Multi-Session Programs
Joint Distribution Committee - (JDC), JCC Riga, Latvia and Budapest, Hungary
An NCEJ grant helped the JDC expand and strengthen Judaism and Jewish life by funding programs that are welcoming to interested individuals and families in countries across Eastern Europe.
Innovative Idea
The JDC, used NCEJ funds to expand holiday programming at the JCCs in Riga and Budapest, and increase participants' connections with the Jewish community.
Here are examples of some of their outreach efforts:
The creation of a website for each holiday with information to help young adults and families celebrate at home.
“Holiday Ambassadors” – young adults and parents of young kids – organized holiday celebrations in their homes, for their own extended families and friends, making Jewish holidays part of their most intimate circles.
“Family Jewish Holiday Collaboration” - JEWISHcolorado | PJ Library (2025)
PJ Library/Jewish Colorado is offering a holiday family engagement program for families in a Denver neighborhood where there are relatively few Jewish institutions. The program is designed to provide an opportunity for PJ Library families to meet other families in the area and explore 4 Jewish holidays: Purim, Shavuot, Rosh Hoshanah, and Chanukah.
“We are meeting families where they are by gathering in neighborhood venues that are accessible and welcoming.”- Bethany Friedlander, PJ Library manager
Marketing: Marketing will be via Facebook, Instagram, email, text, and word of mouth.
Program Materials: JEWISHcolorado plans on creating holiday celebration boxes, such as a Purim Mishloach Manot box, and a Shavuot flower craft and book
“Experiencing Jewish Festivals and Shabbat: An Invitation to Discover” - Finchley Progressive Synagogue, London (2025 & 2026)
Primary Purpose: This program aims to educate and engage individuals who do not identify as Jewish in the preparation, meaning and traditions of key Jewish observances: the Jewish Festival Year and Shabbat. Through interactive cooking sessions, communal meals, and educational discussions, participants will gain insights into Jewish traditions and their significance in fostering community and shared values.
The program offers accessible, engaging and educational events designed to introduce non-Jewish individuals and families who are curious about Judaism or connected to Jewish life through relationships, friendships, or other experiences to Jewish practices. Each event incorporates an educational component and provides opportunities for participants to experience Jewish customs firsthand. The congregation takes pride in the diversity of its membership and its efforts to welcome people whose journeys to Judaism may be unique, challenging, or winding. Whatever their paths have been, FPS is proud to welcome them.
Impact: These programs are designed to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Jewish traditions among those who do not identify as Jewish. By providing meaningful, hands-on experiences, FPS aims to break down barriers, build bridges, and create a sense of shared community.
“With NCEJ’s support, we can transform curiosity into connection, ensuring that those who are exploring Judaism find a warm, welcoming, and enriching space to do so.”
View the Synagogue's Program Report (PDF)
Expected outcomes are:
- Increased understanding: Participants will gain a richer appreciation of Jewish customs, history, and values, dispelling misconceptions and fostering cultural awareness.
- Engagement beyond the events: Many past attendees have expressed a desire to continue learning, with some attending additional synagogue events, enrolling in educational courses, or forming friendships within the Jewish community.
- Stronger interfaith relationships: The communal nature of the sessions promotes dialogue and mutual respect, creating opportunities for meaningful connections between Jewish and non-Jewish participants.
- Personal and Family Impact: Participants, particularly those in interfaith families, have shared that the program has helped them incorporate Jewish traditions into their homes in an accessible and meaningful way
Evidence of Success:
- In previous iterations of this program, events consistently attracted 50-75 attendees, with some flagship events (such as the Communal Seder) reaching 100+ participants.
- Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Eating at the Rabbi’s house while we learned prayers and parts of Shabbat was just brilliant. I felt so welcome.” - participant
- FPS has seen a tangible increase in engagement, with over 40% of attendees at past events returning for additional programs or engaging with the synagogue in other ways.
Follow-up:
Beyond individual sessions, this program is part of FPS’s wider mission to ensure that those curious about Judaism have a place to learn, experience, and feel welcomed. By providing an open and inclusive space, FPS hopes to inspire long-term connections and a lasting sense of belonging for those seeking to explore Jewish traditions.
To ensure continued engagement:
FPS will invite participants to additional synagogue events such as community gatherings, social action projects and cultural celebrations.
FPS will provide online and printed resources to allow attendees to continue their exploration of Jewish traditions at home.
FPS will establish a follow-up system, including email newsletters and personal invitations, to maintain relationships and track long-term impact.
“ABCs of Judaism” Holiday programming - Hillel Poland (2024)
“Forest in a jar” terrarium
This program was a series of pre-holiday educational meetings designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of key Jewish holidays. The program aimed to ensure that participants not only learned about the holidays intellectually but also connected emotionally and engage practically with the tradition. Holidays and celebrations included Shabbat, Tu B’Shvat, Purim, Pesach and Shavuot. Programming combined historical and textual learning with hands-on activities, such as challah baking for Shabbat.
