In light of recent events, NCEJ is now giving grants for online programming geared to interfaith families, people beginning their Jewish journey, and those who may be interested in converting to Judaism or becoming part of the Jewish community. Programs must have an educational component. For details about NCEJ’s eligibility guidelines visit our website. If you have questions about what might be reimbursed contact Ellen Gerecht, Executive Director, or call 301-802-4254.

Pivoting to Online Programming: Examples from Around the World

Israel Reform: Passover 101 Workshop Held Entirely Online

Israel Reform received a grant for a 3-session Passover program for interfaith families from the former Soviet Union. They learned about the traditions and practices of Pesach, how to prepare for the holiday, and how to lead a Seder. This year for the first time the model Seder was held virtually instead of in person. The program was promoted via social media, other digital media platforms, and phone calls to the target audience in the local area.

The first session covered the history and background of Passover and included “handouts” of materials in Russian. The second session covered the rituals of the Seder, including how to read the haggadah and which foods to prepare. Participants could download a Reform haggadah and a DIY kit of materials for making a Seder plate and other items. The last session was a model Seder, held on the first night of Passover. Families could put into practice what they had learned and children who wanted could ask the Four Questions.

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

Hillel Case (Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan) “Let My People Know” Passover Program

Hillel CASE (Central Asia and Southeastern Europe) recently received a grant for a new multi-session program about Passover to take place in 5 cities throughout the Ukraine. The organizers expect approximately 500 students to participate. The goal is to teach them about Judaism through the lens of the Passover story. The program was promoted through social media, their website, and other channels.

The first class (held online) covered the philosophy of Passover and how to hold a Seder at home. Valeria Kholodova, director of Hillel Case, says:

“Thank you so much for the opportunity to hold Passover Seder for hundreds of Jewish students at this difficult time. Right now, when I write you a letter, the students of Hillel are participants in the Passover TedX and thanks to this knowledge they will be able to hold the seders at home. And bring the Passover holiday to thousands of Jews.”

– Valeria Kholodova, Program director, International Jewish Student Organization HILLEL Case in Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan

Hillel at Virginia Tech “Judaism 101″ Finishes Online

The Hokie Hillel’s 5-session course ran from early January through mid-March. It was advertised through table-top cards and posters in local restaurants, coffee shops and markets, as well as through Facebook, Instagram and email blasts. Word of mouth was most effective, however.

The organizers quickly switched the last class to an online format when circumstances changed. One participant, who is in the process of converting to Judaism, said about the course:

“Judaism 101 was a great place to gather with other students and community members to learn, share, and ask questions about Judaism. It was nice to do that in a place where I wasn’t the only one who felt like they didn’t know anything.”

Sue Kurtz, the executive director of Virginia Tech’s Hillel, looks forward to doing more such programming in the future. She stated that “the funding from the National Center to Encourage Judaism has made us even more of a community center for Jewish learning here in Blacksburg. It is something we have always wanted to do.” For more information, contact Sue Kurtz, Executive Director, Hillel at Virginia Tech.

Bet Chaverim, Washington “Introduction to the Jewish Experience” Goes Online Only

Bet Chaverim received a grant for an “Introduction to the Jewish Experience” program. Rabbi James Mirel reports that he began the class by Zoom and had a dozen students participating. For more information, contact Rabbi James Mirel.

“In these difficult times, I wanted to thank you and the NCEJ. Jewish study will go on thanks to your efforts and generosity.” – Rabbi James Mirel

Temple Beth El of Huntington, NY “Jewish Holidays 101–Celebrate Interfaith” program goes virtual for final session

The 6-session program (Fall 2019-Spring 2020) was promoted in the local paper prior to each meeting, and flyers were distributed at the JCC and other community outlets. Each session consisted of an educational component followed by discussion about how to integrate Jewish traditions into an interfaith household. The goal was to help interfaith families embrace celebrating Jewish holidays together and provide a forum for conversation.

The final meeting, via Zoom, was attended by over 30 people. Participants learned how to observe Passover, including practical advice about (celebrating Pesach during a pandemic).

