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They are coming together and, at their own request, learning more about Judaism." The demand for such services for converts has grown considerably in the past few decades. Whereas few people converted to Judaism in the 1950s and 1960s, later decades have seen a large influx in the number of converts. A 1990 Council of Jewish Federations study found that there are 185,000 converts to Judaism annually in America, made up of 70 percent who formally converted and 30 percent who adhered to practices but had not converted. The study also predicted there would be an esti- mated 200,000 such converts in this country by 2000. Support services for converts do exist in some cities; Philadelphia, for example, is home to the Jewish Convert and Interfaith Network. But most communities offer nothing, according to Sue Stettner, director of Detroit's Interfaith Connection. Besides the Temple Israel program, metro Detroit has two other groups designing programs and services to welcome and embrace converts to Judaism, and provide support and information to those considering it. One program is affiliated with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit; the other is run by a fledg- ling group of Conservative movement converts and Jewish-born mentors. Project NAOMI (Newcomers Affiliated through Outreach and Mentoring Initiative) is a new pro- gram of the Interfaith Connection, which is sponsored by the Federation and affiliated with the Agency for Jewish Education of Metropolitan Detroit. "It is a major step forward," said Judah Isaacs, AJE's executive director. "Ten years ago, we would not have had something like this. There has been a change in attitude in general (toward converts). Some of it comes from without and some of it comes from within. There is a greater accep- tance of the convert." The Federation program strives to help congregations create a welcom- ing environment through active out- reach. A mentoring program assists those considering conversion, as well as those who have converted. "We want to validate the fact that people who are making a decision to connect with the Jewish community will be welcomed," said Stettner, who is also heading Project NAOMI. "We are delighted that people are choos- ing Judaism, especially in light of the rising rate of intermarriage. We need the people and we need two Jewish parents in a family." For Project NAOMI, the Interfaith Connection will work with individual synagogues and temples to develop mentoring programs. Mentors sit with conversion candi- dates during services, and invite those individuals to their homes for Shabbat dinner. "By welcoming and outreaching to the Jews by choice, the mentors will invigorate their own learning about Judaism," Stettner said. "It will strength- en the ties to a congregation and make a congregation more inclusive." A small group of Conservative men and women, in conjunction with Temple Israel's Cooper, is assembling 60 welcome baskets to be given to converts at the Temple Israel Mikva within the coming year. The baskets will include candlesticks and candles, educational flip charts, resource books, kiddush cups, kip- pot, coupons for discounts at area Jewish businesses, tzedaka boxes, mezuzot, challa covers, holiday cards and a number of other goods, all wrapped in a bath towel emblazoned with the words Mazel Toy. All of the items were donated by area agencies, businesses and individuals, said Vivian Honig, one of the Conservative group members. She is a member cf Congregation Beth Shalom. "When newcomers move to our community, we give them a welcome basket," she said. "I think we need to welcome the Jews by choice as we would someone to a new home. We can also provide some of tools that make Judaism so special." The towels, donated by a private individual, particularly excited Honig. A friend of hers who'd gone through conversion had complained of being left dripping wet at the mikva submersion with no one to offer a welcome. "By giving them the towel we are literally and figuratively wrapping the newcomer right out of the mikva with welcoming gestures," Honig said. "Isn't that what we should be doing?" Fl