Rabbi Alona Lisitsa

Rabbi Lisitsa began teaching her conversion course in May of 2014. The course has rolling admissions to allow candidates to join when they are able and then continue until they have covered all of the curriculum necessary to prepare them for conversion to Judaism. The enrollment of the classes varies between 15 and 40 students. At the moment, there are 20 adults and 4 children currently enrolled. Rabbi Lisitsa also offers separate lessons for children which are customized for their age.

Among the highlights from this year’s class is the story of Miriam, a descendant of conversos, one of an estimated 100 million descendants of Spanish and Portuguese Jews who were compelled to become Roman Catholic more than 500 years ago. Living in the Azores, Miriam owned a Torah scroll and other Judaica which she kept at her home. After a Jewish museum opened at the reconstructed synagogue at Ponte Delgada, Portugal, Miriam chose to donate the objects to the museum. As a member of the conversion class, Miriam was able to return to Judaism and become an active participant in the Jewish community.

New Projects Planned

The Jewish Progressive Federation of Spain has just been approved as a registered religious organization by the Spanish Ministry of Internal Affairs, which will allow Rabbi Lisitsa to plan numerous new projects. Among those is to create a series of Shabbatonim for empowering and educating lay leadership and prayer leaders.

Featured photo above: Rabbi Alona Lisitsa, Ph.D. (standing, second from left), a sponsoring rabbi for the conversion process for Iberia in the European Beit Din — featured in this Hebrew Union College article.  NCEJ is increasing its international presence with a grant to the World Union for Progressive Judaism to support conversion efforts in the Iberian Peninsula.  Photo of Rabbi Lisitsa, featured in The Times of Israel.

The post NCEJ Funds Conversion Programs in the Iberian Peninsula appeared first on National Center to Encourage Judaism.

NCEJ is helping support The Joint Distribution Committee’s (JDC) programs to reinvigorate Jewish life in Riga and Warsaw. At JCCs in both cities, people who are new to Judaism or have just discovered their Jewish roots start to develop a Jewish identity and intermarried couples and families learn how to incorporate Jewish culture and heritage into their lives.

For more information about this program contact Sandy Katz, Director, Strategic Relations, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, via email here.

Conversion Programs in Iberian Peninsula

NCEJ is also increasing its international presence with a grant to The World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) to support conversion efforts in the Iberian Peninsula. The mission of the WUPJ is to promote a Progressive/Reform approach to Jewish tradition by strengthening Jewish communities throughout the world.

After 500 years in exile, the Jewish communities of Spain and Portugal are coming back to life. Many Spaniards raised as Catholics have discovered that they have Jewish roots—that they are descendants of Christian conversos (Bnei Anussim) who practiced Jewish traditions such as lighting candles on Friday night and abstaining from eating pork. Following several years of study, over 25 candidates have successfully converted to Judaism. With NCEJ’s help WUPJ will be able to expand its infrastructure and reach more people who want to learn more about Judaism.

For more information about this program contact Naomi Smook, Director of Advancement, The World Union for Progressive Judaism, via email here.

The post NCEJ is Expanding Internationally appeared first on National Center to Encourage Judaism.