The facilitators were praised for their non-judgmental approach, and for teaching about the Jewish holidays in an easy-to-understand, enjoyable manner. The congregation’s Partnership Liaison, Lisa Tricomi, says:

“The grant conveyed our message of inclusivity, and it also allowed us to get our name out in the community to let others know that we are a progressive synagogue that is open to anyone interested in Judaism.” 

For details contact Lisa Tricomi, Partnership Liaison.

Resources for Connecting Digitally:

• Longtime Virtual Rabbi Offers Advice on “Doing Jewish” Online – Video by Rabbi Juan Mejía, who has been teaching online for a decade.
• A Recording of Rabbi Juan Mejía’s Conversation About Online Judaism on 3/15/20. Thanks to jewishLIVE and Oshman Family JCC.
• Virtual Community and Informative Resources – powered by The Jewish Federations of North America

Grant Updates

NCEJ renewal grant to Union of Reform Judaism includes increased digital media advertising for congregational Intro and Taste of Judaism® classes

URJ will give out marketing grants to 12-15 congregations, with preference to collaborative programs, congregations offering both Taste of Judaism® and Intro, and congregations offering a program for the first time. URJ will also implement digital media advertising for up to 50 congregational programs.

American Jewish University receives grant for branded marketing materials

The grant will fund the development of branded, customizable, professionally designed marketing collateral (both physical and digital) as well as a media kit, to be used to expand marketing for the Miller program and enable affiliates to widen their audience and increase attendance for Introduction to Judaism classes. The overall goal is to demonstrate that the Miller program “welcomes newcomers to Judaism with warmth.”

Funding Focus

In the last few years, NCEJ has expanded the scope of programs it funds and given grants  to a wider variety of groups across the Jewish nonprofit spectrum. Explore our site for details on the type of programs we fund. Have a question about whether we might cover a program you are considering? Contact us

Although our funding guidelines have broadened over the years, our mission has remained the same:

To Welcome New People to Judaism

NCEJ WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU!

We welcome your inquiries as we navigate this new environment. Please reach out to us at 301-802-4254, or contact Ellen Gerecht, Executive Director. Applications are accepted throughout the year. For details about our grant process, visit our Grant Process page. Let’s all stay safe but stay connected.

Featured photo above: Rabbi Juan Mejía is the Southwest regional director at Be’chol Lashon, a group for diverse global Jews. From the video on YouTube “Diverse Jewish Voices: Rabbi Juan Mejía.” Rabbi Mejía has been teaching online for a decade.

The post NEW: NCEJ Giving Grants for Online Programming for People Exploring Judaism appeared first on National Center to Encourage Judaism.

NCEJ Grant Enables JDC to Connect More Families to Judaism in Eastern Europe

Many people in Poland, Latvia, and other parts of Eastern Europe are only now discovering they have Jewish ancestry. Slowly some of them are starting to reclaim their Jewish heritage by attending programs at the Warsaw and Riga JCCs (partly funded by the Joint Distribution Committee). At the JCCs they meet others from similar backgrounds and learn how to incorporate Jewish practices into their lives.

Warsaw: The Warsaw JCC serves as the focal point of Jewish life in Warsaw. Activities include holiday celebrations, cooking clubs, and discussion groups. A fathers’ group and a women’s group meet monthly.

Participants posted pictures with the social media campaign #Shabbat hashtag

Riga: This past May, JCC Riga joined forces with Riga’s synagogue to create an explanatory brochure about Shabbat. Prior to its publication, JCC Riga launched a social media campaign, #ShabbatJCCRiga, in which community members were asked to “Gather your family, call your friends, and before the candle is lit, take a picture of your Shabbat.” Participants who posted pictures with the #Shabbat hashtag received a free copy of the colorful brochure.

In 2020, NCEJ will help support JDC programming in Riga and Estonia. For more information contact Sandy Katz, Director of Strategic Relations.

