Adamant about continuing her learning in
tion,
taught about some aspects of Shabbat at the
Michigan, she and her family joined Temple

JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR
Special to the Jewish News

IV

s35

kza,

group's first meeting. Although she has experience
teaching the children of intermarried parents or
those with one convert parent, this was her first
experience in teaching the adults.
"It was fabulous," Pearlman said. "It was very
nice having it in a private home. It was very com-
fortable, very personal. People were very open and
willing to talk.
"It took a lot for them to come," she continued.
"But by the end of the meeting, some of the people
were exchanging phone numbers with each other."
It may be astounding to think that there haven't
been many similar efforts to welcome those consid-
ering, or who have recently completed, conversion.
Part of the reason that there haven't been more
efforts like Cooper's has to do with traditional atti-
tudes toward newly converted Jews.
According to a number of sources, a convert is
not to be viewed as being any different than an
individual who was born Jewish. Converts are, with
few exceptions, bound by the same laws, responsi-
ble for upholding the same commandments and
granted the same rights and privileges as those
born Jewish. Therefore, to point out that they are
converts is considered an injustice.
Rabbi Joshua Bennett of Temple Israel, who
teaches the Introduction to Judaism class with the
rest of the temple's clergy, said it is important to
remember that individuals are not solicited direct-
ly to attend Cooper's group. It is instead open to

12/24

1999

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