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jews d

in
the

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issues?

“There is a disconnect between
Jewish institutional leaders and the
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Too trusting of
prospect excuses
U Chasing prospects
who may never buy
U Not asking enough
of the right questions

U

Jodi Bromberg

continued from page 36

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38

February 8 • 2018

jn

— INTERFAITH FAMILY CEO JODI BROMBERG

sible to explore pursuing a
dinners and High Holiday
Jewish life and find a mean-
services. After years of living
ingful place to accomplish
within a Jewish congrega-
this.”
tion and raising Jewish chil-
At Beth Shalom in Oak
dren, converting to Judaism
Park, Rabbi Robert Gamer
for him seemed like the next
said the only time there
logical and natural step,
is an issue or a difference
and he is grateful to Rabbi
in working with interfaith
Aaron Starr for guiding him Rabbi Robert
families is during life-cycle
through the process.
Gamer
events when an aliyah to the
“For me, converting was
bimah is involved.
smooth and manageable, and it can
“Parents of a b’nai mitzvah are
be this way for those wishing to be
both invited onto the bimah, but
part of the Jewish faith,” Gawel said.
only the Jewish member says the
“What is at issue now is how the
brachah for the aliyah,” Gamer said.
Conservative Jewish movement can
“Both are welcome to address their
be inclusive to families to be part of
their congregations instead of finding child from the bimah. It has been
like that since before I got here eight
a home in the Reform movement or
years ago.”
choosing to not affiliate at all.”
Rabbi Aaron Bergman of
To reach out to intermar-
Adat Shalom of Farmington
ried families elsewhere,
Hills — which dropped its
USCJ last year partnered
affiliation with USCJ about a
with Interfaith Families, a
decade ago — said the inter-
Boston-based organization,
faith couples and families in
to pilot a program with 10
their membership are treated
Conservative kehilot around
no differently than other
the country. These con-
members in the congregation.
gregations created formal
Rabbi Aaron
At a ritual level, the con-
programming and policies,
Bergman
gregation includes the non-
such as special ceremonies
Jewish parent as much as pos-
celebrating decisions for
sible at life-cycle events, such as b’nai
interfaith couples to raise their chil-
mitzvot, within reason.
dren Jewish and changing language
“If a non-Jewish parent has
on synagogue websites, literature
agreed and supported that their
and even in their bylaws to include
child be raised as a Jew and gives
partners from other faith back-
them a Jewish education, who are
grounds as full members of their
we to say they cannot stand on the
congregation.
bimah beside their child as he or she
The only congregation in
becomes a Jewish adult,” Bergman
Michigan working in the initiative is
Congregation Ahavas Israel of Grand said. “However, it is not appropriate
for the non-Jewish parent to recite
Rapids.
the blessings for an aliyah — which
Interfaith Families CEO Jodi
basically declares Jews thanking God
Bromberg said, “There is a discon-
for God’s gift of choosing us as God’s
nect between Jewish institutional
leaders and the populations they are people and for giving us the gift of
trying to engage and bring into their Torah — if that parent is not Jewish.”
As far as taking leadership roles,
buildings.
Bergman said few, if any, non-Jewish
“Synagogues as a whole are fight-
spouses have offered to serve on a
ing a national trend where millen-
committee or run for a board position.
nials are questioning joining any
“It would be unfair and a disservice
religious institution,” Bromberg said.
to ask them to be involved in a com-
“They need to make the case why a
mittee, to work their way into a lead-
formal membership with their insti-
ership role, only to be told they cannot
tution is relevant to their lives. Our
be elected onto our executive board or
organization’s goal is to encourage
serve as president,” Bergman said. •
as many interfaith couples as pos-