Finchley Progressive Synagogue in London: “Experiencing Jewish Festivals and Shabbat: An Invitation to Discover”

Holidays can be a hook bringing people into Judaism

NCEJ provides grants for holiday how-to workshops and hands-on programs that help interfaith/intercultural families, Jewish-adjacent individuals, and spiritual seekers learn about the meaning of Jewish holidays and holiday traditions. Our grants cover marketing, program materials, security, some staff support, and related expenses for both single events and multi-session programs, traditional classes and experiential learning.

For over 45 years NCEJ has given grants for programs that educate, engage, and connect new people to Judaism – including interfaith families, people interested in conversion, Jewish-adjacent individuals, and others who want to explore becoming part of the Jewish community.

Hillel Ukraine’s Passover Project focuses on the themes of freedom and resilience

Photo: Hillel International, Across Ukraine, Hillel Offers Refuge Amid War and Loss

“Pesach Project” – Hillel CASE, Ukraine Region

The Pesach Project, designed for university students and young adults with little or no Jewish background, will focus on the traditions and customs of Passover, and its contemporary relevance. Hillel plans on holding Seders in multiple cities throughout the region. A key component of the program will be a handout, developed by Hillel educators and distributed to every participant.

“The program introduces Passover traditions, including the Seder, while emphasizing universal themes of freedom, displacement, resilience, and hope that resonate deeply with students living through conflict and uncertainty.”
– Tetiana Smotkin, Program Coordinator

In 2025, Hillel held the program in 5 cities, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odessa. Students prepared traditional foods and re-enacted parts of the Seder. This not only made learning fun but also allowed participants to connect with the customs on a personal level. These students were then empowered to lead Pesach Seders for their peers—many of whom had little or no prior familiarity with Jewish history or traditions.

“We want to express our deepest gratitude to NCEJ for supporting this initiative– in such difficult dark times for Ukraine we managed to bring together the light of hope and support.”
– Tetiana Smotkin, Program Coordinator

Participants attending the Tallinn, Estonia JCC’s Passover program will learn how to celebrate Pesach at home

“Family Passover Experience: Your Own Seder Journey” – Jewish Community of Estonia | Tallinn JCC

The Tallinn JCC will be holding a 1-session Passover program “Family Passover Experience: Your Own Seder Journey” as part of their “Jewish at Home: Family Journeys into Tradition” programming. It is designed primarily for families with limited Jewish background, interfaith households, and people who have never celebrated Passover before. The organizers will guide attendees through the story, symbols, and structure of the Seder.

The experience will include:

• A family-friendly retelling of the Exodus story, with reflections on the themes of freedom, identity, and resilience-especially relevant in today’s world
• An explanation of the Seder plate, haggadah highlights, and key rituals
• Interactive stations where families can make charoset, learn the Four Questions, practice the blessings, and sample symbolic foods
• A creative hands-on activity: assembling a home Passover kit with a mini haggadah, symbolic items, and a simple Seder guide
• A closing family discussion circle, inviting participants to reflect on how they can make Passover meaningful in their homes

The goal of this program is to make Jewish holidays accessible and welcoming to new audiences through engaging activities, take-home resources, and inviting conversations.

A London synagogue’s Passover program emphasized empathy towards strangers because “we were once strangers in the land of Egypt”

“You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 23:9)

“Experiencing Jewish Festivals and Shabbat: An Invitation to Discover” – Finchley Progressive Synagogue, London

Finchley Progressive Synagogue received a grant in 2025 for a series of holiday programs that aimed to empower participants to feel confident celebrating at home. Over the course of a month participants learned about the story and traditions of Passover. Students in the congregation’s Conversion/Delving into Judaism class cooked and served the Seder meal, as a way of “leaning in” to the rituals. Interfaith families and Jewish-adjacent and interested individuals were encouraged to attend, and were invited to play a part in the evening events.

“We are proud that our community is inclusive in every sense and we take pride in the diversity of our membership and our efforts to welcome people whose journeys to Judaism may be unique, challenging, winding, or choppy. Whatever their path has been to reach us we are proud to welcome them.” – Finchley Progressive Synagogue

Check Out Our Holiday Program Profile Page

Celebrating and Connecting Newcomers to Jewish Life
Holiday Programming

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

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Chag Sameach!

