NCEJ gives grants to synagogues and other Jewish organizations sponsoring programs that attract more new people to Judaism from all walks of life and backgrounds. We fund programs that help individuals and families celebrate holidays, build a Jewish home, and connect with others with similar backgrounds and experiences.

NCEJ funds programs worldwide to engage, educate, and connect interfaith couples, people interested in conversion, and others who want to explore becoming part of the Jewish community.

Our grants cover marketing, program materials, security, and related expenses for both single events and multi-session programs, traditional classes and experiential learning. For more details see our Grant Process page. For more details on our funding guidelines see our What We Fund page.

Chanukah Boxes of Warmth – The Beri Foundation, Ukraine

Recently Awarded Grants

“Introduction to Judaism” – Temple Beth El, Jersey City, NJ

Temple Beth El in Jersey City, NJ sponsors a 20-session Introduction to Judaism class, using the Union for Reform Judaism curriculum. It includes 2 dinners and invitations to numerous social, communal, and religious events. Students are encouraged to craft their own practices and perspectives. Adding to the intimacy of the group, participants occasionally meet in people’s homes, in addition to the synagogue.

“Because of this program, Temple Beth-El now has many members and member families who have gone through the program and are now active members. Many have converted and there is a social cadre of young people who call Judaism and our Temple home.”– Rabbi Leana Moritt

For more information contact Rabbi Morritt.

“Judaism Behind the Scenes” – Temple B’nai Torah, Bellevue, WA

Temple B’nai Torah is offering a 10-session holiday program, “Judaism Behind the Scenes,” designed for families that are new to Judaism, but open to everyone. It is a monthly gathering to help participants experience the foods, songs, and rituals of upcoming holidays. Families will cook/bake food related to the upcoming holiday; and then, while eating the meal, they will learn about the meaning of the holiday. Each gathering will take place 3-4 weeks before the actual holiday so that participants can use the skills/ information learned to be able to celebrate the holiday at home with family and friends.

“Our synagogue has become known in the Puget Sound area as an ‘entryway’ to Judaism for folks interested in exploring Jewish life.”– Rabbi Mollie Wiesel

For more information contact Rabbi Mollie Weisel.

“Stepping into the Seasons: Introduction to the Jewish Holidays” – Mittleman JCC/PJ Library, Portland, OR

This 4-session program series, sponsored by the Mittleman JCC/PJ Library, invites interfaith families to explore Jewish holiday traditions. Each 90-minute event, held on a weekday evening, will offer an opportunity for families to learn and engage together. Each session parents will learn about a specific holiday and discover ways to incorporate these traditions into their own family lives. Children will enjoy a craft activity directly related to the holiday being celebrated.

For more information contact Lisa Katon, Donor Relations/Grants Specialist.

Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism – Tu Bshvat

See Examples of Recently Funded Grants

Check out our resource pages, containing descriptions of recently funded grants for Judaism 101, holiday, and interfaith engagement programs. Scroll through for program ideas, marketing suggestions, and advice on what worked well.

Our program profile pages are chock-full of examples of recently-funded projects, ranging from Judaism 101 classes to holiday workshops for interfaith families. To get ideas that you can use in your community see our profile pages:

Fostering a Welcoming & Educational Pathway to Judaism
Introduction to Jewish Traditions

Celebrating and Connecting Newcomers to Jewish Life
Holiday Programming

Connecting Interfaith Families to Judaism
Interfaith/Intercultural Engagement

Our grants can help you connect new people to Judaism and your organization.

Recently Awarded Grants

Sign Up For Our Grants Letter Today

Keep abreast of new funding opportunities by signing up for our newsletter: sign up for our newsletter.

Chag Sameach!

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Top photo – Mishkan Chicago: celebration held at Shabbat for all the people welcomed into Judaism.

The post NCEJ Grants Help More Groups Offer Intro and Interfaith Engagement Programs appeared first on National Center to Encourage Judaism.

We fund Judaism 101, interfaith engagement, and holiday programs; single session events and multi-month courses; and hands-on learning and traditional classes. We support a wide variety of programs that introduce new people to the joys of Judaism.

We reimburse for marketing, security, program materials, and some staff expenses. For our grant guidelines and other details see our Grant Process page. For more details on our funding guidelines see our What We Fund page.

NCEJ Grants Help Groups Offer Holiday Programming for Multifaith/Multicultural Families

An NCEJ Grant Helped JEWISHColorado in Denver Expand the Audience for Its “Nosh and Dessert Seder” This Past Spring

“Nosh and Dessert Seder” – JEWISHColorado, Denver

Before the Seder began, families met each other and did a mitzvah project together. For the children there were Passover-themed activities and a PJ-library sponsored story time. During the Seder everyone who wanted could participate, and a music educator incorporated singing into the program. Families were invited to take the haggadahs home and each child received a kid-sized Seder plate as a gift.

“We never imagined doing a Seder at our house and now we feel comfortable not only doing one but also inviting another family to join us.”– participant

Jewish Explorers Passover Haggadah (PDF)

For more information contact Cindy Coons.

For Over 40 Years NCEJ Has Supported Organizations Offering Basic Judaism Courses

NCEJ recently gave a grant to Central Reform Temple, located in South Boston, for its “Join Our Jewish Family” program

“Join Our Jewish Family” – Central Reform Temple, Boston

Central Reform has noticed an increase in inquiries from people interested in conversion. The grant will be used for producing a webpage and flyer for the program as well as a guide to the congregation.

For more information contact Rabbi Dr Michael Shire.