Project Kesher Uses NCEJ Funding to Expand its Global Jewish Women’s Holiday Celebrations Initiative in Russian-speaking Countries

Images of Simchat Torah from Project Kesher Russia

Project Kesher’s mission is to build Jewish community and advance civil society by developing and empowering Jewish women leaders in Russian-speaking countries and Israel, connecting them to each other and strengthening their Jewish identity. Project Kesher-trained leaders hosted Jewish holiday celebrations in 120+ locations throughout Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and Georgia in 2019. Group leaders and facilitators of these programs were trained throughout the year via webinars by expert Jewish educators. The group gathered on Zoom before each major holiday to study together and to learn how to facilitate the new programs.

Each new curriculum created this year was added to an online program database featured on the Project Kesher Russian language website. Group leaders and Jewish activists throughout the region can access the database and facilitate a range of programs for their community. This year’s events used social media in new ways and were well attended by young people, ages 15 – 35.

“I live far from the central part of Russia. Despite the distance, the Jewish holiday training webinars gave me an opportunity to study among like-minded people, to ask questions and analyze the answers, and bring the lessons back to my community.”– Svetlana, Magnitogorsk, Russia

Eleonora, a community organizer in Vladimir, Russia, says:

“Project Kesher provides a big database of tested educational materials and programs for different audiences and different levels of familiarity with Jewish life. PK’s programs are an important and unique resource.”

For more information contact Shira Pruce, Director of Development and Communications.

An NCEJ Grant Helped Bet Shalom, a Progressive Synagogue in Barcelona, Offer Special Holiday Programming for Interested Individuals

Purim Celebration, Bet Shalom

Bet Shalom provided a series of special programs for Purim, Pesach, Shabbat, and other holidays designed for people who were studying in their conversion classes and others who wanted to know more about Judaism. Here are two examples:

Purim: Over 75 people attended the Purim celebration, which included a costume workshop and party for young adults.

Pesach: First, there was a class of 35 participants, led by a teacher who talked about the traditions of the seder. The organizer states that, “This experience was very meaningful for those who are not used to being in contact with Judaism from an experiential perspective. It also helped some people get more involved in the community and build bonds with the rest of the members.”

This was followed by the seder itself, open to anyone interested in celebrating and learning about Judaism, as well as members. There were games for the children and an opportunity for the families to get to know each other.

Why Congregation Sha’ar Zahav San Francisco’s Journey to Judaism Discussion Group is so Successful Year after Year

Artwork advertising Sha’ar Zahav’s Adult Education

Sha’ar Zahav, San Francisco offers a Journey to Judaism discussion group, as well as a Judaism 101 class. This discussion group explores issues that arise for people who are considering, are in the process of, or have recently completed converting to Judaism. Those with a Jewish parent, but raised with little or no Jewish experience, and who are interested in exploring their connection to Judaism, are also welcome to attend. Topics include questions of identity, community and family. This group is not an Introduction to Judaism course, but rather a place to ask questions and discuss issues with others who are also on this journey.

After ten years of annual groups the coordinators have learned that:

A minimum of 6 – 8 participants is necessary for the group dynamics to be effective

Of the six sessions, the group is closed to new participants after session 2 to foster the intimacy and confidentiality that makes the group work

Continuation of no cost barrier to registration has provided diversity and allowed for folks to explore with minimal commitment in advance

Beginning each session with the personal story of an invited guest who is a member of the congregation who has chosen Judaism is an effective teaching element

The mikveh visit demystifies this important part of the conversion process

Ending the discussion group with a Friday evening Shabbat pot luck increases the appreciation of ritual in Jewish tradition

Grant News

Congregation Emanu-El of Waukesha, WI received a grant for a 4-session course called “A Basic Understanding of Judaism.” The subjects covered were “How Jews view God”, “Holidays and Shabbat and Services”, “Jewish Ethics and Interpreting it in the Torah”, and “The Jewish Community and Israel”. Several participants wished the class had been longer than 4 weeks. The class was promoted in the local paper, the Jewish press, and on the temple website and Facebook page. For more information contact Cantor Deborah Martin.

