In 2017, NCEJ gave a substantial grant to The Rabbinical Assembly (RA) for subgrants to their members (Conservative synagogues). Of the six grants given in 2017-2018, two of them were for regional conversion programs in which several synagogues collaborated. Interestingly, three subgrants were for synagogues in Canada.
The grants were publicized via email in the RA’s newsletter and other avenues as well as announced at conferences. Below is a summary of the key elements and special features of each grant awarded.
About the RA Subgrants
Program: “Spanish Language Conversion Services”
Temple Beth Israel: Broward County, Florida – Rabbi Hector Eppelbaum
Temple Bath Israel offers Jewish adult education and conversion courses to Spanish speakers. They are the sole providers of Spanish language conversion services in Broward County. The curriculum is based on the curricula of the Conversion Institute of the Rabbinical Assembly of America Southeast Region. They run two 20 session courses each year. As students progress through the program they become active participants in the congregation and the Jewish community. Two of the students who went through the conversion class are currently members of the synagogue Board.
Program: “Introduction to Judaism, With a Mentoring Rabbi”
RA of Philadelphia: Goodblatt Academy – Rabbi Neil Cooper
The Goodblatt Academy offers an Introduction to Judaism program that runs for 30 sessions. In addition to attending formal classes, students are paired with a mentoring rabbi who they meet with monthly. As part of the program, the Academy sponsors a catered Shabbat dinner and encourages students to bring their families. Traditionally the Academy has relied on local rabbis to refer prospective students to them. Increasingly though, prospective students are finding information online, which leads them to the Academy’s website. NCEJ grant funds have been used to advertise the program with a more sophisticated website and place ads in the Philadelphia Inquirer, community newspapers and on social media and to defray the costs of the Shabbat dinner and childcare.
Program: “Introduction to Judaism, With Program Alumni”
Temple B’nai Amoona: St Louis, MO – Rabbi Carnie Rose
The centerpiece of B’nai Amoona’s efforts to encourage interest in Judaism is the Introduction to Judaism course. This year B’nai Amoona has begun to match students in this course with other B’nai Amoona members who have gone through the conversion process and can serve as guides and mentors. Regular meetings also occur with the Senior Rabbi and the teacher. Marketing for the class includes information in the monthly congregational newsletter and the weekly Shabbat Bulletin sent via email along with the regular ads in the Jewish in St Louis website; the NCEJ grant also covered the cost of materials for the course.
Program: “Keeping the Faith”
Toronto RA Region: Rabbi Adam Cutler
Keeping the Faith is an initiative designed to maintain and deepen the connection between recent converts (their Jewish partners) and the Jewish community. There is a weekly Mommy and Me program for recent converts and partners with babies; a convert and mother-in-law cooking class is currently being planned; and a bi-monthly learning is also about to start. Under discussion is a Shabbat morning ‘increase your prayer fluency’ course targeted to recent converts but open to all (which is better for the converts’ ultimate integration into the community). The Toronto RA Region will soon be launching a website.
Program: “Learners Seder”
Congregation Beth Tikvah: Toronto – Rabbi Louis Sachs
The local RA region runs an Introduction to Judaism class, to which all the RA rabbis in Toronto send potential conversion students. Many current students, and some past students, do not have a place to go for a Seder. A learners Seder was hosted on the second night of Pesach for individuals going through the conversion process or recently having completed it. Even for those partnered, many of their families do not do a Seder on the second night, again leaving them without a place to go and celebrate. Some find these Seder “hosts” experiences can be intimidating and leave students feeling negative about the experience. Therefore, subsidizing the cost of meals for students looking for a “learners” Seder with other individuals going through the same process helps. The grant covered the cost of haggadot, food, and staff, making it affordable for them to attend.
Program: “Second Night Adult Seder”
Congregation Beth Israel: Vancouver – Rabbi Adam Stein
Congregation Beth Israel runs a conversion program from September to June each year which is being marketing on Facebook and in local media (Jewish and mainstream). The Congregation also hosts three Shabbat dinners a year for the conversion class, as well as a second night adult Seder to encourage conversion students (and their partners for those who have) to attend. Scholarships are also provided for those who request them for the Shabbat dinners and the Seder.