Recent New Grants

• Astoria Synagogue, New York – Pathways to Judaism
• Temple Brith Achim, PA – Shabbat celebrations
• JEWISHcolorado – Shabbat family programming
• New London Synagogue, Great Britain — Conversion program
• JCC Budapest, Hungary – Judaism 101 videos
• Schechter Institute Ukraine–Conversion Seminar
• Hillel Kyiv – Basic Judaism videos

NCEJ funds programs worldwide to engage, educate, and connect interfaith couples, people interested in conversion, and others who want to explore becoming part of the Jewish community. To learn about future grant opportunities sign up for our newsletter.

Photos above courtesy of JEWISHcolorado, Jewish Explorers.

The post Grants Available Now for Fall Programs Connecting New People to Judaism appeared first on National Center to Encourage Judaism.

We fund a variety of programs for individuals interested in conversion, interfaith families and others who are just beginning to explore Jewish life and culture. Our grant-giving focuses in 3 major areas: a) Introduction to Jewish Traditions, b) Interfaith Engagement, and c) Holidays. We give grants to synagogues, JCCs/federations, national and international groups, and nonprofit organizations. For information on the type of programs we have funded, see our Program Profile pages.

Hillel Buffalo receives NCEJ grant for a new “Introduction to Jewish Life” program

“Introduction to Jewish Life” – Hillel Buffalo, New York City

The 8-session Introduction to Jewish Life program offers an accessible and welcoming entry point for individuals who are new to Judaism or have limited exposure to Jewish life. By offering a supportive, interactive learning environment, the program helps participants explore key aspects of Jewish identity, history, and tradition. Through discussions and engaging lessons, students will gain a deeper understanding of Jewish heritage and develop a meaningful connection to its traditions.

Hillel Buffalo, New York City

An NCEJ grant given to the Marlene Meyerson JCC in Manhattan will be used to offer a new Basic Judaism course to residents of Northern Manhattan (including Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood)

“Basic Judaism” – Marlene Meyerson JCC, New York City

Basics is an experiential course introducing the principles, theology, literature, and ritual/spiritual practices of Judaism through discussions and exposure to traditional texts, contemporary readings, and Jewish experiences to those exploring conversion, interfaith families and couples, and others interested in learning more about Judaism. This course is based on the Miller Introduction to Judaism course, and offered in partnership with the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, JCC Harlem, YM&YWHA of Washington Heights & Inwood, and in consultation with local synagogues. The facilitator for the program is Rabbi Mira Riera, JCC Harlem’s Rabbi-in-Residence, and the first Filipino-American woman to be ordained at JTS. This course has never before been offered to residents of northern Manhattan.

NCEJ funds programs worldwide to engage, educate, and connect interfaith couples, people interested in conversion, and others who want to explore becoming part of the Jewish community. To learn about future grant opportunities sign up for our newsletter.

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Considering sponsoring an Intro or conversion class in 2023? If you charge less than $18 per person per session you could receive additional funding from NCEJ!

NCEJ offers grants to synagogues, JCCs, and other Jewish nonprofits that provide programming that welcomes new people to Judaism. We give grants for marketing, program materials, and other expenses that help individuals and families establish a Jewish identity and create a Jewish home.

We want to encourage groups to offer Intro and conversion classes at a lower cost than they might otherwise, to widen the audience and reduce potential barriers to participation. Apply by January 31 and if the per-person charge for each session is under $18, your organization could be eligible for a bonus of up to 18% (up to a maximum of $1,000). For example, you could offer a 10-session course for $175, or a 6-session course for $100. For examples of recently funded projects, see our “Introduction to Jewish Traditions” profile page.

What We Fund

We fund a mix of advertising methods, to help grantees reach more people and increase attendance. Examples of promotional materials we have funded recently include:

We cover a variety of program materials, including:

NCEJ has funded translations in Spanish, French, and Portuguese for Intro to Judaism and conversion classes, and given grants for programs located in over a dozen countries.

We also reimburse for security and some staff and technology costs.

Recently Funded Judaism 101 And Conversion Programs

Community Wide Course: Judaism for Conversion Candidates – Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City

RAKC’s year-long 36-week course is taught on a rotating basis by rabbis from the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox movements and is intended to acquaint those considering conversion to Judaism with what it means to live Jewishly. The course cost is $250 (including textbooks).

This program provides a comprehensive forum to engage, educate and connect potential Jews-by-choice to Judaism, and guides them in learning how to create a Jewish home. Students gain insight on a wide range of topics, presented from the perspective of all three major denominations.

Judaism for Conversion Candidates – Simply KC magazine ad

“By combining community resources students gain a much stronger and richer experience as they explore their spiritual journey.” – Annette Fish, Administrator/Program Director

Each class includes a 30-minute Hebrew component. Hands on extra-curricular activities enhance Jewish learning as students take part in a Shabbat worship service, Chanukah celebration, and Passover Seder, and are provided with ritual kits that help them observe and celebrate Jewish holidays.

Marketing: The class is promoted through print and digital advertising, including 2 local monthly Kansas City magazines, Google ads, the RAKC website, and social media. The magazines created the ad featured here for the consortium.

For details contact Annette Fish, Administrator.

“Seeking Judaism” – Institute of Southern Jewish Life, Jackson, MS

The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL) is dedicated to serving even the smallest Jewish communities in the South. ISJL employs a staff rabbi who visits places too small to have their own local Jewish clergy. NCEJ gave a grant earlier this year to help ISJL expand outreach to potential conversion students.