Top photo – Finchley Progressive Synagogue in London: Children singing the Ma Nishtana, reading from the Haggadah

The post NCEJ Funds Holiday Programs Worldwide – Providing a Place Where All Are Welcome appeared first on National Center to Encourage Judaism.

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 provide grants for holiday how-to workshops and experiential programs that help interfaith families and individuals exploring Judaism learn about holiday traditions. Many of our grantees have used the Jewish holidays as a “hook” to connect new people to Judaism. Learn more on our Holiday Page.

We fund marketing, program materials, security, and some staff support. Program materials include arts and crafts supplies, books, handouts, and related items. We also reimburse for the costs of holiday celebration kits, which can enrich participants’ educational experiences and strengthen connections to the sponsoring organizations. (See our Program Kit Page.)

To learn more about NCEJ and the type of programs we fund, see our What We Fund page.

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.

Recently Awarded Grants

Rosh Hoshanah Blessing Seder Booklet – Funded in part by NCEJ

“Rosh Hoshanah Blessing Seder” – Congregation Or Ahavah, FL

Jewish Renewal Congregation Or Ahavah held a Rosh Hoshanah Blessing Seder in September. The Seder was preceded by participants sharing something about each of the hostages that remained in Gaza at that time. In addition to chicken and brisket, participants feasted on pomegranates, stuffed dates, beets, carrots, and chocolate fish.

View Rosh Hoshanah Blessing Seder Booklet (PDF)

“Our past experience tells us that nothing attracts people more than food and joyous music. Our strategy is to connect everything we do to teaching about Judaism and how what we do is repeatable in their homes and their lives.”
– Rabbi Debrah Shenefelt

Tu B’Shvat activity – “Forest in a jar” terrarium

“ABCs of Judaism” Holiday programming – Hillel Poland

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 engaged 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, Director

NEW! Jewish Outreach Podcast

The purpose of The New Jew Podcast is to encourage non-Jews to consider becoming Jews and to challenge the Jewish community to rethink about reaching out to non-Jews to convert to Judaism. The podcast is a series of interviews; it is a celebration of faith, resilience, and community.

Listen to the Podcast: Episode 04: Welcoming the Curious – The Case for Jewish Outreach, with Jonathan Argaman, The New Jew Podcast, (recorded: Nov 3, 2025).

In this thought-provoking episode of The New Jew, Rabbi Jon Cutler and Jonathan Argaman sit down with Ellen Gerecht, head of the National Center to Encourage Judaism (NCEJ), to explore a bold and often overlooked strategy for Jewish continuity: actively inviting non-Jews to explore Judaism. Ellen shares the inspiring origin story of NCEJ, founded by her parents over 40 years ago with a simple but radical idea—market Judaism like any meaningful product, highlighting its benefits and welcoming spiritual seekers. Today, NCEJ funds programs across denominations and geographies, from intro-to-Judaism classes to interfaith holiday workshops, helping Jewish organizations reach new audiences.

Check Out Our Resource 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.

Sign Up For Our Grants Letter Today

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

Top photo – Rosh Hoshanah Blessing Seder – Congregation Or Ahavah, FL.

The post NCEJ is Increasing Funding for Interfaith Engagement Programs in 2026 appeared first on National Center to Encourage Judaism.

Since 2017 NCEJ has given grants for programs that welcome new people to Judaism in over a dozen countries, including Canada, Israel, Brazil, Spain, Great Britain, Ukraine, Poland, and Germany. We fund marketing, program materials, security, and related expenses for Intro and interfaith engagement programs. For our grant guidelines and other details see our Grants Process page.

An NCEJ Grant Enabled a Synagogue in Jamaica to Connect to the Center for Jewish Life at Beth David, Miami

“Jamaica Conversion Program” – Shaare Shalom Synagogue, Kingston, Jamaica & The Center for Jewish Life at Beth David, Miami, FL

The Shaare Shalom Conversion Program was a year-long program of Judaic studies for over 20 people who were interested in converting to Judaism. They were taught remotely by Rabbi Adam Gindea at the Center for Jewish Life at Beth David, Miami. Students met monthly, exploring the Jewish calendar and traditions, and participated in the weekly Torah study group and other virtual programming offered in Miami. Rabbi Adam also met one-on-one with the students as part of the conversion process.

“This has been such a remarkable experience to witness and facilitate.” – Rabbi Gindea

A formal conversion ceremony was held in June in Jamaica. The ritual immersion was in the ocean waters outside Kingston.