Pictured: KI “schlep” tote bag (click to enlarge)

Congregation Keneseth Israel, Allentown PA regularly offers A Taste of Judaism® class. The latest class had 18 participants, most of whom who had heard about the class through advertisements in the local papers or the lawn signs surrounding the building. About half of the class said they would be interested in an Introduction to Judaism class. Last year’s Taste class had 40 participants, and 2 of those are in the process of converting. The coordinator said that participants especially liked sampling a different Jewish dessert each week. One distinctive take-away from the class – each participant received a KI “schlep” tote bag. For more information contact Martina Obenski.

Lawn sign for A Taste of Judaism® class offered by Congregation Keneseth Israel

Tidewater Chavurah, Virginia Beach offered a program similar to URJ’s Taste, entitled “Belonging, Believing, Behaving.” Rabbi Ellen Jaffe Gill taught the class through a Reconstructionist lens, emphasizing that there are myriad ways to be Jewish. One person who attended had recently converted but wanted to fill in gaps in her knowledge. For more information contact Rabbi Ellen Jaffe Gill.

Friends of Bnei Anousim is an Israeli-based nonprofit that just received a grant for a conversion program in Mexico for descendants of Spanish and Portuguese Jews who were forcibly converted to Christianity during the Inquisition and who wish to practice Judaism. For more information contact Yaffah da Costa.

Jewish Learning Lab, Montreal will be offering a year-long “Raising a Jewish Family” geared primarily towards people who did not grow up Jewish to help them live a Jewish life and connect to the larger Jewish community. The Jewish Learning Lab is a group of informal Jewish educators who seek to provide the knowledge that will enable individuals to choose the kind of Jewish life that’s right for them. The JLL works closely with other Jewish organizations in Montreal, particularly the Sylvan Adams YM-YWHA. For more information contact Rabbi Avi Finegold.

Recent Grant Renewals

• Union of Reform Judaism
• Joint Distribution Committee
• Jewish Federations of North America
• JHUB, Jewish Federation of Cleveland
• Temple Beth El, Charlotte, NC
• Rocky Mountain Rabbinical Council, Denver

Special Passover Grant Bonus

Pesach Celebration, Bet Shalom

NCEJ is offering up to a 15% bonus* for grants for programs geared to people who are new to Judaism to help them prepare for Passover. Examples include workshops on how to choose a haggadah and lead a Passover seder. ** NCEJ grants are designed to welcome new people to Judaism, and support programs both in the US and abroad. For details visit our website or contact us: Ellen Gerecht, Executive Director, or call 301-802-4254.

*For grants up to $5,000
**Seders do not qualify for the bonus.

Featured photo above: from Bet Shalom, a Progressive synagogue in Barcelona.

The post NCEJ Expanding Funding Throughout the Nation and the World in 2020 appeared first on National Center to Encourage Judaism.

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh (JCCPGH) came to NCEJ in 2017 proposing a series of family holiday camps to reach families with children from 5-10 years old who weren’t engaged in the Jewish community. The goal was that by learning more about the meaning of the holidays, feeling welcome, and making friends, they would be more likely to embrace Jewish living. With NCEJ funding the JCCPGH was able to increase its advertising and expand its audience. The program was led by Rabbi Ron Symons, Senior Director of Jewish Life.

The Pittsburgh JCC Family Holiday Camps Experience

Program: “Hanukkah at the Carnegie Museum of Science and Snapology”

In November and December 2017, the JCCPGH prepared for Hanukkah at the Carnegie Museum of Science and at Snapology (a franchise that specializes in hands-on STEM projects using Legos and other building tools). At the Museum, families explored the meaning of light as they gazed into the Pittsburgh sky in the planetarium. At Snapology families learned how to make their own hanukiyot out of Legos and then how to light the hanukiyah.

Program: ‘Pirates, Perogies and Plagues’ – Preparing for Passover

In March 2018, families prepared for Passover through a program called ‘Pirates, Perogies and Plagues’. The JCC was the last group to rent the clubhouse of the Pittsburgh Pirates before opening day. One Shabbat morning was filled with explorations of the plagues represented in the Seder and how removing wine from our cups with each plague is equivalent to the ‘mercy rule’ in Little League baseball.