The rabbi now has 8 conversion students, with more requests continuing to come in. This represents an increase of 300% over the past three years. (In prior years there were only l-2 active conversion students per year). This number does not include program participants, inquiries, or referrals to other programs such as the Union of Reform Judaism’s Introductory Judaism class.

Marketing: The marketing team used Canva Pro to enhance its promotional efforts. Marketing included Instagram and Facebook posts introducing the rabbi and mentioning conversion opportunities.

“The exponential increase in conversion requests truly seems to correlate with our increased marketing efforts as supported by this grant.” – Beth Kander-Dauphin, Chief Strategy Officer

For more information contact Beth Kander-Dauphin.

To see examples of effective marketing techniques from our grantees see our Marketing Gallery.

Conversion Class – Temple B’nai Israel, Monroe, LA

Temple B’nai Israel offers a 10-month conversion class every year, followed by a formal conversion to Judaism led by the congregation’s part-time rabbi, Rabbi Judy Ginsburgh. The class met 1-2 times a month in 2021-2022, mostly on Zoom. In addition to books the students also received 4 holiday ritual kits to make it easier for them to celebrate holidays at home. The program cost $600.

“As a Rabbi, I loved how excited these students get about learning and how they are sharing this learning and Jewish rituals with their families. I also like how all of them have already become active members of our Synagogue.” – Rabbi Ginsburgh

Marketing: The class was promoted using local bulletins, flyers and social media.

Temple B’nai Israel used the NCEJ grant to provide some basic ritual items to their students, partly pay for the cost of the books and materials, and help pay for security for in-person events.

For more information contact Rabbi Judy Ginsburgh.

Exploring Judaism Class – Mishkan Chicago

Mishkan Chicago has seen substantial growth in its “Exploring Judaism” class in the last few years. There will be 49 participants in the 2022-2023 class. The class is geared towards people who didn’t grow up practicing or identifying with Judaism—whether they are studying to convert or looking to bring Judaism into their multi-faith home.

There were 2 cohorts of the class: in-person and online. The virtual class enabled people who did not live in Chicago, or have a disability, or for whom it is more convenient to meet and learn online to participate in the program.

“It is a complete joy to be able to offer this program and bring so many people into the Jewish community.” – Rachel Cort, Executive Director

Marketing: Mishkan Chicago promoted the class via an email newsletter, social media channels, and word of mouth.

Follow-up Plans: Mishkan Chicago would like to establish a more robust alumni network so that prior students could serve as a resource for current students.

For more information contact Rachel Cort.

Miller Introduction to Judaism – Temple Beth Israel of Highland Park and Eagle Rock, Los Angeles

Temple Beth Israel (TBI) is offering the Miller 18 week “On One Foot” Introduction to Judaism class for $350 in 2023. The class will be available in both English and Spanish, geared primarily to residents of East Los Angeles who are interested in learning more about the basics of Judaism.

“Our primary goal is to welcome new people into Judaism, whether they be interested individuals, families, or non-Jewish spouses seeking to draw closer to their spouse’s tradition.” – Rabbi Daniel Chorny

Marketing: The congregation plans on conducting an extensive multi-channel marketing campaign, including the local Jewish press, Google/Facebook/Instagram, YouTube, and flyers.

For more information contact Rabbi Educator Daniel Chorny.

The Open Door: Stepping into Jewish Life / Intro to Judaism – Temple Israel of Boston

The Open Door Program at Temple Israel (TI), a large Reform congregation in downtown Boston, is an entry point for those who are looking to explore, rediscover, or connect with Judaism and synagogue life.

“Journeys to Judaism are vast and varied. Who you are and how you locate yourself in the Jewish story is a journey that all who are drawn to Judaism take, including those born into its heritage, those who choose it as their inheritance, and those whose legacy is love and who cherish the people in their lives who are Jewish.” – Rabbi Andrew Oberstein

Each semester TI offers holiday kits and a Shabbat dinner experience to Introduction to Judaism students. One of the goals of the Shabbat dinner is to help build community and foster new relationships among the cohort. Once the Intro to Judaism students receive the kits, one of TI’s rabbis leads an online discussion and talks about celebrating holidays at home.

For more information contact Shoshanna Goldberg, Director of Membership and Development.

Conversion Program – Congregação Israelita Paulista, Brazil

The main objective of the 1-year conversion program was to introduce the basic concepts of Judaism so that students could “follow their life within the community.” A pluralistic view of Judaism was emphasized. Teachers were from both the Reform and Conservative denominations.

“Judaism belongs to us because we study, live, practice, and feel it.” – Congregação Israelita Paulista

Marketing: The congregation used the NCEJ grant to increase marketing, and as a result attracted more participants to the program. The program was publicized on the synagogue’s website and on social media, and some printed materials were also produced.

For more information contact Beatriz Muller, Director of Membership and Development.

Promoting Judaism

An NFL football game this fall featured an ad from the Institute for Jewish Spirituality highlighting the benefits of Judaism. Read more here: “Going on offense: Why we ran an ad for Judaism during an NFL game” By Rabbi Josh Feigelson, EJ Philanthropy November 16, 2022.

Here are just a few of our recent grants:

Have an idea for a program but not sure if it’s something we will fund?

We welcome inquiries about our grants process. Reach out to us at 301-802-4254, or contact Ellen Gerecht, Executive Director.

Please tell your colleagues about NCEJ and let them know we accept applications throughout the year.

Top photo courtesy of Mishkan Chicago. Participants of their “Exploring Judaism” class.