Watch the celebration videos & see the program photos here.

For more details contact Rabbi Adam Gindea.

NCEJ is Funding Conversion Classes in Ukraine offered by the Midreshet Schechter Institute

Family Camp – Midreshet Schechter, Ukraine

More people with Jewish roots in Ukraine are discovering their Jewish heritage, and some of them ultimately decide to convert to Judaism. Candidates interested in converting study with the Midreshet Schechter rabbi for one to two years, and take part in Jewish community life. The program is held in several cities in Ukraine, including Kyiv and Odessa. In preparation, students must attend a local synagogue for Shabbat activities at least once a week, plus conversion classes. The culmination of the conversion classes occurs at a 4-day retreat, followed by a conversion ceremony.

Building Jewish Identity – The retreat gives families – Jewish, intermarried, and those converting – the experience of a week together in the country, learning how to observe Shabbat and bring Jewish tradition into their homes, and helps them build Jewish identity as a family.

“Especially during this difficult time of crisis in Ukraine, belonging to a close-knit Jewish community provides a buffer against the travails of war.” – Michal Makov-Peled, Executive Director

For more details contact Michal Makov-Peled, Executive Director.

NCEJ’s grant to the Israel Reform Movement for a program for interfaith families from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) helped connect many to Judaism at an unexpectedly challenging time.

Jewish renewal for interfaith Russian and Ukrainian refugees and immigrants – The Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism, Israel

NCEJ gave a grant to the Israel Reform Movement in 2023 for a year-long Jewish renewal program for interfaith Russian and Ukrainian refugees and immigrants (who arrived within the past 5 years). The goal was to encourage engagement with Judaism through introductory classes and workshops, online activities, holiday and Shabbat celebrations, lifecycle events, and conversion (for those interested).

Hundreds of people attended Shabbat and holiday prayer services during the year, with a large segment coming from interfaith families. Many families learned about holiday rituals and customs by coming to community-based holiday celebrations.

“What I feel isn’t just about candles, or history; it is about the miracle of belonging, my personal Hanukkah miracle… My deepest and sincerest thanks to NCEJ for making all that happens at Kehillat Shirat HaGan possible, and therefore making my life here so much deeper and richer.” – participant

Thirty young adults in the program recently completed a leadership course, and learned how to lead a Kabbalat Shabbat service and facilitate Jewish life cycle events. The new leaders plan on publicizing the program via social media and other digital methods, to bring in more participants.

“This is a huge step forwards as now these program participants can actually pass on Judaism to others, like ambassadors, and can both practice and lead Jewish ritual independently within this unique community.” – Tamar Roig, Program Coordinator

Watch the video from the Seder that Rabbi Grisha held for his congregation in Ramat Gan and Tel Aviv here.

Contact Tamar Roig, Director of Partnership Development, IMPJ, for more information.

NCEJ helps support JDC’s Jewish renewal efforts in Central and Eastern Europe

Joint Distribution Committee – (JDC), Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Budapest and Hungary

NCEJ has given grants to JDC since 2017, for programs in Poland, Latvia, Estonia, and Hungary. In 2023 we helped engage young people with Judaism at Camp Szarvas, located near Budapest. Many Szarvas campers come from Central and Eastern Europe, and learn about their Judaism for the first time. Some are from communities where their Jewish heritage may have been hidden for generations, or where interfaith relationships are common.

“Camp Szarvas, where so many youngsters have discovered and fallen in love with their Judaism for the very first time.” – Eliza Prince, Director of Global Strategic Partnerships

The camp offers participants an entry to Jewish life, and gives them the tools to be Jewish leaders in their own communities. When they return home they are able to increase the involvement of their friends and families with Judaism.

NCEJ helped fund holiday celebrations at the JCC Budapest and JCC Riga

“With the support of the National Center to Encourage Judaism, this year thousands of people in Hungary and Latvia strengthened their Jewish knowledge and identity and connected to the Jewish community through the JCC Budapest and JCC Riga.”

In Budapest, Ukrainian refugees joined the JCC community for a reading of Megillat Esther and a Purim costume party. In Riga, at Passover families from a variety of Jewish backgrounds learned about the holiday and its traditions, played Passover-themed games, and tried out Israeli dancing.

