Resources - National Center to Encourage Judaism

Selected Articles

General Information

The Cost of Leaving Small-Town Jews Behind - by Rabbi Rachel Isaacs, 2025. eJewish Philanthropy
Going on Offense: Why we ran an ad for Judaism during an NFL game - by Rabbi Josh Feigelson, Nov 2022. eJewish Philanthropy
Syncing our Words and Actions to be a Welcoming Community by Rabbi Danny Burkeman, eJewish Philanthropy
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.
10 key findings about Jewish Americans - by Becka A. Alper and Alan Cooperman, May 2021. Pew Research Center
What you need to know about the explosion of interest in Jewish life - by three authors, 2024. eJewish Philanthropy

Conversion

Falling in Love with Judaism by Laurel Fisher in WRJ Today, Women of Reform Judaism
Converting to Judaism in the Wake of October 7th by Jeannie Suk Gersen, Dec. 2024. New Yorker
Sharing the Challenges and Blessings of Being Jewish and New-ish by Sue Bojdak, ReformJudaism.org
At The Edge of the Water by Yanira Quiñones, ReformJudaism.org
Why My Introduction to Judaism Online Class Was So Valuable by Tristan Hear, ReformJudaism.org
Choosing Judaism: Why One Grandmother Made a Public Commitment, by Heather Mendel, ReformJudaism.org
Conversion marked an important step on his pioneering path, by Esther D. Kustanowitz, Jewish Journal
And your God will be my God’: For one Jewish convert, the wait is over, by Deborah Fineblum, Jewish News Syndicate
Did You Convert to Judaism? An Invitation to Share Your Story by Bradley Caro Cook, Ed.D., Lauren Post, and Austin Reid, eJewish Philanthropy
Surprising Trends Driving Conversion to Judaism by Mark Oppenheimer, May 2021. Tablet
Converting to Judaism and Telling My Catholic Family by Joe Grasso. 18Doors
Welcome and Engage People in the Jewish Community by Rabbi Julie Zupan, Union for Reform Judaism, ReformJudaism.org

Engagement

Welcoming the Curious – Ellen Gerecht and the Case for Jewish Outreach Episode 04 with Rabbi Jon Cutler/Jon Argaman, The New Jew Podcast. Explore a bold and often overlooked strategy for Jewish continuity: actively inviting non-Jews to explore Judaism.
What Are We Talking about When We Talk about Engagement? by Dr. Erica Brown, eJewish Philanthropy
We Are Building Something More: Jewish Education & Engagement in 2020 and Beyond by Dr. Beth Cousens, eJewish Philanthropy
Togethering - Immersive travel experiences for young couples that explore Jewish values, traditions, and culture, JFNA program
Other engagement ideas and programs to look out for: Journey to Judaism programs (for wherever participants are in their journey), URJ's "Jewish Life in Your Life", a sense of belonging, and creating an inclusive environment.

Holidays

Passover

"Miriam's Song" video by Project Kesher. Activists from 6 countries, 3 continents, and multiple generations offer a fresh take on the song in honor of Debbie Friedman and the Ma'yan Seders. Project Kesher supports a large grassroots network of Jewish women leaders in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, and Israel, as they advocate for Jewish community, civil society, and women’s empowerment, health, and safety.
JDC Deploying Digital Passover Resources to Connect Global Jewish Community by eJewish Philanthropy
Digital resources for Passover 2020 by eJewish Philanthropy
Online Passover Resources from the Rabbinical Assembly of Greater Kansas City by The Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City

Purim

Origins and Customs of Purim by The National Jewish Outreach Program (NJOP). A selection of the various histories, traditions and practices of Purim.

Rosh Hashanah

Reform Judaism and 'Tashlich', link shared by The Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism. Facebook video feature about the ritual from i24NEWS English.
Rosh Hoshanah sermon, at Mishkan Chicago. See the sermon on YouTube in Videos section below, how the congregation welcomed 30 new Jews by choice.

Interfaith

Talking to Children About Jewish Identity in an Interfaith Family, Reform Judaism
Conservative movement apologizes to interfaith couples, won’t yet let clergy participate in weddings by Jay Deitcher, eJewishPhilanthropy
Your People are My People by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Kol Nidre 5784 - YouTube
Interfaith couples: From observers to active participants in Jewish life, eJewishPhilanthropy
Keeping the Faith: Is intermarriage threatening American Judaism or renewing it? by Lawrence Goodman, Brandeis Magazine Intermarriage
Serving Interfaith Families: Current Realities and Opportunities in Conservative Synagogues by Stacie Garnett-Cook and Rabbi Joshua Rabin, eJewish Philanthropy
Life Stages and the Needs of Interfaith Couples, Beyond Welcoming: Engaging Intermarried Couples in Jewish Life by Michelle Shain, Leonard Saxe, Fern Chertok, Graham Wright, Shahar Hecht, Theodore Sasson. Brandeis University Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies
Interfaith Families Are An Essential Part Of Our Community. Stop Excluding Them by Judi Bromberg, The Jewish Forward
Why InterfaithFamily and USCJ Partnered to Help Conservative Synagogues Engage Interfaith Families by Stacie Garnett-Cook and Rabbi Joshua Rabin, eJewish Philanthropy
Expanding not diluting: Embracing Jewish+ families, by Alison Weikel & Rachel Weinstein White, August 2021. eJewishPhilanthropy
Intermarriage increasingly leads to Jewish children, Pew study shows - by Louis Keene, May 2021. The Forward
Interfaith Families: Reform Judaism Sees You, Welcomes You, is You! - posted by Union for Reform Judaism

Jews of Color

What Jewish Looks Like, by Central Synagogue in NYC, a video talk about a new book about Jews of Color.
Study: Jews of color love Judaism but often experience racism in Jewish settings by Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service
New major US study on Jews of color highlights experiences of discrimination, by Asaf Shalev, The Times of Israel
Experiences of Jews of color now grounded in hard data, by Jamie Anfenson-Comeau and Asaf Shalev, Washington Jewish Week

Jews by Choice

How the Jews by choice experience can make us all better Jews by Esther D. Kustanowitz, Jewish Journal
How Jews By Choice Do Weddings, by Darcy Vebber, Jewish Journal
Intro 2.0 Ensures Jews By Choice Won’t Be Left Dripping at the Mikvah, by Rabbi Adam Greenwald, Jewish Journal
Why I Love Jews By Choice, by Rabbi Dan Moskowitz, Jewish Journal
Service Reaches Out to Jews By Choice by David Finnigan, Jewish Journal
Not Born Into the Tribe: The Power of Judaism Makes Converts Out of Three Now Clergy by Journeys, a digital publication produced by USCJ

Virtual Programming

Longtime Virtual Rabbi Offers Advice on “Doing Jewish” Online - Video by Rabbi Juan Mejía, who has been teaching online for a decade - March 2020, My Jewish Learning
A Recording of Rabbi Juan Mejía's Conversation About Online Judaism on 3/15/20. Be’chol Lashon Facebook. Thanks to jewishLIVE and Oshman Family JCC.
Virtual Community and Informative Resources - powered by The Jewish Federations of North America. JewishTogether.org
What Congregations Have Learned from Shifting Intro and Taste Programs Online, October 27, 2020, Rabbi Miriam Wajnberg, URJ.org

Studies and Surveys

Study: Jewish Families Are Increasingly Diverse and Increasingly Seeking Community - eJewish Philanthropy

Additional Resources & Relevant Jewish Groups

The National Center to Encourage Judaism 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. Have a link to share? Contact us.