The post NCEJ is Offering a Bonus for Groups Offering Intro & Conversion Classes – Apply Now! appeared first on National Center to Encourage Judaism.

NCEJ funds programs that help individuals and families establish a Jewish identity and create a Jewish home.

We fund holiday workshops, Introduction to Judaism classes, and interfaith engagement programs for both adults and families. We give grants for marketing, program materials, security for in-person events, and related expenses. For more details visit our Grants Process page.

We place a priority on marketing, and encourage grantees to use a variety of channels to widen the audience and attract a diverse group of participants.

Get Ideas for Successful Programs that YOU can use in Your Community

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Our new Program Resource pages are packed with profiles of recently funded programs from a wide range of groups, including synagogues, JCCs / Federations, national nonprofits, and international organizations. We provide highlights of programs focused on:

Introduction to Jewish Beliefs & Traditions – “Connecting Interfaith Individuals to Judaism”
Interfaith/Intercultural Engagement – “Fostering a Welcoming & Educational Pathway to Judaism”
Holiday Programming – “Celebrating and Connecting Newcomers to Jewish Life”

Apply Now—While There’s Still Plenty of Time to Plan Fall Holiday Programming!

We welcome questions, by phone or email. You can always reach out to us to make sure we received your application. Decisions are usually made within 45 days. For more details, visit our Grant Process page.

Jewish Women’s Global Celebrations 5781 – Rosh Hashanah

Here are just a few of our recent grants:

• Congregation Sha’ar Zahav (San Francisco) – Judaism 101
• Congregação Israelita Paulista (São Paulo, Brazil) – Conversion Program
• Midor Lidor (Israel) – Passover workshop for Kavkazi immigrants to Israel
• Miles Nadal JCC (Toronto) – Sing-Along Holiday Celebrations
• Kehillah RVA (Richmond) – Pop-up Judaism: Jewish Holidays

Please share this grant-giving notice with your colleagues, or pass their names on to us. We accept applications throughout the year.

L’Shanah Tovah!
Have a Sweet New Year

Top photo courtesy of Temple B’nai Israel-Monroe, LA. Participants of their conversion class being formally welcomed into the Jewish faith.

The post NCEJ is Increasing Funding for Programs Connecting New People to Judaism appeared first on National Center to Encourage Judaism.

• Introduction to Jewish Beliefs & Traditions
• Interfaith/Intercultural Engagement
• Holiday programming

We give grants to local, regional, national, and international groups, ranging from small synagogues to large national nonprofits. We have provided funding for programs sponsored by JCCs/Federations, regional rabbinic consortia, and groups affiliated with the Orthodox, Conservative/Masorti, Reform, and Jewish Renewal movements.

We reimburse for marketing, program materials, security for in-person events, and other related expenses. For more details see our FAQs.

We accept applications throughout the year. Applicants are notified within 45 days. To apply go to our Grant Process page.

NCEJ Supports Small Southern Jewish Communities

Institute of Southern Jewish Life receives grant for conversion and interfaith programming

The ISJL’s Rabbi Caroline Sim travels to small communities across the South

NCEJ recently gave a grant to the Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL) for conversion classes and traveling holiday programs. The ISJL serves a 13-state southern region and employs a full-time rabbi who works only with communities too small to have their own full-time Jewish clergy-person. Over the years, ISJL rabbis have facilitated many conversions. ISJL will use NCEJ’s grant to seek out more conversion students through targeted emails, social media marketing, and possibly print materials.

“ISJL supports, represents, and introduces Judaism on these visits in a way that is accessible, joyful, and community building.”
– Beth Kander-Dauphin, Development Director

Some of NCEJ’s funds will be used to support ISJL’s holiday programs, such as the Passover pilgrimage, where ISJL rabbis visit small Jewish communities, and the friends and neighbors within those communities. Some conversion students began their journey to Judaism with these traveling holiday events. ISJL provides the program materials, such as haggadahs, that are accessible to people regardless of their Judaic background.

For more details contact Beth Kander-Dauphin, Development Director.

Temple B’nai Israel Monroe, LA offers a 1-session Intro every year

Temple B’nai Israel offers a free 1-session Intro session every year. Every time the class is offered about 6-8 people decide to take the Conversion Class. Many of them become active members of the congregation. This year Rabbi Judy Ginsburgh hopes to offer the class in person (with an additional cost for security). She plans on serving traditional foods such as challah, kugel, and chopped liver to supplement the discussion.

Advertising: The program will be advertised on Facebook, regional newspapers, local magazines, and on the synagogue website.

Distinctive Idea: Rabbi Ginsburgh will serve the food on Jewish-themed paper goods.

“We appreciate your continued support of our efforts to educate people in small town Southern America.”
– Rabbi Judy Ginsburgh

For more details contact Rabbi Judy Ginsburgh.

Interested in Offering an Intro Course? Here are Some Programs We’ve Recently Funded

Curious About Judaism? – Congregation Ruach haMaqom, Burlington, VT

Ruach haMaqom is a Jewish renewal synagogue founded by Rabbi Jan Salzman, who developed the 10-session course. She has converted over 20 individuals in the last 5 years. Most of the synagogue’s members are interfaith, so a strong focus of the class is those who are not Jewish but are working to create a Jewish home.

Students are introduced to Jewish history; the Torah and the other sacred texts; Rabbinic modes of interpretation; rituals and holidays; life-cycle events; mystical and other spiritual traditions of Judaism; ritual, culture, music, food and dance; anti-Semitism; Israel; and other topics.