NCEJ helps fund an Inclusive Outreach Seder at Temple Shalom, Manitoba

Inclusive Outreach Pesach Seder – Temple Shalom Manitoba, Winnipeg Canada

This past year Temple Shalom, Manitoba received an unprecedented number of inquiries from people who wanted to learn more about Judaism. In April the congregation held an “Inclusive Outreach” 2nd night Seder. It was geared towards people attending a Seder for the first time including recent Jews by Choice and those considering journeying into Judaism. Everyone who wanted to come was welcomed. Everything that was sung or said in Hebrew had the accompanying transliteration and translation to make it accessible to all.

For more information contact Sherry Wolfe Elazar, Jewish Learning Coordinator.

Top photo courtesy of Shaare Shalom Synagogue, Jamaica.

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There’s still time to apply for funding for Passover/Shavuot programs that engage interfaith families, new Jews by Choice, and individuals considering conversion.

NCEJ Helps Fund an Inclusive Outreach Seder

This past year Temple Shalom of Manitoba received an unprecedented number of inquiries from people who wanted to learn more about Judaism. In April the congregation will be providing a Seder designed for people attending a Passover Seder for the first time. This will include new Jews by Choice and people who are exploring the possibility of becoming Jewish. The Seder will include uplifting music, contemporary readings, traditional and newer symbolic foods, games and a catered meal. The message will be that there is room for everyone at the table.

NCEJ Gives Grant for a Special Shavuot Program: “Choosing Judaism.”

Sutton Place Synagogue in New York City will be hosting an erev Shavuot program this May focused on the concept of choosing Judaism. The format of the event will be a facilitated panel of people in the congregation who have chosen Judaism, followed by a discussion. One of the goals of the panel is to provide inspiration and encouragement for audience members who might be considering or in the process of conversion. One of the discussion questions will be “what does it mean to choose Judaism in today’s world?” The evening will conclude with a dairy dinner, which will create an opportunity to build community.

Have a question about the type of programs we might fund? We encourage people to reach out to us here.

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

Happy Purim!

Purim take home kit – The Jewish Enrichment Center of Chicago

The post NCEJ Funds Programs That Provide an On-Ramp to Judaism appeared first on National Center to Encourage Judaism.

We focus our funding on 3 major areas:

• Introduction to Jewish Beliefs and Tradition
• Interfaith/Intercultural Engagement
• Holiday Programming

In 2024 we plan to add a fourth area of emphasis: Israel. We will be increasing funding for programming that engages individuals and families with Israel. Our goal is to strengthen participants’ connections to both Judaism and Israel, for people on the periphery of Jewish life.

We give grants for marketing, program materials, security, and related expenses. Our grants go to synagogues, JCCs and federations, and Jewish nonprofits located in the United States, Israel, Europe, and South America. For more details visit our Grant Process page.

Have a question about the type of programs we might fund? We encourage people to reach out to us here.

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

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The goal of the evening was to reach people in their 20s and 30s who might not be comfortable in a traditional synagogue setting. Some of the activities, aside from the usual food, candle lighting, and dreidels, included an “Ask-the-Rabbi” booth, and an information station with printed literature about Judaism and a Judaism for Beginners class. In order to promote the event, Rabbi Patrick placed ads in Richmond’s alternative weekly (which has a reach of 79K readers) and on Facebook.

Rabbi Patrick wrote of the very successful event:

NCEJ’s grant will have a lasting impact and has enabled the Kehillah to:

• Begin planning a “Boot up” a Judaism 101 series which they are already promoting via social media.
• Create immediate interest from interfaith families in Jewish education for their children through their Family School (an innovative model of Jewish children’s education).
• Gain interest in conversion to Judaism, to the point that they had to add a page to their website to answer information.

A few quotes from the night:

“I’m not Jewish, but my wife is. It’s so nice to see things in this area that are open to me where I feel welcome.”

“I know I’m part Jewish, but don’t know what to do with that. This gets me interested.”

“I haven’t done anything Jewish for twelve years until now.”

Rabbi Patrick also writes: “No amount of words can express how wonderful our Hanukkah celebration was and the impact that NCEJ has now made in our lives.”

Chanukah in Carytown Photos

* Click to enlarge images.

Photos above courtesy of Kehillah RVA, Rabbi Patrick Beaulier, and celebrants. Thank you for sharing!

Have an idea for a program and need funding?

Give us a call or send us an email, contact Ellen Gerecht, Executive Director or call 301-802-4254.

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