Over 200 people attended the family holiday camps and increased their connection to the Jewish community of Pittsburgh.

For more details about these programs contact Rabbi Symons, Senior Director of Jewish Life, JCC of Greater Pittsburgh, via email here, or call: 412-697-3235.

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Kudos to the leadership of the chapters who submitted winning applications and to the WRJ Outreach Committee for their work overseeing the process. As a result of their efforts, thousands of people were reached through WRJ’s weekly email newsletter, their social media sites, and at conferences. WRJ still has funds to allocate and will be accepting and reviewing outreach grant applications on a rolling basis until June 1st, 2018.

For more information on this program, contact WRJ Program & Communications Associate Micaela Sheinhait at msheinhait@wrj.org or 212-650-4060.

Awarded Affiliate Program Highlights

WRJ Sisterhood: Temple Israel Sisterhood, Tulsa, OK
Program: “A Taste of Jewish Life”

Temple Israel has planned an outreach program for women in interfaith relationships and interested non-Jewish women that will combine sessions about Jewish living and culture with a lunch featuring a traditional Jewish meal. Sessions will include learning about Shabbat, making challah; learning about Passover and making charoset; and a tour of the Judaica shop featuring items used in celebrating Jewish life.

WRJ Sisterhood: Women of Temple Beth Torah, Fremont, CA
Program: “Daughters of Miriam Seder”

The Women of Temple Beth Torah is hosting a women’s Seder before Passover. This event will bring together members of 3 local congregations and unaffiliated members, including those in the deaf community. (The California School for the Deaf is located in Fremont.) The event will include “teachable moments” including traditional and non-traditional rituals by seder leaders and Jewish educators.

WRJ Sisterhood: Women of Temple Sinai, Pittsburgh, PA
Program: “Pride Seder”

Temple Sinai will host a Pride Seder in May 2018, a few weeks before LGBTQ Pride Month. They are reaching out to non-Jews and interfaith families within the LGBTQ community beyond their synagogue walls by partnering with a variety of organizations including the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Pittsburgh, other nearby Reform Jewish congregations and the Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh.

WRJ Sisterhood: Women of Temple Bat Yahm, Newport Beach, CA
Program: “A Shared Seder”

The Temple Bat Yahm WRJ chapter will be holding a “Shared Seder” for interfaith member families, university students, and those exploring Judaism through Taste of Judaism and Introduction to Judaism classes to help them prepare for Passover and feel more comfortable attending the synagogue’s 2nd night Seder.

WRJ Sisterhood: Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood, Dallas, TX
Program: “Navigating the Religion Decision: A Workshop for Interfaith Couples”

This is a 6 session workshop for interfaith couples, led by a counselor. For those that decide to make Jewish choices the sisterhood will encourage them to enroll in the synagogue’s “Goin to the Chuppah” program which will help them understand how to create a Jewish home and also provide a connection with other newly engaged/married couples.

WRJ Sisterhood: Sisterhood of Temple Shalom, Newton, MA
Program: “Becoming Miriam: A series of programs around Miriam and Passover”

Becoming Miriam is a program series for interfaith families, young couples still forming personal traditions and new Jews by choice, using the traditions of Pesach and the Seder to create greater personal and community engagement with Jewish life. This program involves a series of education and engagement events designed to build relationships as well as increase knowledge about making the Seder a rich and enjoyable experience for all.

From the March 9th WRJ Weekly Digest:

“WRJ will provide Outreach Grant funds of up to $1,000 to WRJ sisterhoods and women’s groups to fund programs within their communities that reach out to interfaith families, unaffiliated Jews, and non-Jews who are seeking information about Jewish life. Made possible by the National Center to Encourage Judaism, the grant is designed to encourage and enhance learning about Judaism and to engage participants in Jewish life. An interfaith seder not only engages the community around the holiday of Passover, it brings a larger community together to discuss how we can be more welcoming to others.”

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