“A 10 week course that will cover the basics as well as the fringes, so to speak (that’s a tallis joke).”
– Rabbi Jan Salzman

There is no charge for the course, but donations to the synagogue are encouraged.

Rabbi Salzman is considering offering shorter courses throughout the year rather than one 10-week course, to better meet the needs of the people who take her classes.

For more information contact Rabbi Salzman. For copies of her book list and other resources Contact Us.

Introduction to Judaism – Congregation Keneseth Israel, Allentown, PA

Introduction to Judaism Haggadah & L’chaim glass

KI offered a 6-session Intro class in the spring for students who wanted to learn more about Judaism and establish a Jewish home. The course was team-taught by the rabbi and a variety of Jewish educators.

Topics included the Bible and other sacred texts, the Jewish calendar and holidays, life cycle celebrations, Shabbat, antisemitism and the Holocaust, Zionism and Israel. Concluding right before Passover, the final class included a model Seder with instructions on how to prepare for the ritual meal.

A portion of the NCEJ grant was used to defray the cost of a security guard each evening the class was held. The temple’s support staff and guest speakers offered their services gratis, and KI provided free handouts and materials to enhance the content of each session. In addition, the program coordinator brought home-made refreshments tied to the holiday being discussed.

“The foods always get rave reviews and students always ask for the recipes.”
– Martina Obenski, Outreach Coordinator

The class cost $30 for the public and was free to KI members. Each participant received a “Goodwill Giveaway” – haggadah and a “Shalom” mug, imprinted by a local merchant.

Advertising: The class was advertised in digital and print media throughout the greater Lehigh Valley.

Program Content: Session Summary (PDF)

Ideas Worth Replicating:

• Giving out Shalom Mugs to each participant.
• Serving refreshments including sweets that enhance the topic material (such as Challah and babka for Shabbat).
• Providing haggadahs for everyone.

For more information contact Martina Obenski, Outreach Coordinator.

Reaching Out to People Post-Conversion

Judaism 2.0 – Congregation Har HaShem, Boulder, CO

Judaism 2.0 is geared to people who are interested in conversion or who have converted in the last several years. The free 8-session program is designed to build community connections, especially important in a time of increased isolation due to Covid. Many of the participants have already completed the local Introduction to Judaism class. Mentoring is an important component of the program.

“One of the greatest things we do is to accompany people on their sacred Jewish journeys. For those who are looking for connection, inspiration, comfort, and community, we have been a positive, open, inclusive gateway.”
– Rabbi Fred Greene, Congregation Har HaShem

The clergy is developing the curriculum. It will focus on Prayer, Liturgy, Inspiration, and “Owning Your Judaism.” The program was developed because the congregation saw a need to provide greater support to folks who have spent much of their time beginning a Jewish journey online during the pandemic.

For more more details on the program contact Rabbi Fred Greene.

To be notified of the latest grant updates sign up for our grant news.

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We are flexible on format – we fund online, hybrid, and in-person – or a combination! Plus, you can change the format after your grant has been awarded — just let us know.

We give grants for marketing, program materials, and related expenses for Intro-type classes, interfaith family engagement, and other programs geared to people who don’t identify as Jewish who are interested in learning more about Judaism. We fund adult and family programs; single session seminars and multi-month series, first-time and well-established programs. Visit our Programs page to learn more about what we fund.

We prioritize programs that are promoted to a wider audience. This can include banners, flyers, and postcards, as well as digital advertising and email marketing. Visit our Marketing Gallery to see examples of the types of marketing we have funded.

There are no deadlines, and applicants will be notified within 45 days. For more details, visit our Grant Process page.

Congregation Beth Israel Vancouver Canada’s successful initiative to interfaith families includes some innovative ideas others can emulate

BI Neighbourhoods is a year-long program designed to engage young families who are new to Jewish traditions, including interfaith families and people who have recently converted. At each event, there is time for Jewish learning and education, suitable for all ages. BI also provides take-home baskets with Jewish-themed items to help families bring Judaism into their homes.

Rosh Hashanah take home kit – BI Neighbourhoods

The BI Neighbourhoods program has been successful in reaching interfaith families, and helping them engage with the Jewish community and synagogue life. The program connects these families to the rabbis, the synagogue, and to each other. The take-home kits are a tangible way of strengthening the connection to Judaism.

BI seeks to ensure that its programs have a “low-cost barrier to entry” so that it is extremely easy for families to join in.

“We are continually identifying new families that we can reach out to and connect to our programs… We try to send families home with new knowledge of traditions that they can incorporate easily at home.”
– Debra Bulmash, Coordinator

Hand-delivered Holiday Baskets

BI creates holiday baskets and delivers them directly to participants so that they can learn about Jewish traditions and have items available in their homes to celebrate each holiday. Hand-delivery removes an impediment to receipt of the kits, and helps families feel more a part of the BI community.

An Optional Program Fee

Last spring, for the first time, BI had a small suggested donation for the Passover kit. Approximately 70% of people paid $10 and 10-15% of people paid more than the suggested amount ($18-$20), helping to cover some of the cost for others, and the remainder paid $0-$5. Over 80 families purchased kits.

For details contact Debra Bulmash.

Miles-Nadal Jewish Community Centre Toronto to offer year-long series focusing on lifecycle moments under its “Jewish &” program umbrella

Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre – Sing-Along Workshops

This is the third NCEJ grant Miles-Nadal has received for interfaith/intercultural programming for “Jewish &” folks and families. Lauren Schreiber Sasaki, Manager of Jewish engagement and inclusion, noted that:

“We know that moments like birth/coming of age/commitment/grief are doorways through which interfaith folks are most open to stepping into Jewish life and community… We want to lay the groundwork for understanding core Jewish concepts and customs, (and) offer a warm welcome into community.”