“The NCEJ grant was instrumental in establishing a program that provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of key Jewish holidays through the ‘3H’ philosophy – Head, Hand, Heart.”- Magda Dorosz, Executive Director
Marketing: The programs were advertised through social media platforms: Facebook and Instagram, word of mouth, and contacting participants individually. The programs were advertised also through regular newsletters sent out to all Hillel Poland participants, Facebook and Instagram posts and ads, individual discussions and invitations with prior program participants, and during other events.
What worked best?
Word of mouth was the primary and most successful method for generating interest and sign-up for the sessions. The individualized approach helped participants feel seen and valued, which contributed to the high attendance and engagement rates.
“Thanks to the workshop I now know how to celebrate Tu B’Shevat and plan to continue learning about the celebrations.” - participant
Strategies for Success
Here are some techniques that Hillel Poland used to engage participants:
Offering hands-on workshops. The programming combined educational and experiential experiences.
Providing tangible elements to supplement text learning. The workshops not only taught participants about the holidays but also provided them with items they could use in their home celebrations, such as a “forest in a jar” (terrarium) for Tu B’ Shevat, and challah for Shabbat.
Integrating universal themes, such as well-being and ecology, to make the traditions relevant to a broader audience.
Creating a relaxing environment. The program included short meditation exercises, which helped participants focus and feel comfortable.
Judaism Outdoors - An Introduction to Jewish Holidays - Ma'yan Tikvah, Wayland, MA (2024)
Ma'yan Tikvah is a congregation literally without walls, meeting outdoors throughout the year. Judaism Outdoors - An Introduction to Jewish Holidays will be a series of five seasonal nature walks that will bring earth-based Judaism to life for participants, giving them an introduction to select Jewish holidays while connecting the holidays to the natural world.
During each walk, families with children in K-3 will engage in hands-on, age-appropriate activities that will introduce foundational aspects of the holiday: Shabbat, Hanukkah, Tu B’Shvat, Purim, and Passover. After each session families will take home a children’s book about the holiday and a kit filled with materials for nature-related activities and easy, healthy kid-friendly recipes, along with instructions and handouts to make it easy to celebrate at home.
Marketing: Judaism Outdoors will be geared toward people with little or no knowledge of Jewish holidays and will be advertised in general media outlets (both free and paid) to reach those families.
Program Materials: Ma’yan Tikvah plans on providing:
- Copies of “The Family Treasury of Jewish Holidays” by Malka Druker
- Printed handouts for home celebrations
- Materials for holiday kits
Jewish Makerspace - Temple B’nai Torah, Bellevue, WA (2023)
Jewish Makerspace is a hands-on opportunity for families to learn about and begin to experience Jewish holidays. It will be open once a month from 10 am- 3 pm, focusing on one holiday each time. The goal of each gathering is for individuals to learn how to celebrate an upcoming Jewish holiday and also walk away with handmade ritual items. The program is geared towards learners of all backgrounds.
Marketing: The program will be promoted on an online/print Seattle magazine for families, and on Instagram and Facebook. In addition, flyers will be distributed locally and postcards will be sent out to the synagogue’s full mailing list.
The NCEJ grant also provides for security at the synagogue when the Makerspace is taking place.
“Our synagogue has become known in the Puget Sound area as an ‘entry way to Judaism’ for folks interested in exploring Jewish life...The result is that we have a lot of religious school families whose entire family unit are new to Judaism.” - Rabbi Molly Weisel
Innovative Idea
Incorporating Mentorship: The synagogue has an established conversion mentorship program. The rabbi plans to mention it to Makerspace participants who might be interested in additional educational opportunities.
BI in Your Neighbourhood - Congregation Beth Israel, Vancouver Canada (2021)
BI reaches out throughout the year to engage and connect interfaith families, with holiday programming such as a Shabbat dinner and a Sukkah gathering. Families learn about holiday traditions and rituals, while participating in crafts and other activities. BI also creates Jewish-themed baskets (with ritual items, recipes, and other materials) that are delivered to families’ homes, to make celebrating the holidays easier.
Holiday Programming
Find ideas for advertising your program by checking out our Marketing Gallery
Check out our Marketing Gallery. NCEJ reimburses for some of the costs for graphic design and printing. Examples of promotional material we have funded recently include: print and digital ads, banners, postcards, brochures, and flyers. We encourage grantees to consider trying hyperlocal media as well as national sources.
Helpful Links and Additional Resources
We add articles and links for Jewish holidays here on our Resources page. If you would like to feature your page or program, please contact us, as we update this list throughout the year to help others with their programs.
Have a Question? Reach Out to Us
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.