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A new program supported by UJA-Federation A Taste of Judaism: Are You Curious? is helping to whet the appetite for Judaism among unaffiliated Jews and non-Jews in Westchester. This past spring six synagogues representing all four movements of Judaism — Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist, and Reform — each offered free sessions exploring spirituality, ethics, and community. The only requirement was that students not be members of a synagogue. Seventy-four people attended the three-session classes.
The Synagogue Task Force of the Commission on Jewish Identity and Renewal, and leadership of all four movements, “found a priority…on outreach to bring more people into synagogues,” says Dru Greenwood, director of Synergy: UJA-Federation of New York and Synagogues Together.
A Taste of Judaism was the result. The Union for Reform Judaism developed the curriculum, which Greenwood notes “has had prior success attracting unaffiliated Jews.”
Rabbi Jeffrey Sirkman of Larchmont Temple, one of several Westchester rabbis trained to lead the program, says there was “a sense of common purpose” among the rabbis from different denominations.
Students come from a variety of backgrounds, “beginners, Jewish or not,” Greenwood adds. Participants include unaffiliated Jews seeking their roots and interfaith couples starting a family.
Nathaniel Reckson of Hartsdale participated in the class at the Jewish Community Center of Harrison. “The rabbi really welcomed everyone openly,” Reckson says. “I have limited knowledge of my own heritage and this was something to do in a short amount of time…. I want to learn more…. It’s the first class I had in Judaism.”
Classes will continue in Manhattan in 2010. ♦
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