Also new this year, Miles Nadal will be offering pre-holiday song workshops. There is nothing more joyful and uniting than joining a community in song, and similarly – nothing more isolating than not knowing the words and melodies to be able to join in. The sing-along workshops will serve to prepare newcomers to Judaism to join in in song and songful prayer.

Marketing: The program will be promoted through online marketing and creative social media campaigns – facebook/instagram sponsored ads, monthly Spotify playlists and a greeting card campaign.

For details contact Lauren Schreiber Sasaki.

Jewish Federation of Raleigh-Cary widely advertised its Fall “Jewish Essentials” class

Jewish Essentials kit – The Jewish Federation of Raleigh-Cary

Jewish Essentials is the pathway to Judaism for individuals in Wake County, NC who are interested in conversion as well as interfaith couples and others who want to learn more about Judaism. Jorie Slodki, Grants and Content Manager, stated in the application that “With the return to in-person classes, we want to advertise widely in order to ensure a robust class size.”

Marketing: The class was promoted through email newsletters, Facebook posts and ads, newsletters from local congregations, the ShopLocalRaleigh website, and flyers and mailings to potential participants.

The Federation also provided holiday kits which enhanced the experience of the class and helped make students feel part of the community. They included supplemental readings, a printed guide to the Jewish holidays, a mezuzah, and holiday items like dreidels and challah covers.

For details contact Jorie Slodki.

Looking for ideas that you can use in your community?

Recent Grants

• Congregation Sha’ar Zahav – San Francisco
• Jewish Silicon Valley
• Project Kesher – NYC
• Congregation Keneseth Israel – Allentown PA
• JCC of Greater Pittsburgh

Please share this grant-giving notice with your colleagues, or pass their names on to us. We accept applications throughout the year.

The post NCEJ Now Accepting Applications for Programs Starting in 2022 appeared first on National Center to Encourage Judaism.

Taste of Judaism® ad – funded in part by NCEJ.

Congregation Ner Tamid sponsors Taste of Judaism® every spring

In 2020 and 2021 the course was offered via Zoom.

Advertising: Ner Tamid advertises in local newspapers and via social media. Many people also sign up by word of mouth.

One participant from last year’s class commented:

“After taking this course I feel like I am one step closer to my goal of conversion to Judaism… but nothing compares to being in a learning environment with other students. I learn from others’ questions.”

For more information contact Heather Seltzer, Program Coordinator.

Temple Emanu-el Tucson Advertises Taste® Extensively

Temple Emanu-el Tucson (TE) held 2 sets of 3 2-hour classes via Zoom in 2020-2021. Each class normally includes literal tastes of Judaism, but in 2020-2021 due to Covid participants received recipes instead of food.

Advertising: The Union for Reform Judaism provided the social media advertising. TE advertised via synagogue emails, local papers (both print and online), and also on public radio.

What Worked Well – Tips and Advice:

Marketing and Teacher Styles

• The class was promoted using a mix of different marketing methods to reach a diverse audience.
• Students liked having multiple teachers since teaching styles varied.

Virtual Programming Compared to In-Person

The coordinator, Abby Limmer, commented that in-person offers a number of advantages:

• Students have the opportunity to taste traditional Jewish foods, which helps create class cohesion.
• She also noted that when she called students from her cell phone some wouldn’t answer because it was an unfamiliar number, whereas they would have answered if she called from a phone at the synagogue.

Format of Future Programming: Some Classes Remote, Some In-Person

Temple Emanu-el plans on offering 2 sets of classes remotely, and 2 sets in person. If Covid guidelines permit, TE will include literal tastes of Jewish food at the in-person classes. In the past, volunteers provided the desserts and the congregation purchased the rest (such as latkes and applesauce), which reduced costs.

For more information contact Abby Limmer, Taste of Judaism® coordinator.

Congregation Keneseth Israel, PA offers A Taste of Judaism® class every year

Martina Obenski, program coordinator, notes that Taste® is often a stepping stone into further exploration of Judaism. The congregation has found that 62% of participants register for their 6-week Introduction to Judaism class.

The NCEJ grant has enabled KI to market to a wider audience. In 2018-19 almost 60 individuals from various faith backgrounds were introduced to the core concepts of Judaism.

“As a result of these offerings KI has added 3 individuals to our membership roles. While this was not our primary purpose for marketing these classes, it is certainly a positive side effect.”
– Martina Obenski

For more information contact Martina Obenski, Outreach Coordinator.

Ideas Gleaned From Our Grantees

Richmond Kehilla’s “Interested in Judaism” online class featured a multimedia approach

Kehillah Richmond: “Being Jewish” banner (funded in part by NCEJ)

Rabbi Patrick’s “Interested in Judaism” program provided an introduction to Judaism education through materials available on their website, as well as weekly virtual classes. These classes combined people interested in becoming Jewish, as well as those wishing to learn more outside of conversion.

Students had the option to learn on their own using a variety of media (video, audio, etc), rather than relying solely on workbooks or other printed materials. Each week participants reviewed the “Being Jewish” learning materials available on the kehillah’s website, followed by an online group discussion.

“The NCEJ grant empowers a small congregation to do big things.”
– Rabbi Patrick Beaulier

Thanks to NCEJ, Richmond Kehillah has:

Brought eight new people into the Jewish peoplehood the last 2 years
Will be bringing in another 7 new Jews by the end of secular year 2021

For details contact Rabbi Patrick.

Temple Beth Shalom, Hudson OH plans follow-up to first Judaism 101 course

Temple Beth Shalom, located on the fringes of the metropolitan areas of both Akron and Cleveland, has about 100 family units. Rabbi Michael Ross has taught the course at previous congregations but this is the first time it has been offered at Beth Shalom.

“The grant enabled us to have a strong marketing budget which is essential to this program.”
– Rabbi Michael Ross

What Worked:

Hiring a Zoom stage manager was hugely helpful in coordinating the moving pieces each week, and coordinating communication among the group.
The in-person outdoor dinner and service at the end helped connect participants to each other and the congregation.

Rabbi Ross plans on offering a 3-session “Art of Prayer”. He also intends to add some contemporary topics the next time he teaches Judaism 101.

Compliments to Congregation Sha’ar Zahav San Francisco for hosting Judaism 101 and a Journey to Judaism discussion group year after year

Sha’ar Zahav, San Francisco – Judaism 101, Banner Ad (funded in part by NCEJ)

Sha’ar Zahav has been an NCEJ grantee for many years. Judaism 101 is a ten-session Introduction to Judaism course for people who are new or returning to Judaism and looking for a starting point to dive into Jewish learning or practice. In 2020 all sessions were via Zoom. The class covers everything from Torah to Israel, spirituality to ethics, through a queer-positive, progressive, inclusive Jewish lens with plenty of room for questions.

The Journey to Judaism discussion group is designed to engage individuals in meaningful discussions that furthers their Jewish education, and fosters the connection to other individuals in the community. The group creates a comfortable environment for exploration.

As part of the discussion group new Jews by choice tell their stories. The groups are facilitated by trained volunteer members of the congregation. The group is closed after the second session for greater confidentiality. Many individuals who convert at the synagogue have participated in the discussion group.

For details contact Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, San Francisco.

Check Out Our New Programming Page:
“Introduction to Jewish Traditions”

It’s packed full of programming ideas and helpful hints to help you run a successful program. Learn about short overview sessions, full-fledged Intro programs, and programs to help individuals build a Jewish home. See the page

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Grant Updates

Here are just some of the grants we’ve approved recently:

Synagogues

• Temple Emanu-el, AZ – Taste of Judaism®
• Sha’ar Zahav, CA – Judaism 101
• Greater Hartford Board of Rabbis, CT- Introduction to Judaism class
• Kol Emeth, IL – Succot program
• Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City – Judaism for Conversion Candidates
• Temple Israel, MA – Open Door program
• Keneseth Israel, PA – Taste of Judaism®

JCCs and Federations

• Memphis JCC – family program

National

• Union for Reform Judaism – renewal of umbrella grant for Taste® and Intro programs

International

• Schechter Institute Midreshet Yerushalyim, Ukraine – Conversion Program

Have an idea but not sure it meets our guidelines? Give us a call

That’s exactly what one of our grantees from a Midwest synagogue did and we just gave her 2 grants! Reach out to us at 301-802-4254, or contact Ellen Gerecht, Executive Director.

To apply, go to our Grants Process page. Applications are accepted anytime.

Articles of Interest

• Intermarriage increasingly leads to Jewish children, Pew study shows – by Louis Keene, May 2021. The Forward
• 10 key findings about Jewish Americans – by Becka A. Alper and Alan Cooperman, May 2021. Pew Research Center
• There are more American Jews – and they’re staying Jewish – by Leonard Saxe, Ph.D – May 2021. The Times of Israel
• The New Jews by Liel Leibovitz, May 2021. Tablet.
• Surprising Trends Driving Conversion to Judaism – by Mark Oppenheimer, May 2021. Tablet
• Converting to Judaism and Telling My Catholic Family – by Joe Grasso. 18Doors
• Expanding not diluting: Embracing Jewish+ families, by Alison Weikel & Rachel Weinstein White, August 2021. eJewishPhilanthropy

Please share this grant-giving notice with your colleagues, or pass their names on to us. We accept applications throughout the year.

The post NCEJ Helps Congregations Connect New People to Judaism appeared first on National Center to Encourage Judaism.

NCEJ is giving grants for programs that welcome new people to Judaism – Intro and interfaith; online, in-person, or a combination, single sessions or multiple months.

Looking for ideas or not sure what we’ll fund?  Check out NCEJ’s website to see what programs we’ve funded in the past, or give us a call. We’ll be happy to talk with you.

The process is easy – for details and an application visit our Grant Process page. There are no deadlines, and turn-around time is generally within 45 days. Apply now and you’ll know by the end of July whether you received a grant, so you can start putting programs in place for next year.

Marketing graphic funded by NCEJ for Sha’ar Zahav, San Francisco – Journey to Judaism Program

Are you a small or medium-size synagogue?

Are you a small or medium-size synagogue thinking of offering an outreach program that will connect new people to Judaism and your synagogue? We can put you in touch with grantees who can give you ideas for effective programs that you can try in your community.

Have an idea but not sure it meets our guidelines? Please reach out to us at 301-802-4254, or contact Ellen Gerecht, Executive Director.

Please share this grant-giving notice with your colleagues, or pass their names on to us. We accept applications throughout the year.

Have a happy and healthy Summer!

Top photo courtesy of Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism, Converting with the Family: Purim Spiel – made by the families of the program!

The post Funding Available Now For Fall Programs That Help Welcome Newcomers to Judaism appeared first on National Center to Encourage Judaism.

Hillel Minsk (Belarus) received an NCEJ grant to support its “Jewish Education for Beginners” series which ran from January-June 2019. There were 17 meetings (workshops, excursions, seminars, and trips) attended by more than 60 participants who were originally unfamiliar with Jewish culture or traditions. There are estimated to be between 10,000-20,000 Jews in Belarus, out of a total population of about 9.5 million.

The director, Alena Kuliounich, used games, cooking, outings, and other activities to educate and engage participants.

“They were ready to explore themselves a wonderful world which is called Judaism”

Following are some of the highlights from her report to NCEJ, in her own words.

Program Highlights

Jewish vocabulary – First we made a short introduction to the Jewish Community of Belarus, Jewish organizations and their role. Then in the form of a game we introduced main definitions which we use during Shabbats, meetings and holidays.

Jewish Holidays and their stories – We chose main Jewish holidays and suggested to make a calendar of holidays, representing each holiday in the form of a story and every participant was a character in this story.

Seder Pesach – Every part of the Seder was prepared by our guests. They made every dish themselves, studied the history of the holiday and learned new facts about History and Traditions of Pesach. It was the best way to remember all of them and be a part of the whole process of the holiday.

People learn from Holocaust – We suggested participants join a big commemorative concert as volunteers so they could communicate with ghetto victims and listen to their stories. Later our participants started to visit these elderly people, bring them flowers or fruits, help them celebrate Jewish holidays.

Charity in Judaism – One of the meetings was dedicated to the role of Hesed (good deeds) in Judaism. As a result of this meeting we initiated a charitable evening in the community for one of the members who suffered from cancer and needed help to take therapy which costs a lot.

Meet a Rabbi – None of the participants ever met a Rabbi… And the meeting took place in the café which seemed very strange for our students as they believed a myth that a Rabbi is a strict and old person who does not talk to young people… Imagine their surprise when both Rabbi and his wife spent the whole evening with us telling about their life, their family, and answering all their questions.

You are always welcome to a Synagogue – We decided to make a trip and visit a synagogue in Bobruisk. The Rabbi is very open and our participants fell in love with him from the first word. He made an excursion for us and told about all unknown things in the synagogue (believe me, there were a lot of them). Then we had a lesson with Rabbi for people who come to the synagogue for the first time.

Judaism is everywhere – To make Jewish culture closer for people we decided to show them that it is everywhere, that every day we meet it and don’t pay attention. That is why we made a series of outdoor meetings for our participants:

Judaism in Art. We visited an exhibition of Salvador Dali…And what a surprise was for the participants when we showed them his series of works which is called “12 Tribes of Israel”.

Judaism in Literature. As there are a lot of Jewish poets in the former USSR countries we decided to make a literature evening and announced a contest for reciting poems of Jewish authors.

Judaism in Music. And one more meeting which was presented in the form of an old Jewish Soviet flat, where people used to listen secretly to the Jewish songs and stories…We were having rehearsals for weeks and finally an old-styled evening (party) with costumes and Jewish music happened. Participants were singing and playing their roles as if they used to live some 50-60 years ago.

Secrets of Shabbat/Secrets of Havdallah – And finally we had Shabbat and Havdallah with our participants who were ready to hear words which used to be unfamiliar, to sing all melodies, which used to be unknown. These were amazing ceremonies as totally new people took part in them. They felt every moment and every word, every story and (it seems to me) even candles were burning as bright as never before.

Impact of Program

Director Kuliounich says that as a result of the program:

“They have become more active in the Jewish Community and more educated in the sphere of Jewish Education… We have a great desire to continue the project as every day we have new people who have potential and desire to grow.”

“As a result of a balanced combination of educational, entertaining, and volunteering parts the number of participants grow, our students get to know Jewish traditions better, (and) new students come and start keeping traditions.”

Photos above courtesy of Hillel Minsk, from the project “Jewish Education for Beginners.” Thanks to the group for sharing!

GRANT NEWS

15% Bonus for applications submitted by 2/28/2020 for Judaism 101 programs that begin in 2020

NCEJ is offering a 15% bonus for grants for marketing and other eligible expenses for introduction to Judaism classes and similar programs that start in 2020. To qualify for the bonus, applications must be received by February 28, 2020. NCEJ grants are designed to welcome new people to Judaism. Programs are not limited to the US — NCEJ currently funds programs in Israel, the UK, Canada, Spain, Poland, Latvia, and several other Eastern European countries. For details visit our site or contact Ellen Gerecht, Executive Director.

Jewish Federations of North America awards subgrants to 5 communities

JFNA received a grant from NCEJ to support programs geared primarily for interfaith families in small to medium sized cities. Five federations were recently awarded subgrants: Atlantic/Cape May Counties, NJ; Dayton, OH; Grand Rapids, MI; Las Vegas, NV; New Orleans, LA.
Contact Beth Cousens, Associate VP, Jewish Education and Engagement, for more information about this program. Read her E-Jewish Philanthropy article about Jewish engagement and education.

Recent Grants

• Shir Hadash- Los Gatos, CA
• Temple B’nai Israel – Monroe, LA
• Town and Village Synagogue – New York City
• Keneseth Israel – Allentown, PA
• Virginia Tech Hillel – Blacksburg, VA
• Bet Chaverim Community Synagogue South King County – WA

Want to know more about the type of programs we fund?

Check out our updated website. It’s chock-full of useful information on our goals, eligibility guidelines, deadlines, and much more. Take some time and browse our site.

If you have questions about anything you see, contact Ellen Gerecht, Executive Director or call 301-802-4254.

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